Department Introduces Two New Fellowship Programs

At the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, education is always changing! Our curriculum and programs for undergraduate and post-graduate learners continually updates to reflect the newest technology, research and innovation in the field. This year, our Department has introduced two new fellowship programs to join the already extensive list of subspeciality programs: the Advanced Gynaecologic Surgery and Health Quality Improvement Fellowship at North York General Hospital, and the Vulvovaginal Health Fellowship at Women's College Hospital.

Advanced Gynaecologic Surgery and Health Quality Improvement Fellowship

Under the direction of Dr. Abheha Satkunaratnam (Lecturer) and Dr. Alice Pham (Assistant Professor), this one-year long fellowship is being offered in advanced gynaecologic surgery and health quality improvement. North York General Hospital is a leading community academic hospital with one of the highest annual volume of gynaecology procedures done at a single site. There is an unwavering commitment to quality improvement initiatives both at a national and international level – it is a partner site and one of the founding members of the Southern Ontario Network of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SOON-ObGyn). The Surgical Services Program at North York General Hospital also participates in the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program, often surpassing goals set for the program.

Dr. Satkunaratnam and Dr. Pham have a goal of training and developing surgeons who will bring the depth and breadth of expertise and leadership to North York General Hospital and their community. "We’re looking for individuals who want to build upon their surgical skills and push the envelope in order to give their patients the best chance at a faster recovery after surgery. We have flexibility built into the curriculum to address the gaps for and interests of each individual trainee. For example, learning dilatation and evacuation techniques, learning first trimester ultrasound in our early pregnancy clinic."

The program is made up of a group of surgeons who are all consummate educators. "We want our graduates to not only achieve high surgical standards, but also leave our program having achieved excellence in clinical judgment; who know when to operate and when not to operate; who show calmness and presence of mind, humility and moral courage," said Dr. Satkunaratnam and Dr. Pham. "We want them to show excellence in communication, in being team players who can adapt. And finally, we want them to go on to be true leaders and teachers in their own community so that the circle of learning continues."

To learn more about the program, visit the Advanced Gynaecologic Surgery and Health Quality Improvement Fellowship webpage.

Vulvovaginal Health Fellowship

Under the direction of Dr. Amanda Selk (Associate Professor), this one-year training program at Women's College Hospital is offered to Canadian and international specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology who want to develop expertise in the areas of vulvar dermatology, preinvasive disease, vulvar pain, and the management of graft-vs-host disease. The fellowship trainee will work in colposcopy, vulvar dermatology and gynaecology clinics that focus on vulvovaginal disease, being supervised by clinical experts with national and international recognition in vulvovaginal disease and colposcopy.

"The Vulvovaginal Health Fellowship is the only one year fellowship of its kind in Canada," said Dr. Selk. "We have a large number of patients who travel from across Ontario to access care. We are looking for trainees who are interested in vulvovaginal disease and who will take the skills they learn with us and go on to develop their own vulvar programs across Canada and the world. There is such a huge need for more training in this area and I'm passionate about teaching others the skills to care for this patient population."

To learn more about the program, visit the Vulvovaginal Health Fellowship webpage.

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