Quick Answer
MGA’s Fellowship in Fetal Medicine is a 12-month, CPD-accredited online program covering 17 curriculum modules across fetal ultrasound, prenatal screening, fetal echocardiography, invasive procedures, high-risk pregnancy management, fetal anomaly detection, and prenatal genomics. It is designed for doctors with an obstetrics and gynaecology background — DGO, MD/MS OBG, and DNB OBGYN — who want structured subspecialty training in fetal medicine and prenatal diagnosis without pausing clinical practice. This article covers what the program specifically teaches, who is eligible, what procedural competencies it develops, and how it differs from general OBG training.
If you are already practising obstetrics and considering a structured subspecialty commitment in fetal medicine, you have probably already read the persuasion-framed articles — the ones that explain what fetal medicine is and why it matters. This article serves a different purpose. It covers the specification: what MGA’s Fellowship in Fetal Medicine actually teaches module by module, who is eligible to apply, what procedural competencies it develops, and how to evaluate whether this program fits your current clinical context and career direction.
For the case for why fetal medicine subspecialisation makes clinical sense for practising OBGYN doctors, MGA’s existing article on why to consider a fellowship in fetal medicine covers that well. This article picks up where that one leaves off.
What this article covers
- Program format and delivery — how it works for working doctors
- Eligibility — who the program is designed for
- 17-module curriculum — what is taught and in what sequence
- Core procedural competencies developed
- What this fellowship does not cover — honest scope setting
- How the fellowship positions you in subspecialty practice
- Frequently asked questions
Program format and delivery — how it works for working doctors
The fellowship runs for 12 months and is delivered entirely online — live sessions scheduled after OPD hours, with 100% recorded lectures available on the LMS portal for any session you cannot attend live. This format is intentional: it is built for doctors who are actively practising and cannot pause clinical work for a full-time program.
The program includes weekly case clinic discussions, dedicated Q&A sessions, free study materials and an e-library with prenatal imaging guides and case references, CPD-accredited certification on completion, and one year of structured expert mentorship after the program ends. The mentorship period is not a nominal credential — it is designed to support your transition into applied fetal medicine practice once the academic year is complete.
Accreditation: The fellowship is accredited by the CPD & Training Council with international continuing medical education recognition. It does not carry a university degree credential — it is a CPD-accredited professional fellowship. For doctors who specifically need a university-awarded qualification in obstetric imaging, MGA’s PG Diploma in Ultrasonography or Certificate in Advanced Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology are separate, differently-credentialled options.
Eligibility — who the program is designed for
The fellowship is open to eligible medical graduates. Based on the program’s clinical orientation — prenatal diagnosis, fetal ultrasound interpretation, invasive procedures, and high-risk pregnancy management — it is most directly relevant to doctors with an obstetrics and gynaecology background.
| Qualification | Clinical Relevance to This Fellowship |
|---|---|
| DGO | Direct application — DGO doctors managing antenatal OPDs benefit most from structured fetal ultrasound, anomaly screening, and prenatal counselling modules |
| MD / MS Obstetrics & Gynaecology | Strong fit — builds subspecialty depth in fetal imaging, invasive procedures, and high-risk pregnancy beyond the MD/MS curriculum |
| DNB OBGYN | Strong fit — same clinical scope as MD/MS OBG; fellowship adds focused fetal medicine competency |
| MBBS with OBG caseload | Applicable — particularly for MBBS doctors working in antenatal care or managing obstetric patients in primary or secondary care settings |
| General Physicians managing antenatal patients | Relevant for the prenatal screening, high-risk pregnancy, and referral threshold modules — less directly applicable to the procedural content |
Check the fellowship course page for current eligibility requirements before applying — criteria may be updated periodically.
17-module curriculum — what is taught and in what sequence
The 17 modules are sequenced to build from foundational knowledge through clinical application and into advanced and emerging practice areas. The outline below summarises each module’s scope.
Module 1: Introduction to Fetal Medicine and Maternal-Fetal Physiology
The foundational module establishes the clinical role of fetal medicine in contemporary obstetrics, covering maternal-fetal physiology, placental development and function, fetal growth, embryology, and an introduction to prenatal screening and genetic counselling frameworks.
Module 2: Ultrasound and Imaging Techniques in Fetal Medicine
Practical fetal ultrasound — guidelines for obstetric and gynaecological imaging, fetal biometry and growth assessment, Doppler ultrasound for fetal wellbeing, 3D/4D imaging of fetal abnormalities, amniotic fluid index assessment, placental and umbilical cord evaluation, and the application of ultrasound in chromosomal abnormality screening.
Module 3: Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis
First- and second-trimester aneuploidy screening protocols, NIPT clinical application and interpretation, combined screening markers, ultrasound indicators for Down syndrome and Trisomy 18, invasive diagnostic procedures (amniocentesis, CVS, fetal blood sampling), and genetic counselling communication with patients.
Module 4: High-Risk Pregnancy and Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Management of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy including HELLP syndrome, fetal growth restriction and IUGR, multiple pregnancy diagnosis and management, premature labour prevention, antenatal corticosteroid therapy, and evidence-based monitoring of high-risk pregnancies.
Module 5: Fetal Anomalies and Intervention
Common fetal malformations — neural tube defects, congenital heart disease, gastrointestinal and renal defects — alongside fetal intervention indications, techniques, and outcomes, intrauterine fetal transfusion, post-fetal surgery neonatal care, and the ethical dimensions of fetal anomaly management.
Module 6: Maternal-Fetal Medicine Procedures and Interventions
Cordocentesis and fetal blood sampling, intrauterine treatments including laser therapy, fetal blood transfusion, and shunts, amniocentesis and CVS technique, indication, and risk counselling, and fetal wellbeing monitoring through biophysical profiles.
Module 7: Ethical and Legal Aspects of Fetal Medicine
Ethical dilemmas in fetal medicine practice, fetal rights versus maternal rights, decision-making frameworks for complex fetal conditions, informed consent for genetic counselling and invasive procedures, and the legal context of prenatal diagnosis in Indian practice. This module covers the PCPNDT context factually — doctors practising in India need to understand the legal framework surrounding sex determination and prenatal diagnostic procedures.
Module 8: Fetal Medicine in Special Populations
Fetal management in teenage and advanced maternal age pregnancies, immunological conditions and autoimmune disease in pregnancy, chronic medical conditions including renal disease and cancer, fetal medicine in obese women, and prenatal health considerations in low-resource settings.
Module 9: Research and Innovations in Fetal Medicine
Current trends in fetal medicine development, prenatal genomics and molecular diagnostics, emerging fetal monitoring and therapy technologies, research methodology, and academic writing and publication in fetal medicine.
Module 10: Fetal Echocardiography
Principles of fetal echocardiography, first- and second-trimester prenatal CHD screening, diagnosis of common congenital heart defects including septal defects and outflow tract anomalies, advanced fetal echo including 3D techniques, management guidelines for diagnosed fetal cardiac conditions, and collaboration with paediatric cardiologists for postnatal care planning.
Module 11: Neurology and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Fetal brain development and neuroanatomy, detection and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental anomalies including hydrocephalus, neural tube defects, and brain malformations, advanced neuroimaging using ultrasound and fetal MRI, assessment of fetal brain injury, TORCH infections and Zika virus, and family counselling on neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Module 12: Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy and Fetal Implications
Overview of common maternal infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, CMV, syphilis, Zika), maternal infection screening, management through pregnancy, long-term fetal development implications, intrauterine treatment for fetal infections, and counselling patients with positive infection findings.
Module 13: Maternal Health and Pregnancy Complications
Medical comorbidities in pregnancy including cardiovascular disease, renal disease, and autoimmune conditions, management of obstetric emergencies (haemorrhage, eclampsia, sepsis), advanced maternal age risks, pre-pregnancy management for high-risk cases, and patient education on risk and complication management.
Module 14: Perinatal Palliative Care and End-of-Life Decisions
Principles of perinatal palliative care, family counselling for fatal or life-limiting fetal diagnoses, ethical frameworks for perinatal decision-making, stillbirth and neonatal loss management, multidisciplinary coordination with neonatal and bereavement teams, and end-of-life care planning.
Module 15: Advanced Maternal-Fetal Medicine Procedures and Innovations
High-technology interventions including fetoscopic surgery, fetal shunting, and laser therapy, management of complex conditions including TTTS, hydrops fetalis, and placenta accreta, fetal MRI applications in complex anomaly diagnosis, fetal gene therapy and stem cell therapy innovations.
Module 16: Global Health and Public Health in Fetal Medicine
Global maternal and fetal health challenges, fetal medicine in low- and middle-income countries, prenatal care in resource-limited environments including ultrasound access and public health screening programmes, maternal-fetal health disparities, and collaboration with international organisations on maternal and neonatal mortality prevention.
Module 17: Psychological and Social Aspects of Fetal Medicine
Psychological impact of prenatal diagnosis on families, patient counselling in high-risk pregnancy and fetal abnormality, social and cultural dimensions of pregnancy management in Indian practice, supporting patients through pregnancy loss, decision-making frameworks for pregnancy continuation, and collaboration with social workers and mental health practitioners.
View the full curriculum on the MGA Fetal Medicine Fellowship page
CPD accredited · 17 modules · 12 months online · 1-year mentorship
Core procedural competencies developed
A structured fetal medicine fellowship builds both interpretive and procedural competency. The table below maps the key procedural areas covered in the curriculum and the clinical context each applies to in practice.
| Competency Area | What Is Covered | Clinical Application |
|---|---|---|
| Fetal biometry & growth | BPD, HC, AC, FL measurement, EFW estimation, growth velocity | IUGR identification, growth monitoring, referral decisions |
| Doppler studies | Umbilical artery, uterine artery, MCA Doppler — waveform interpretation | Fetal wellbeing surveillance, IUGR severity, preeclampsia risk |
| Anomaly scan interpretation | Systematic fetal anatomy survey — CNS, cardiac, renal, skeletal, abdominal | Detection of structural anomalies, referral to tertiary care |
| First-trimester screening | NT measurement, nasal bone assessment, combined screening interpretation, NIPT | Aneuploidy risk stratification, genetic counselling |
| Fetal echocardiography | Four-chamber view, outflow tracts, CHD pattern recognition, 3D echo | Prenatal CHD detection, paediatric cardiology referral |
| Amniocentesis & CVS | Indications, contraindications, technique, complication management, counselling | Karyotyping, molecular cytogenetics, invasive prenatal diagnosis |
| Cordocentesis | Fetal blood sampling principles, technique, and indication framework | Fetal anaemia assessment, intrauterine transfusion indication |
| Prenatal counselling | Risk communication, anomaly finding disclosure, genetic counselling frameworks, cultural and psychosocial dimensions | Informed decision-making, patient support in complex prenatal findings |
What this fellowship does not cover — honest scope setting
Setting clear expectations about scope is as important as describing what the program teaches. Three points are worth stating directly.
It is a knowledge and interpretive framework, not a supervised procedural training program. Invasive procedures — amniocentesis, CVS, cordocentesis — are covered in terms of indications, technique, and complication management through case-based and academic learning. Independent procedural competence for invasive fetal procedures requires supervised procedural practice in a clinical setting, which this online program does not provide. Doctors who want to perform invasive procedures should pursue supervised practice at a fetal medicine unit alongside or after this fellowship.
It does not carry a university degree credential. This is a CPD-accredited professional fellowship. It is not an MD, MS, or postgraduate degree. Doctors for whom government promotion or academic position requires a degree qualification should note this distinction.
Fetal echocardiography at this level is interpretive, not independent specialist reporting. The fetal echo module covers CHD recognition, four-chamber view, outflow tract assessment, and prenatal cardiac findings. It is foundational rather than advanced echo reporting at the level of a paediatric cardiologist subspecialising in fetal echo.
How the fellowship positions you in subspecialty practice
OBGYN doctors who complete a structured fetal medicine fellowship are positioned differently in two specific ways.
Within clinical practice: A doctor who has completed systematic fetal medicine training can interpret anomaly scan reports more precisely, make better-calibrated referral decisions, counsel patients on prenatal findings more effectively, and contribute more meaningfully to multidisciplinary high-risk pregnancy discussions. These are competencies that general OBGYN training develops partially — the fellowship completes them.
In practice positioning: Prenatal diagnosis and fetal medicine are increasingly specialised service lines within hospital obstetric departments and diagnostic centres. A practising obstetrician with formal fetal medicine training is better positioned for fetal medicine support roles, prenatal diagnostic consultant positions, and clinical leadership in maternal-fetal medicine units.
Related guides and programs
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible for MGA’s Fellowship in Fetal Medicine?
The program is open to eligible medical graduates. It is most directly applicable to DGO, MD/MS Obstetrics & Gynaecology, and DNB OBGYN doctors, though MBBS doctors with an obstetric caseload and general physicians managing antenatal patients are also eligible. Check the course page for current eligibility requirements before applying.
How many modules does the fetal medicine fellowship cover?
The fellowship covers 17 modules across 12 months. These span fetal ultrasound, prenatal screening, fetal echocardiography, invasive procedures, high-risk pregnancy management, fetal anomaly detection, neurodevelopmental disorders, infectious diseases in pregnancy, perinatal palliative care, prenatal genomics, and global health perspectives in fetal medicine.
Does this fellowship teach amniocentesis and CVS?
Yes — amniocentesis, CVS, and cordocentesis are covered in dedicated modules covering indications, technique, risks, and patient counselling. The program teaches the knowledge and decision-making framework for these procedures. Independent procedural competence requires additional supervised clinical practice at a fetal medicine unit.
Is fetal echocardiography included?
Yes. Module 10 covers fetal echocardiography specifically — including the principles of prenatal cardiac screening, four-chamber view assessment, outflow tract evaluation, common CHD pattern recognition, 3D echo techniques, and postnatal care planning in collaboration with paediatric cardiologists.
Is this a degree program?
No. The Fellowship in Fetal Medicine is a CPD-accredited professional credential, not a postgraduate degree. It carries international recognition through the CPD & Training Council but is not equivalent to an MD or DM qualification. Doctors who need a formal university degree for government promotion or academic position requirements should note this distinction.
How is this fellowship different from the Certificate in Advanced Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology?
The Certificate in Advanced Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology is a focused program covering obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound scanning — fetal biometry, Doppler studies, anomaly scanning technique, and OBG ultrasound protocols. The fetal medicine fellowship is broader — it covers the full clinical scope of fetal medicine including invasive procedures, prenatal genetics, fetal echocardiography, high-risk pregnancy management, ethics, and research across 17 modules. The certificate is a focused imaging skill program; the fellowship is a full subspecialty knowledge curriculum.
Medical Global Academy — Editorial Team
This article is produced by MGA’s academic team to help OBGYN doctors evaluate the Fellowship in Fetal Medicine before applying. Program details including module structure, duration, fees, and eligibility should be verified on the course page, as these may be updated. This article does not constitute career or clinical advice. Last reviewed: August 2026.