Please visit the residency program website for more information on our program.
Program application language: English
A copy of your CV is not required. Please enter all work, volunteer, education, electives, interests, research and publications into the appropriate fields throughout the application.
Required documents for ALL applicants
Canadian Citizenship
The province of British Columbia will accept one of the following notarized/certified documents as proof of the citizenship/permanent residency and is required for all types of applicants. Photocopies are accepted but, citizenship documents other than what is listed below are not accepted. Proof of citizenship/permanent residency must be submitted to CaRMS by the File Review deadline. No allowances for late submission.
CMG / USMG
If you graduated from an English medical school in Canada (including McGill) or the US, you are exempt from providing proof of language proficiency.
Candidates who attended medical school in Quebec or the University of Ottawa where the language of instruction or the primary language of patient care was not English, must fulfill the English Language Proficiency requirements of the College of Physicians of Surgeons of BC as identified below. This requirement is the same for IMGs and is required by the start of the Ranking Period.
IMG
The College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC requires applicants to be proficient in the English language.
The Registration Committee may determine that an applicant has demonstrated English language proficiency if the following conditions are met:
Applications received by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC on or before June 30, 2022, who have not met the above requirements will require one of: IELTS Academic examination, OET Medicine Examination or CELPIP General Examination for licensing (see criteria below). As such, applicants must submit the proof of English language proficiency to CaRMS by the start of Ranking Period. Photocopies are acceptable.
Please note that results from these three examinations cannot be mixed. Candidates must meet all of the criteria in either the IELTS, OET or CELPIP examination.
Applicants are advised to review the College of Physicians and Surgeons English Language Proficiency Requirements here: https://www.cpsbc.ca/files/pdf/REG-ELP.pdf
Only the first 3 reference letters will be reviewed. Any additional reference letters submitted will not be reviewed.
Reference letters from referees in other specialties can be submitted. Applicants are encouraged to submit reference letters from referees who know them best regardless of their specialty.
Please keep the letter under 500 words.
PhotoApplicants selected for an interview are also required to submit a photo prior to the interview -- instructions will be sent with the interview offer email.
Medical School Transcript Medical Student Performance RecordApplications submitted after file review has opened on January 31, 2022
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on January 31, 2022
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on January 31, 2022
Applicant documents are reviewed and scored independently by resident and faculty members of the Residency Program Committee (RPC). Those scores are ranked to determine candidacy for an interview at UBC.
Reference letters and research/publications are weighted fairly heavily. Your elective, work and volunteer experience that showcase unique life experiences that may provide you with special skills to bring to our program are also highly valued.
Dates:
Individuals who are strong in both academics and surgical skills
Individuals who demonstrate commitment to improving the care of women either through a keen interest in women's health research or through women's health advocacy
Individuals who are able to function extremely well in a cohesive team environment
At UBC, we are committed to training physicians who will serve our population.
Residents in our program are expected to demonstrate clinical and academic excellence, exceptional interpersonal and teamwork skills, research experience and a sense of responsibility and dedication to the profession. Residents are expected to be active community members and demonstrate balance as evidenced by engagement in volunteer, extracurricular or other types of activities.
At UBC, we reply on the entire province for training. Therefore, the ability to complete rotations 'away' from your home base is expected.
Interest in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and those who will develop into exceptional Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Interact appropriately with patients, colleagues and healthcare team members alike
Demonstrated attributes highlighted in the CanMEDS 2015 roles
Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm to learn and are able to adapt to the various demands of residency training
Sincere interest to serve British Columbians
Review team composition : Our review team is composed of 10 resident and 15 faculty members of the Residency Program Committee (RPC), including the Program Director and Program Administrator.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 51 - 200
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 26 - 50 %
File component | Criteria |
---|---|
CV | Research, publications, electives and work experience |
Electives | Wide selection of electives from various specialties |
Examinations | We do not evaluate this file component. |
Extra-curricular | Volunteering (medical and non medical) and mentoring |
Leadership skills | Holding office in a student government, club or organization |
MSPRs | We do not evaluate this file component |
Personal letters | Interest in discipline and desire to serve patients |
Reference documents | Positive interaction with colleagues and patients. Interest in discipline. |
Research/Publications | List of projects (complete or in-progress) and publications. Interest in future research projects. |
Transcripts | Academic performance |
Completing a UBC elective in Obstetrics & Gynaecology is not a requirement, however the applicant will need to be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to the speciality in their other electives.
