A Message from Our Director
Thank you for your interest in the University of Florida Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program. We recognize that choosing a residency program is one of the most important decisions of your life and we are excited for you to learn more about what makes UF special.
I have been the Program Director here since the Spring of 2021 and prior to that, I was the Associate Program Director. I look at our program as something that should be constantly evolving and growing in order for us to meet the ever-changing needs of our patients and our residents. I value resident feedback and their input has resulted in tangible change. Sexual Wellness Clinic, extended protected education time, and the addition of an elective rotation are a few examples of resident-driven changes we have made over the last year.
My role as PD is to ensure our curriculum covers the depth and breadth of Ob/Gyn to prepare our graduates for independent practice. In addition to that, we want our residents to feel supported by:
- Promoting transparency and providing clear expectations
- Establishing mentorship early in residency
- Structuring educational experiences including traditional didactics, simulation, research, quality improvement, global health, ultrasound, and health equity
- Championing resident wellness
- Allowing for flexibility in schedules to support individual resident goals
- Maintaining high surgical volume and caring for patients with some of the most complex conditions encountered in our field
Our program values the four C’s: compassion, commitment, curiosity, and cultural humility. Our residents have diverse interests and come from many different backgrounds with a variety of life experiences. About half our residents choose to pursue fellowship and we’ve had successful matches into MFM, Gyn Onc, REI, FPMRS, and Complex Family Planning. The other half typically goes into academics or private practice. We want our graduates to feel prepared for whatever their next step is.
The University of Florida Obstetrics & Gynecology Department is the primary source of women’s health care in Gainesville and the surrounding rural counties. UF is a Top 5 public university with over 90,000 students, faculty, and staff. UF Health is a large, tertiary medical center made up of six hospitals: UF Health Shands, the Cancer Center, the Children’s Hospital, the Heart and Vascular Hospital, the Neuromedicine Hospital, and the Psychiatric Hospital. The vast majority of resident training takes place at the main UF Health Shands Hospital. Right next door is the housestaff parking garage and the Medical Plaza Clinic where Ob/Gyn residents have their continuity and specialty clinics.
Feel free to explore our website for information about our curriculum, resident surgical experience, fringe benefits, and the application process.
Go Gators!
Jessica Heft, MD, MS
Assistant Professor, Residency Program Director
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Division of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery