The fellowship effect: how the establishment of a fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery affected resident vaginal hysterectomy training.

Objective: We report on trends in resident-performed vaginal hysterectomies before and after the establishment of a female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Study Design: We examined medical records and resident self-reports concerning all hysterectomies at our institution in an 8-year period: 4 years before fellowship and 4 years after. Route of hysterectomy, resident and fellow involvement, and division of attending surgeon were recorded from the electronic medical record.