Obstetrics and Gynecology

Program Director
Dr. Gail Lam

Assistant Program Director
Dr. Dhea Wallace-Chau

CBD Lead
Dr. Kayla Nelson

Program Administrator
Karen McKeon

Administrator Assistant
Louise Gofton

Program Highlights

This is a great program in a great city!  We have friendly and supportive Residents, Staff, and Administration, who are genuinely invested in every Resident's training, professional success, and personal well-being

• Early and vast amount of hands-on training in routine and complex high-risk Obstetrics, General Gynecology and Sub-Specialties
• One large tertiary and three large community hospital sites 
• Over 60 engaged teaching staff with a wide variety of expertise and practice styles; and a formal Mentorship Program starting in PGY1
• Excellent exposure to Maternal Fetal Medicine, REI/Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Gyne-Oncology (3-blocks rotations) and Urogynecology (2-block rotation)
• Well-established and supervised Chief Resident Clinics at all three hospital sites allowing for excellent longitudinal independent practice and autonomy
• Excellent opportunities to develop basic MIGS skills with opportunities for more advanced MIGS electives
• Dedicated Ultrasound block in PGY1 year 
• Courses, conferences and original resident research presentations such as:  Surgical Skills Course, COMS, Western SOGC, ALARM, APOG Annual Meeting, SOGC ACM-SCC Basic Course, ICRE IRLS, John Jarrell Research Day and Making a Mark Review Course
• Annual formal practice OSCEs for all Residents, and serial practice OSCE sessions for PGY5s, in addition to annual APOG exam
• PGY1 Program provides a supportive transitional environment into residency
• Protected Friday morning faculty lead academic half days, that includes multi-disciplinary and inter-specialty perspectives
• Faculty-lead Resident Journal Club sessions; weekly Tuesday and Friday Departmental O&G Rounds; weekly Monday MFM Rounds, REI lunch Rounds, weekly Thursday Gyne Oncology Tumor Board Rounds,  Quarterly M&M Rounds, Annual Research Day 
• Enrolled in Principles of Surgery, a CBD-based course for all surgical residents
• Annual Resident Retreat weekend in Banff, Annual Departmental Retreat, and significant Resident representation and participation by Residents in their training Program with a supportive and responsive Residency Program Committee, Program Director and Program Administrator
• Graded increase in responsibility with decrease in call commitments with increasing PGY years, allowing for protected study time prior to the Royal College Board Certification Examination
• PGY3 year-end FITER to help identify problems early and individualize curriculum if necessary
• Monthly simulation training during protected time
• Young and invested Residency Program Committee
• Successful completion of Royal College Accreditation
• Monthly resident run Journal Club

What distinguishes Calgary from other cities?

• Close proximity to the Rocky Mountains where you can ski, snowboard, camp, hike, bike and climb to your heart's desire
• The Calgary Stampede
• Friendly and multicultural environment with a multitude of rivers, parks, pathways, festivals and restaurants
• Growing city with >1,200,000 people
• Chinooks in the winter
• Great city to raise a family
• Program goals
• Upon completion of training, the resident is expected to be a competent specialist in Obstetrics & Gynecology, capable of assuming a consultant's role in the specialty.  The resident must acquire a working knowledge of the theoretical basis of the specialty, including its foundations in basic medical sciences and research.
• Residents must demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes for effective patient-centred care and service to diverse populations,  In all aspects of specialist practice, the graduate must be able to address ethical issues and issues of gender, sexual orientation, age, culture, beliefs and ethnicity in a professional manner.