This unique and innovative one-year program is offered to practicing Canadian gynaecologists who wish to develop an expertise in the assessment and treatment of patients with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain and develop outstanding laparoscopic skills. The emphasis is on integrated care with a multidisciplinary evaluation and approach in addition to advanced surgical management of complex pelvic disease. The Program is housed at the BC Women’s Health Centre in Vancouver, BC where Drs. Allaire, Williams and Yong see approximately 2,000 new and follow-up patients per year with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. They have recently received substantial Provincial funding to support the set-up of a formal multidisciplinary clinic to help women with these problems.
The trainee will spend two days per week in the operating room, performing advanced minimally invasive surgeries, including laparoscopic total and subtotal hysterectomy, myomectomy, excision of deeply infiltrating endometriosis including bowel/bladder disease, ovarian remnants and lysis of extensive adhesions. The clinic time (two days/week) will be spent with members of the clinic team, the two gynaecologists as well as physiotherapist, rehab physician, pain management physician and counselor. There will also be opportunity to spend time with allied physicians, namely gastroenterologists, urologist and in-hospital complex pain team. The successful candidate will also participate in the Multidisciplinary Vulvodynia Program at VGH. The trainee has protected time (one day/week) for research and teaching. The trainee will be involved in teaching residents, both in the operating room and at our state of the art simulation centre (CESEI). The trainee will have time and support to complete an original research project in the field of endometriosis, pelvic pain, advanced laparoscopy or surgical education.
The ultimate goal of the Program is to develop leaders in teaching and research related to chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis and advanced laparoscopic surgery to improve the care provided to Canadian women with this complex problem.
The advanced training program had one post graduate trainee Dr. Pira Korsieporn who graduated in July 2016. Dr. Korsieporn has an appointment at McGill University where he will be joining our previous graduate Dr. Sonja Bodmer-Roy. They are working on developing a pelvic pain clinic within the chronic pain centre at McGill University.