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Program Description

The residency program is arranged on a five level basis, with each level usually equated to one year in the program. The program is problem-centred and experience-based: residents carry out their duties and responsibilities under faculty supervision. As the resident progresses through the program, the level of supervision decreases and the degree of autonomy increases.

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The first postgraduate year (PGY1) is a broad-based clinical year, in which residents develop foundational skills with broad applications. The PGY2 year focuses on the attainment of general obstetrical and gynecological knowledge and skills. The PGY3 and PGY4 years of the program are structured around the development of skills pertaining to the sub-specialty areas. The final PGY5 year involves time performing as a Chief Resident and honing senior surgical expertise.

PGY1

The first postgraduate year of training is a broad-based basic clinical training year based upon the requirements of the Royal College which will provide you with broad functional capabilities and enable you to successfully complete the MCCQE Part 2.

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Currently our PGY1 is comprised of the following rotations:

  • Obstetrics & Gynecology (3 blocks)

  • General Surgery (2 blocks)

  • Internal Medicine: 1 Block CTU and 1 Block Obstetric Medicine (2 blocks)

  • Ambulatory & Women’s Mental Health (1 block)

  • Emergency Medicine (1 block)

  • Intensive Care (2 blocks)

  • Anesthesia (1 block)

  • NICU/Pediatric Surgery (1 block)

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Recent additions to PGY1 include the Surgical Foundations boot camp, consisting of 2 weeks of didactic and hands-on sessions coordinated by the Surgical Foundations program. A separate OB/GYN boot camp was also added to orient residents to the program and common topics on labour and delivery.

PGY2

The second year of the program consists of rotations in Obstetrics and Gynecology with the goal of developing core knowledge and skills. During daytime rotations, you will spend time either covering Labour and Delivery, attending gynecologic procedures in the operating room, or attending ambulatory clinics. During overnight call shifts, residents assess and manage patients on labour and delivery, attend any urgent gynecologic surgeries, see patients in the Emergency Room, and respond to calls from the antenatal, postpartum, and gynecology wards. The majority of the year is spent within Hamilton but some of the Obstetric rotations take place in neighbouring communities.

 

Rotations consist of:

    • General Obstetrics (5 blocks) * two blocks are completed in a community hospital setting

    • General Gynecology (6 blocks)

    • Gynecologic Oncology (2 blocks)

PGY3-5

During these years, you will focus on completion of the subspecialty rotations, elective rotations, surgical rotations, and rotations as chief residents in the later part of PGY4 or in PGY5. Rotations consist of:

    • Maternal Fetal Medicine (3 blocks)

    • Prenatal Diagnosis Clinic (2 weeks)

    • Ultrasound (1 block general ob/gyn, 2 weeks high-risk ob, and exposure to weekly gyn ultrasound clinic longitudinally)

    • Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (3 blocks)

    • Gynecologic Oncology (3 blocks)

    • Urogynecology (3 blocks)

    • Colposcopy (2-3 blocks)

    • Laparoscopy (1-2 blocks)

    • Senior Ambulatory Gynecology which includes exposure to Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology (1 block)

    • Senior Gynecology (3 blocks)

    • Electives (5-8 blocks)

    • Chief Obstetrics (2-4 blocks)

    • Chief Gynecology (2-4 blocks)

    • Senior Rotation (3-4 blocks)

 

During your residency you have 5-8 blocks of elective time. There is the opportunity for electives outside of the province or even outside of the country as the residents are able to request three blocks away from the call schedule. It is expected that during these elective experiences, you will be doing call at the elective site in order to enhance your learning experience.

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During your time as Chief Resident, you will spend time both at McMaster University Medical Centre and St. Joseph’s Hospital. The time is divided approximately equally between Obstetrics and Gynecology.

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As Gynecology Chief, you have general charge of the gynecologic wards and operating room and carry out administrative responsibilities relative to other learners in the system. You are responsible for the staffing and conduct of the chief resident clinics, the consulting services including the emergency room, and the gynecologic operating room.

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As Obstetrics Chief, you have general charge of the labour and delivery area, the obstetrical wards and the consulting services in the Chief Resident Clinic. Again the Chief Resident is responsible for administrative tasks such as making the on-call schedules, teaching junior learners, and delegating roles and responsibilities appropriately amongst the junior learners to ensure all have an excellent educational experience while on the rotation.

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Prior to the Royal College exam the PGY5 residents will be scheduled on a Senior Rotation during which they will have significantly reduced clinical activity allowing them some preparation time prior to the exam while also targeting learning opportunities that will be helpful for both exam preparation and transition to practice.

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