Program Director
The goal of the clinical fellowship is to develop highly skilled leaders in clinical management, teaching and research related to minimally invasive surgery, endometriosis and pelvic pain. The program is offered to Canadian-trained gynecologists and is housed at the BC Women’s Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis in Vancouver, BC where Drs. Allaire, Bedaiwy, Lee, Lin, Williams, and Yong see approximately 2000 new and follow-up patients per year with complex gynecologic issues.
The Clinical Fellow will spend 2-3 days per week in the operating room, performing advanced minimally invasive surgeries, including laparoscopic hysterectomy, adenomyomectomy, myomectomy, excision of deep endometriosis including bowel/bladder/ureteric/diaphragmatic disease, ovarian remnants and lysis of extensive adhesions. The clinic time (1-2 days/week) will be spent with the six gynaecologists performing comprehensive assessments, pain mapping and advanced ultrasounds as well as some time with our physiotherapist and counsellor. There will also be opportunity to spend time with allied physicians from the in-hospital complex pain team and to participate in the Vulvar Pain Assessment Clinic at VGH. The trainee has protected time (one day/week) for research and teaching. She/he will be involved in teaching residents, both in the operating room and on pelvic trainers. The trainee will be expected to submit two original papers for publication. Depending on their career goals, trainees will complete a course-based or research thesis-based MSc. Trainees with a previous thesis-based MSc/PhD degree will have a customized research program in the field of minimally invasive surgery, endometriosis, pelvic pain, or surgical education. Our program has an active research arm with CIHR funding and a full-time research coordinator.
The first year will focus on:
- Interdisciplinary evaluation and management of complex gynecologic problems, with emphasis on endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain and fibroids
- Advanced surgical management of complex pelvic disease
- Developing both general and specialized endovaginal ultrasound skills to evaluate for advanced endometriosis and optimize pre-operative planning.
- Transition to independent practice by running their own fellow clinic 0.5 days per week starting 3 months into training program
- Master’s or other research courses and starting a research project
The second year will focus on:
- Research productivity and completion of Master’s thesis or courses.
- Continuing to advance surgical skills in severe endometriosis cases with a focus on multidisciplinary cases with urology/colorectal/thoracic surgery services
- Improving specialized ultrasound skills for deep endometriosis
- Improving the curriculum and teaching our MIS residents
- Ongoing transition to independence with more complex cases seen in fellow clinic and assigned OR time as MRP
Program Director
Caroline Lee MD, MSc, FRCSC
Education Manager
Leah Solomon
Program Administrator
Mamta Rohra
Sr. Program Assistant
Lauren Ritchie
lauren.ritchie@cw.bc.ca
*If you are a resident interested in doing an elective in this program, please contact Lauren Ritchie lauren.ritchie@cw.bc.ca