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 total and subtotal hysterectomy, myomectomy, excision of deep endometriosis including bowel/bladder/ureteric disease, ovarian remnants and lysis of extensive adhesions. The clinic time (1-2 days/week) will be spent with the six gynaecologists as well as the physiotherapist and psychologist. 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 required to participate in an original research project 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 assistant.
The first year will focus on:
- Multidisciplinary 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
- Transition to independent practice by running their own fellow clinic 0.5 days per week starting 3 months into training program
- Master’s courses and starting a research project
The second year will focus on:
- Research productivity and completion of Master’s thesis
- Continuing to advance surgical skills in severe endometriosis cases
- 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
Applicants must be eligible for registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia and be a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Program Director
Caroline Lee MD, MSc, FRCSC
E: caroline.lee@cw.bc.ca
Sr Program Assistant
Mamta Rohra
E: mamta.rohra@cw.bc.ca
Education Manager
Leah Solomon
E: lsolomon@cw.bc.ca
*If you are a resident interested in doing an elective in this program, please contact the Sr Program Assistant, Mamta Rohra.