Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology Fellowship

Section of PAG

Section Head:

Dr. Phillipa Brain

Program Director: 

Dr. Sarah McQuillan

Program Administrator:

Janellyn Orpilla-Tejana

Members at large:

Dr. Jaelene Mannerfeldt

Dr. Christine Osborne


Fellows

Enrolled:

Dr. Kristina Arion 

Alumni:

Dr. Tara Justice

Dr. Kayla Nelson

Dr. Christine Osborne

Dr. Nada Warreth

University of Calgary - One Spot Available

General Information

  • Program Name: Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Fellowship
  • Program Location: University of Calgary
  • Participating in Application Cycle year: 2024
  • Number of spots: 1
  • Length of fellowship: 1 (Can negotiate for 2 years with additional focus on research / Minimally Invasive Surgery )
  • Program Established in: 2019

Applicant Qualifications

  • Candidates must have graduated from an Accredited Canadian Medical School in Obstetrics & Gynecology (Royal College of Canada) or hold a valid ECFMG medical license and be allowed to work in Alberta as a Qualified Educational Surgical Assistant

Objectives/Goals

  • To learn to manage common and uncommon pediatric and adolescent gynecology conditions
  • To focus on minimally invasive surgical techniques in children/adolescents, management of complex reproductive anomalies and work in an inter-disciplinary team approach to reconstructive surgery
  • To develop research interests and have the opportunity to present at a scientific meeting
  • To become an educator of residents and medical students by translating complex concepts
  • To prepare the fellow for a career in the field of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology 

PAG Team Members

  • 1 fellow per year
  • 5 PAG attendings

Program Structure:

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Calgary is offering a one-year clinical/research fellowship in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. The goal of this Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology (PAG) fellowship program is to train academic fellows who are outstanding clinicians, surgeons, teachers, and research contributors. The educational objective of the training program is to provide fellows with the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to independently manage, children and adolescents with medical and surgical pediatric/adolescent gynecologic conditions, including congenital anomalies, amenorrhea and assist with their transition into an adult practice, which will include the care of these patients as adults. The fellow will also participate in transgender care in children, teens and adults in an interdisciplinary setting through patient care and team conferences (including surgical exposure and care of the neovagina). The fellow is expected to educate students/residents and to perform research.

Clinical Sites

  • Alberta Children’s Hospital
  • South Health Campus
  • Foothills Medical Center

PAG Call Expectations

  • Daily PAG call 8-5 with expectation to assist with operations occurring after hours
  • 2 Obstetrical Calls/month to maintain competency if planning to practice Obstetrics after graduation
  • 2 Pediatric Surgery Calls/month

Curriculum

Clinical: 
The fellow will participate in all PAG clinics, pediatric urology clinics while on pediatric urology, endocrinology clinics, adolescent medicine clinics, complex chronic pain pediatric clinics as well as transition/adult gynecology clinics. With a focus on long term care of patients with anomalies/developmental delay. The fellow will also participate in PAG-surgery, pediatric surgery, urology surgery and plastic surgery cases. Lastly, the fellow will be responsible for PAG consults, in the Emergency Room as well as the inpatient units.

Teaching:
Fellows will be expected to attend 1 international PAG Conference where they will learn and display their research. They will be responsible for teaching in clinic as well as in the operating room to both residents and medical students. They will also be involved in PAG OSCEs for residents, resident PAG half day and our annual PAG Simulation day. The fellow will also present at Grand Rounds to the department once in the academic year.

Research:
Research is anticipated to lead to national presentations and manuscript publications.

Devoted Time:
Overall balance is approximately 70% clinical activities and 30% academic/research time.

Notable Program Highlights:
What sets this program apart is our very involved academic faculty, our wonderfully supportive Clinical Nursing team, the exposure in the Operating Room to both pediatric and adult patients depending on the timing of surgery and lastly, our extensive trans-female postoperative vaginoplasty care program, increasing exposure to different methods of vaginoplasty and grafts and troubleshooting complications.