We make every effort to ensure residents feel welcome and supported in our program. In the weeks leading up to PGY1, residents are paired with a peer mentor in PGY3-4 to help navigate the transition to residency. In the first two weeks of PGY1, residents participate in a boot camp with their cohort to prepare for clinical rotations. During PGY1, residents are paired with a faculty member and attend their obstetrics and/or gynaecology clinics twice per month to develop a one-on-one relationship with faculty.

Residents tend to build particularly strong bonds with other residents in their cohort, as well as faculty and staff they work with regularly. Between Academic Half-Days every week and a myriad of events and department activities throughout the year, there are plenty of opportunities to get together as a group in both formal and informal settings.

We have fellows in subspecialty ORs, including Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS), urogynaecology, and gynaecologic oncology. Staff are used to operating with trainees at all levels and working alongside trainees to provide a hands-on learning experience. Our fellows have proven to be excellent teachers, mentors and a valuable resource to support residents in their learning.

Candidates are not required to have a strong background in research, however, there are scholarly activity requirements to be completed during the residency program. Residents can pursue scholarly work in basic or clinical research, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS), education and/or advocacy.

We understand that residents coming into the program will have varied experience in research. We have a robust curriculum including a dedicated faculty member to support residents in research, as well as comprehensive teaching in health research methodology, peer feedback through regular research proposal sessions, and a Clinical Epidemiology Journal Club to help hone your critical thinking skills. Residents are encouraged to present their work at national and international scientific conferences with financial support from the department.

For those with a particular interest in research, the Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) is a fully-funded two-year program (resident must apply and be accepted) leading to a Master’s degree or a PhD, which is normally undertaken between PGY3 and PGY5. There are also opportunities to fund residents who wish to pursue a master’s or PhD outside of the CIP program.

Our department is proud to be a partner in a number of global health initiatives. We encourage residents to participate in the Global Health Educational Initiative offered through Postgraduate Medical Education, as well as our department’s Global Health Journal Club, facilitated by Dr. Rachel Spitzer. Our residents have travelled to the developing world for electives including to our affiliated teaching hospital in Western Kenya (see Global Health Opportunities).

Numbers vary from year to year but generally, half of our graduates choose to pursue fellowship subspecialty training. The department organizes a yearly fellowship information night for residents to learn about opportunities and network with faculty and staff in University of Toronto-affiliated programs. For those who choose a career in general obstetrics and gynaecology, there will also be opportunities to connect with recent graduates working in both the academic/downtown and community settings.