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Faculty of Health Sciences

Department of Medicine

Obstetric Medicine Fellowship

Welcome to the Obstetric Medicine Fellowship Program at McMaster University. This unique fellowship opportunity is tailored specifically for senior trainees in Internal Medicine who have completed at least 4-years of residency postgraduate education and have a strong interest in caring for the medically complex pregnant patient. The training program is one of a select few of its kind across Canada.

Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Joseph's Hospital are home to roughly 7000 deliveries each year. Obstetric Medicine aims to provide trainees a thorough exposure to the full spectrum of pre-conception, antepartum and postpartum care for medically complex pregnancies. There are numerous opportunities to work and build networks with pioneers of clinical and academic medicine who share an interest in caring for pregnant patients.

We are excited to train our future leaders in this exciting and emerging field of Medicine.

Overview

The Obstetric Medicine Fellowship program at McMaster University provides excellent exposure to broad areas of obstetric medicine. Some highlights include:

  • Preconception counseling
  • General Obstetric Medicine
  • Subspecialty Obstetric Medicine:  Maternal Fetal Medicine, Fertility Medicine, Ultrasound and Placentology, Pregnancy and Thrombosis, Obstetric Rheumatology, Neurology, Hematology and Platelet disorders Congenital and Obstetric Cardiology, Endocrinology and Diabetes Care, Obstetric Nephrology, Obstetric Neurology and Maternal Epilepsy and more
  • Inpatient city-wide consultation service to ER, GIM, Obstetrics, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Gynecology, Midwifery and Fertility clinics
  • MRP care including Medical stepdown and Obstetric ICU
  • Fellow-led longitudinal Obstetric Medicine clinics
  • Referral triaging and assignment
  • Journal Clubs, Complex Care rounds, Grand rounds, Academic Half Days
  • 6 or 12-mo training schedule
  • Scholarly project including Quality Improvement initiatives
  • Opportunity to network and work with global leaders in clinical and academic medicine

Research

All fellows will be expected to participate in one longitudinal research project of their choosing. This project can be scientific-based, education-based, or quality improvement-based. Fellows should liaise with an Obstetrical Medicine physician of their choosing to brainstorm ideas regarding a potential project. Ethics submission will depend on the project scope. They will be expected to present a mid-term progress report to the OB Medicine group and a final presentation at the end of the fellowship. If the opportunity arises where a research submission could be completed, fellows will be encouraged to do so and provided appropriate faculty supervision to realize this. It is encouraged that the fellow presents their research project at a local meeting.

Goals of training

The Obstetric Medicine Fellowship objectives include:

  1. Develop competency in consultancy skills around the pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of medical conditions in pregnancy as outlined in the CanCOM Obstetric Medicine Curriculum.
  2. Develop competency in collaboration and multidisciplinary care with a diverse healthcare team consisting of midwives, family physicians, obstetricians, fertility specialists, Maternal Fetal Medicine specialists and medical subspecialists.
  3. Develop competency in counselling with a patient-centered focus as it pertains to pre-conception, antepartum, intrapartum or postpartum complications of medical disease and pharmacologic therapies in pregnancy.
  4. Develop a repertoire of readily available, evidence-based and accessible resources to refer to oneself, for pregnant patients, their families, physician colleagues and inter-disciplinary health professionals.

Length of Training

This is a 6-month fellowship. Training can occur over 12-mo in a block-wise manner e.g. 2-weeks on service, 2-weeks off service or consecutively over 6-mo. Start dates currently offered are Jan 1st or July 1st each year

Funding

The fellowship is self-funded. For international applicants, a sponsorship letter, fully funded by the sponsoring institution/agency, documenting salary support for the year of training will be required.

Learning Activities

  1. Grand Rounds
  2. Journal Club
  3. Rounds’
    1. Inpatient rounding will occur before and/or after clinics: reflecting typical Obstetric Medicine practice, at mutually agreed upon times between fellow, attending and rotating junior trainees.
  4. Simulation Sessions
    1. The fellow will participate in a maternal arrest simulation sessions with other ICU/ER/Nursing trainees.
  5. Quality Improvement
    1. Learn the core principles of QI and have the opportunity to contribute to a longitudinal QI project.
  6. Monthly Academic Half Day
    1. AHD will be once a month. AHD will consist of didactic sessions (Hypertensive D/O of Pregnancy, Thromboembolic disease and pregnancy, Thyroid Diseases in Pregnancy, Medical Emergencies in Pregnancy, Pregnancy and Cardiomyopathy, Pharmacology of Pregnancy, Complex Case Review, setting up a practice, Establishing OBM in a hospital setting, How to mentor and how to supervise trainees), Research and QI methodology, personal learning/research project time, joint AHD with MFM fellows.

Supervision & Feedback

  1. ITERs will be distributed to supervisors via MedSIS every 3 months.
  2. Case Log will be maintained by trainee and reviewed monthly by supervisors.
  3. Fellowship Director will meet with trainee quarterly to review ITERS and feedback.

Certification outcome

Successful completion of the fellowship will grant a postgraduate Fellowship McMaster Certificate

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be current trainees or recent graduates of an Internal Medicine Residency Program having completed a minimum of 4 years of postgraduate residency education. Applicants must qualify for a full or educational license with the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Ontario. Out-of-Province and international applicants should visit the College website to confirm eligibility for licensure before applying for this Fellowship. Please also refer to the English Language Proficiency Requirements of the College. Applicants are required to submit a personal statement, CV, three reference letters and email of intent to apply 9-12mo prior to anticipated start date. Selected applicants will be interviewed and granted offers 6-9mo prior to the start date. Applicants will also need to submit an application form prior to starting their fellowship and must comply with McMaster University Postgraduate Medical Education requirements for residents and fellows.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is 9-12 months prior to start date.