It is remarkable that over the course of four years of medical school, four years of residency, and perhaps even the duration of a fellowship, trainees receive little or no instruction about performing an adequate dictation. As a result, a right of passage has developed for every resident when a dictation is sub-par. Residents are made to repeat a dictation until it is correct requiring one, two, or even three or more attempts with little to no direction given for improvement.

It should come as no surprise that the quality of dictation is poor. Residents are limited in the time that they can work; yet, they need to accomplish the same amount of work. As a consequence, dictations move to the bottom of their ever lengthening to-do list and are viewed as unimportant when nothing could be further from the truth. We use dictations to triage patients, clarify pathology, guide future care, and to support our actions to others both professionally and legally.

Dr. Yettaw has made a great stride for Obstetrics and Gynecology residents by providing the tools they need to dictate effectively. In this book, readers can expect to find comprehensive templates of operative procedures for Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as a photo gallery of our specialty specific instrumentation. The following pages will help to ensure that trainees know the tools they are using and can comprehensively describe the essential components of each case. On behalf of all former, current, and future residents, thank you Dr. Yettaw for making this period of training a little easier.

Neil A. Hamill, M.D.

Former resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Faculty, Maternal Fetal Medicine

Methodist Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska