University of California San Francisco

Parenting in Surgery FAQ

Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions

1. What fertility options are covered by health insurance vs. out-of-pocket?

All UCSF residents and fellows who work at least 20 hours per week and are enrolled in the UC Residents and Fellow Health Plan are entitled to a $30,000 fertility benefit package through Carrot Fertility. These benefits and services are available to their eligible family members as well, and family members do not have to be enrolled in the UC Residents and Fellows Health Plan. Benefits include fertility preservation, treatment, testing and diagnostics, adoption and surrogacy, and specialty pharmacy costs, which can help offset the significant costs associated with fertility care. 

 

To find out more information, visit: 

2. Who can I confidentially reach out to for help if I am not ready to publicly disclose my pregnancy or family planning goals? How can I connect with other surgeons who are parents at UCSF for advice and support?

You may reach out to Dr. Lan Vu ([email protected]), Associated Program Director, for confidential advice and help navigating schedule modifications that might be necessary during fertility planning or early pregnancy.

 

The Parenting in Surgery Initiative also offers a mentorship program, which connects trainees with mentors who are parents and surgeons at UCSF. This program involves both 1-on-1 mentorship as well as social gatherings with colleagues and their families to build a supportive community. More information can be found HERE.

3. Where can I find information on guidelines for family planning during training? Is there a way to adjust my rotation schedule for fertility appointments or when I am pregnant (e.g., scheduling around appointments, lighter rotations during the third

The Family Planning during Surgical Training Policy provides a breakdown of trainee and Department of Surgery responsibilities and anticipated challenges when planning a family and when pregnant, including recommendations for when to contact program leadership and communicate with team members.

 

To adjust rotation schedules for fertility or prenatal appointments, please coordinate with both program leadership, including Dr. Lan Vu, and your rotation’s chief resident. 

 

During the third trimester, recommended rotations include ICU, endocrine, GI, Breast, and rotations with proximity to Mission Bay (if frequent antenatal testing is needed).

4. How do other residents manage the workload and physical demands of clinical rotations during pregnancy?

We recognize that everyone’s pregnancies as well as a level of support vary, and that some solutions may not work for everyone. Examples of strategies employed by current residents are:

  • Planning for pregnancy during research years, including extending research time if necessary, to maximize parental leave after birth
  • Advocating for themselves and drawing boundaries, including declining new projects and focusing on urgent and important tasks
  • As senior residents, assigning themselves shorter cases or cases with more sitting in the third trimester, as well as engaging junior residents to complete appropriate portions of cases
  • Utilizing call rooms for extra rest and sleeping, including having a low threshold to spend the night in the hospital and bringing a memory foam mattress pad and duvet from home 
  • Wearing supportive shoes, such as Hokas and stocking snacks in resident work rooms, such as protein shakes
  • Booking a postpartum doula early
5. Can you help me understand my options for parental leave?

Yes! Setting up parental leave can be challenging to navigate. The staff of the Education Office and UCSF’s HR department can help you. There is a worksheet the staff uses to help plan out leave, which you can receive from Winnie Green ([email protected]). We also have a lot of information here regarding various board eligibility requirements for maximum duration of leave. Keep in mind that sometimes the board eligibility requirements allow for fewer weeks of leave than UCSF offers. Training dates can be flexible, and the program wants to work with you to help you get the duration of leave that works for you and your growing family.

 

In general, for UCSF residents and fellows, there are eight workweeks of paid parental leave for each pregnancy, adoption, or foster placement event. Time taken in addition to paid parental leave, vacation leave, and sick leave will be uncompensated. More information is also available in the UC Housestaff Handbook. 

6. How do other residents and fellows afford childcare?

Most UC faculty and staff have free access to Bright Horizons Enhanced Family Supports and its Sittercity database of childcare resources. Via Bright Horizons, you can access preferred enrollment at Bright Horizons centers or access tuition discounts at participating network child care centers. Via Sittercity, you may be able to find the person you need for full-time care or back-up care in an emergency and make arrangements yourself for care and payment. You can confirm your eligibility for these services at UCnet.

 

As each resident’s family and financial support differs, we recognize some of these solutions may be not feasible for everyone; some additional strategies utilized by current residents include: 

  • A combination of resources, including hourly UCSF Daycare services with family support to accommodate inflexible Pick-Up and Drop-Off hours

  • Relying on familial and spousal financial support, as childcare expenses for multiple children may be prohibitive on resident salaries alone

7. What emergency childcare options are available (e.g., my child’s regular caregiver is unavailable, my child is sick and daycare is closed)?

UCSF offers financial assistance for some back up care options for children who cannot attend their regular childcare (e.g., child is ill, center is closed). For example, UCSF pays for access to SitterCity, an online resource for finding pre-screened resources for in-home every day or occasional childcare, as well as other services. Residents and fellows are also eligible for 20 back-up care days per academic year at a reduced cost at a Bright Horizons childcare center. You can find out more about back-up childcare options here. 

8. What is the lactation policy at UCSF and what resources are available to support trainees who need to pump at work?

UCSF Lactation Accommodation Program: UCSF trainees may opt into this program, which provides access to private lactation rooms, workshops, free pump kits and cooler bags, discounts on various supplies, and the Milk Stork platform for milk shipping during UCSF business travel. 

UCSF Department of Surgery Lactation Wellness Policy: Learn more about the department’s commitment to providing a safe and welcoming work environment for lactating residents.

Lactation Fund for Surgical Residents: Additionally, the department will provide the funds to purchase lactation equipment to allow residents to pump while at work. This commitment will cover any lactation equipment expenses of up to $500 per lactating resident. These expenses may include wearable breast pumps and supplies.

9. What have other residents used for pumping at work (e.g., ice packs, bags, pumps)?

Current residents recommend:

  1. Pumps
    1. Ameda Pearl Pump: available in some lactation rooms
    2. Spectra Breast Pump
    3. Elvie Hands Free Wearable Breast Pump
  2.  Coolers
    1. Ceres Chill Breast Breastmilk Chiller Reusable Storage Container
    2. Yeti lunchbox-type cooler for pump parts
  3. Other Supplies: 
    1. Breast milk wipes for cleaning pump parts
    2. Having 2 sets of pump parts so that you don’t have to wash throughout the day
10. Who should I reach out to with any questions or concerns regarding surgical training during pregnancy or postpartum?

Please find specific point-of-contact personnel listed below depending on the area of support needed: