About the Program

The obstetrics hospitalist fellowship at McMaster University Medical Centre (MUMC) is a one-year training program non-accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCSC), geared toward providing advanced education in hospital-based obstetrics and maximizing patient safety and quality of care. The fellowship focuses on the professional care of mother and fetus in the inpatient setting, obstetrics (OB) emergency skills, patient safety and quality improvement. The main concept is to train fellows to act as competent OB safety officers.

This program provides strong clinical and surgical training by experienced health care providers: obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine, obstetric medicine, anesthesiology and neonatology faculty.

Objectives

The learning objectives of this fellowship program are linked to the CanMEDS framework and are described as follows:

• Develop a deep understanding and unparalleled clinical experience of the variety of obstetrical problems and emergencies managed in one of the busiest Canadian tertiary level obstetric care facilities
• Adapt the contemporary Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) clinical practice guidelines to local context
• Become familiar with the concept of risk management related to high-risk obstetrics and labour and delivery
• Provide a multidisciplinary approach with nurses, midwives, social workers and other health care providers (i.e., neonatology, anesthesia, internal medicine and surgery), assisting in the full spectrum of OB triage, labour and delivery, and antenatal and postpartum care
• Safely transition patient care from the hospital to the community
• Liaise with the intensive care unit (ICU) for any obstetrical or postpartum patients admitted to the ICU
• Be exposed to outpatient high risk pregnancies and diagnostic imaging for fetal anatomy, fetal anomalies, biophysical assessments and Doppler ultrasound
• Develop clinical and communication skills enabling discussion of complex issues with patients and families
• To assist staff and participate in performing cesarean sections
• To increase skills in safe multiple birth delivery and assisted vaginal delivery
• Gain skills in teaching and leading a junior team of trainees (rotating residents and medical students) with the backup of our faculty member
• Fellow oriented educational program: Attend and present complex patients in educational rounds, seminars and conferences provided within the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Formulate a relevant scientific clinical question and transform it into research project

Eligibility Requirements

The fellowship is intended for overseas trained graduate specialists in obstetrics and gynecology. Applicants must have finished an accredited residency in obstetrics and gynecology. If training were not in English, applicants would need to complete and submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam results with the application.

Application and Timeline

The first step in the application process is the pre-assessment. Eligible candidates will be considered for an interview. When applications open, applicants should submit:

• Current CV
• Proof of medical degree
• Copy of medical school transcripts
• Proof of specialty degree
• Cover letter stating your goals in pursuing a career as a high-risk obstetrics hospitalist
• Three current original reference letters dated and signed
• TOEFL scores

Funding: Sponsorship letter, fully funded by the sponsoring institution/ agency, documenting salary support for the year of training. Trainee salary must be no less than $60,000 Canadian per annum.

We currently offer two fellowship positions every year. Applications will be accepted until September 1 of each year. The Fellowship Committee will review applications and candidates will be contacted for interviews in November for positions beginning July 1. Incomplete applications with missing documents will not be considered.

Please submit the complete application package via email to Heather Shiskoski.

Program Director