Obstetric Internal Medicine (OBIM)
General Internal Medicine
Obstetric Internal Medicine is an emerging subspecialty within General Internal Medicine focused on the care of patients with medical conditions before, during, and after pregnancy. Obstetric Internists work collaboratively with a team of Obstetricians, Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialists, Family Physicians, and other medical sub-specialists to individualize the care of pregnant patients with complex medical conditions with the goal of maximizing both maternal and fetal health.
Education
Obstetric Internal Medicine is a recognized core competency of the General Internal Medicine (GIM) fellowship program across Canada. All GIM trainees at the University of Calgary (U of C) complete a minimum of 1-month of Obstetric Internal Medicine during their 2-year GIM fellowship. In addition, the OBIM program provides elective experiences to local and visiting residents from interdisciplinary residency programs including Obstetrics, MFM, Internal Medicine sub-specialties, Family Medicine, Anesthesia, and Medical Genetics. For more information on electives please contact Bonnie Kraft, OBIM program administrator (contact information listed below).
The OBIM program also offers a 1-year fellowship in Obstetric Internal Medicine to Canadian graduates who have successfully completed their FRCPC in Internal Medicine. For more information regarding our fellowship program and application deadlines please click here.
Clinical Care
The OBIM Program provides outpatient consultations including preconception counseling, assessment and management of medical disorders during pregnancy, and postpartum care. Our inpatient consultation service is located at the Foothills Medical Centre and provides Obstetric Internal Medicine consultations to pregnant patients admitted to hospital. In addition, the OBIM attending physicians routinely provide phone consultations via Specialist Link for physicians working in Southern Alberta.
Academic
OBIM physicians at the U of C contribute their expertise to advance evidence-based care of patients with medical conditions over the reproductive years across a range of academic fields including: medical education research (curriculum design and simulation); clinical research (randomized clinical trials, administrative data, clinical innovation, and guideline development); quality improvement (including models of care); patient safety; equity / diversity and inclusion (including Indigenous Health); health policy and advocacy; and implementation science. Further, OBIM program members hold active roles in leadership positions in organizations focused on women’s health and health over the reproductive years locally, provincially, nationally, and internationally.
For information on academic elective experiences, please contact Bonnie Kraft, OBIM program administrator (contact information listed below).