Medical education in obstetrics and gynecology: A global update from 2025
As medical knowledge and technologies rapidly evolve, curricula have become increasingly dense, and designing effective OB-GYN education that prepares learners for diverse medical careers within limited timeframes is a global challenge. This review provides an international overview of contemporary medical education in obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) across undergraduate, postgraduate, and continuing professional development levels. A narrative review of recent peer-reviewed literature, international guidelines, and global initiatives (2023-2025) was conducted, identifying key innovations, trends, and challenges in OB-GYN education worldwide, with a focus on curriculum reforms, competency-based education, simulation, telemedicine, AI applications, global standardization, and equity-oriented initiatives. Undergraduate OB-GYN curricula are increasingly standardized, integrating core competencies, early clinical exposure, and reproductive health. Postgraduate training adopts competency-based frameworks, enhanced by simulation, virtual reality, and tele-education, while continuing medical education has shifted toward flexible digital platforms and structured credentialing. Innovations, such as AI-driven learning tools, simulation drills, and telemedicine-based training, have improved skill acquisition, and global bodies, such as FIGO, RCOG, and ACOG, promote curriculum harmonization and equity. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital adoption but revealed gaps in surgical training and support. Overall, OB-GYN education is in a transformative phase, marked by technology, standardization, and equity, yet significant disparities persist, especially in resource-limited settings. Continued global collaboration, investment in educational infrastructure, and adaptive curriculum development are essential to prepare OB-GYN professionals for evolving clinical demands and healthcare inequities in the postpandemic era.
Authors
- Tanja Groten (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3553-4056)
- Ricarda Neubauer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9856-8988)
- Jana Adams
- Florian Recker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9135-4338)
- Sebastian Ludwig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1627-1871)
Institutions
- University Hospital Cologne (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
- Published
- 2025-11-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.70105
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Simulation-Based Education in Healthcare
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.33