The obstetrics and gynecology residency program offers an excellent clinical and surgical experience in all aspects of obstetrics and gynecology with all subspecialties being represented. There is a significant volume and breadth of clinical cases. In addition to standard rotations, the program boasts a range of clinical highlights including the Foundations Block designed to ease the transition to residency, the Longitudinal Ambulatory Rotation aimed to facilitate transition to practice, and the opportunity to participate in outreach gynecology in Iqaluit through a well-established and high volume   program. In addition, there are strong basic science research groups in maternal fetal medicine , reproductive endocrinology, and gynecologic oncology.

Our Academic Half Day program is a comprehensive program comprised of lectures encompassing the Royal College  Objectives of Training for Ob/Gyne and SOGC guidelines, Wellness Topics, Minimally invasive Surgery Simulation, Simulation Labs and Anatomy Labs. These sessions have been highly evaluated and praised by our residents.

The recently implemented Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Curriculum represents a newer strength of the  program providing residents with both academic half-day content and the opportunity to participate in Quality Improvement projects and committees.

Another very strong and recently revised component of our program is Journal Club. This is structured to occur as part of our Academic Half Day. We have strong Epidemiology Faculty leadership and engagement and we use a Flipped Classroom active learning framework to present papers and to teach and learn about important methodology and critical appraisal skills. We incorporate several active learning strategies as part of journal club, including debate and learn-pair- share activities. This event is attended by faculty and residents.

Resident research is a strong component of our program with extensive publications arising from collaborative projects led by our residents and supported by nationally and internationally recognized Faculty in our Department. Our program has a dedicated Resident Research Program Director and Resident Research Committee to assist residents in achieving their research goals. In addition to clinical research, residents can choose to join a strong and growing collaborative of educators with a focus in simulation, team training, patient quality and safety, and the learning environment. We strive to harness the academic strengths and passions of the individual resident by helping them to network within the department so that they are supported by an expert team. At an annual event, informally known as, “research speed-dating”, we assemble all of our residents and research mentors in one space and explore common interests in research. An annual Resident Research Day is held off-site for residents and faculty that showcases our residents’ scholarly work.

Our program also includes an elaborate simulation program for both technical and non-technical skills, dedicated teaching faculty members, and a passionate program director. Simulations supplement clinical and didactic content in most subspecialties. Simulations occur both at the University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre and in situ in the hospital setting.

Wellness is a key value in our program and a Resident Wellness Committee (RWC) was established in 2019. The RWC facilitates resident training in strategies to foster, promote and practice lifelong wellness, safety and resilience. The RWC provides a support system for formal and informal counselling. The program holds a wellness retreat, program development retreat , mentorship events, career planning nights , and other w9ellness activities along with social events throughout the year. Wellness topics are included in the Academic Half Day curriculum.  Our well established Mentorship program, since 2002, assigns a Faculty member to each resident. The resident and Faculty Mentor meet regularly to discuss any concerns regarding academic progress, personal issues, career aspirations and wellness. The resident and Faculty build a longitudinal relationship throughout residency which often continues after the resident has graduated. Each PGY1 Resident is also assigned a Resident mentor. CBD residents are assigned an Academic Advisor. Mentorship events once-twice per year for all the mentor-mentee pairings.

We are also proud of the Program’s adaptations to maintain the formal curriculum despite the challenges related to the COVID pandemic. All Academic Half days, Grand Rounds, educational teaching rounds and Resident Research Day are all conducted virtually through Microsoft Teams. Residents’ feedback has been very positive towards the learning opportunities preserved by the Virtual platform.

We have the BEST (and kindest) academic manager/program coordinator in the country. Trainees from the University of Ottawa will emerge from residency as competent consultant generalist Ob/Gyns, ready to practice anywhere they want, or ready to seek subspecialty training in the field of their choice.

Uniqueness of the Program

• One Month Foundations Rotation for PGY1 trainees in Block 1 including Boot camp, Workshops, Orientations to CBD, Resident Wellness Committee, Surgical Foundations, attendance at Staff Clinics and familiarization of ObGyn Residency at TOH and Montfort; (NO CALL DURING THIS MONTH)
• Surgical Foundation requirements as per RCPSC
• Female Urology one block rotation in PGY1
• Family Planning selective rotation
• Womens’ Health (Menopause) /Minimally Invasive Gynecology /Chronic Pelvic Pain Selective
• Colposcopy and Vulvar diseases Selective
• Training in Pediatric Gynecology
• Selective and Elective rotation choices in PGY4-5 tailored to resident needs and career planning
• Community rotations to heighten exposure to office-based and community-based ObGyn (distributive model of learning)
• Ambulatory clinical training opportunities starting early in junior residency
• Longitudinal Ambulatory Rotation for PGY5 residents to assist with transition to practice
• Opportunity for Chief Resident experience on Baffin Island for one week during residency
• Opportunity for international global health elective
• High-fidelity and low-fidelity simulation sessions in obstetrics and gynecology including minimally invasive surgery, urogynecology, gyn-oncology, pediatric gynecology
• Extensively developed and administered oral and written examinations for all residents (2x/year)
• Web-based evaluation systems – Elentra and One45
• Dedicated Research Program with core understanding of research methods and biostatistics through Epidemiology Sessions, Research Events
• Education Resource Centre/Methods Centre is available to all residents in the Dept of Ob/Gyn Residency Training Program Protected learning and research time
• Comprehensive Academic Half Day Program
• Formal training and evaluation in all of the intrinsic CanMEDS roles, with particular strengths in Health Advocacy and Communication; Opportunity to participate in Health Advocacy projects
• Formal Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Curriculum incorporated into Academic Half Day Curriculum; Opportunity to participate in Quality Improvement projects and committees
• Career development counseling and professional development to assist the resident both clinically and academically for the next part of their career
• Annual Resident Retreat bringing together all residents where current training rules and regulations are discussed and input for future direction/vision of the Program is sought
• Established OBGYNE Resident Wellness Committee. Resident wellness is a strong component of our program where several activities (eg. evening group sessions, annual retreat, wellness day, social activities) are organized to highlight and value the hard work, long hours and stressful situations that can be encountered throughout residency training
• Established Mentorship Program – with Mentorship Events
• Annual Reception to welcome new trainees and to congratulate graduating trainees;
• Resident travel/conference fund
• Option to obtain some training experience in the French language at the Montfort Hospital. All subspecialty rotations are based at The Ottawa Hospital.