Interview format :
We routinely accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants.
Interview components | Criteria |
---|---|
Collaboration skills | Promotion of high-quality patient care through working in a team environment |
Collegiality | Behavior, attitude and ability to work well with others |
Communication skills | Ability to speak and write in English |
Health advocacy | Demonstrated interest |
Interest in the discipline | Demonstrated interest and ability in the specialty; evidence for compassion |
Interest in the program | Demonstrated interest in the specialty, program and serving British Columbians |
Leadership skills | Ability to initiate programs, lead organizations or group and make an impact |
Professionalism | Correspondence with staff, residents and interviewers during, before and after the interview |
Scholarly activities | We do not evaluate this interview component |
Other interview component(s) |
Medical-legal, ethics and decision-making. Interviews are virtual this year and this is the only format being offered. |
The program provides an excellent environment to train highly skilled obstetricians and gynaecologists while fostering residents who have an interest in subspecialty training.
Our faculty and residents are the highlights of the program. All department members are committed to a resident focused environment with strong, supportive teaching and learning opportunities.
The level of obstetrics training each resident receives in unique to our program. Our laparoscopic training and diversity of patients and cases are excellent.
We have a tremendous amount of support for resident research that includes a dedicated faculty Research Advisory Group.
Simulation training has become an integral part of our residency training with multiple simulation sessions, OB Simulation, Laparoscopy Dry Lab, Nexplanon Implant training, Surgical Procedure Review, Sphincter Lab, Pig Labs, Cadaver Labs, Bootcamp (Transition to Foundations) and a Hysteroscopy Course.
The Residency Program has developed a strength in international health advocacy work with both faculty and residents committed to this endeavour.
Residents are provided tools to become outstanding clinical teachers. This commitment parallels the department's vision of improving women's health and providing the best training experience in Canada.
Vancouver is a wonderful place to live with many opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and the thriving arts culture.
This residency program is for 5 years.
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.
The program offers a wide variety of clinical material in all areas of the specialty along with a strong research base.
Conference funding is available to residents in all years. Attendance at conferences and participation in research projects are strongly encouraged and supported.
Residents participate in the Surgical Foundations program to acquire fundamental and advanced surgical skills training at an earlier stage in their training.
Courses such as the Fetal Health Surveillance, ALARM, ACLS-BLS, FCCS, ATLS and NRP are all offered by the program.
We have a dedicated Research Advisory Group and mentors to provide residents with assistance in their research projects.
Competence By Design (CBD)
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has embarked upon an initiative to introduce competency based medical education (CBME) in Canadian postgraduate specialty training and in professional practice in Canada. This initiative called Competence by Design (CBD), aims to enhance patient care by aligning medical education and lifelong learning with evolving patient needs and empowering learners to more fully engage in their education process. As of July 1, 2019, Obstetrics and Gynaecology residency programs began CBD training.
CBD uses time as a framework rather than the basis for progression. It is not anticipated that the duration of training will change for the majority of trainees. Residency programs will be broken down into stages, and each stage will have a series of milestones based on required competencies. These milestone will create more targeted learning outcomes and involve more frequent, formative assessments within the clinical workplace, to ensure residents are developing and receiving feedback on the skills they need.
Programs implementing CBD will continue to undergo the same accreditation processes as traditional programs. All CBD programs (and traditional programs) will continue to lead to Royal College approved certification. Certification for trainees includes the completion of the Royal College Examination; however, residents in CBD programs will also be assessed against program milestones throughout their training. Within a CBD program, all milestones (documented within an electronic portfolio) and the Royal College Examination, must be successfully completed to achieve certification.
For more information, please refer to http://www.royalcollege.ca/rcsite/cbd/competence-by-design-cbd.ca
Transition to Discipline
The first 9 blocks of residency training offers broad-based clinical training in all basic disciplines that is similar to a rotating internship.
These blocks are completed at the Royal Columbian Hospital (New Westminster) and St. Paul 's Hospital (Vancouver). Residents will have a site match in April prior to the start of residency to determine their training site.
Residents participate in the Surgical Foundations program which consists of weekly academic seminars throughout the entire year and a 4 week CRASH Course in Block 4.
- General Obstetrics
- General Gynaecology
- General Surgery
- CRASH Course (Surgical Foundations)
- ICU
- Emergency Medicine
- CTU
- NICU/Ultrasound
- Bootcamp (prepare for Transition to Foundations; introduction to Research included)
Foundations
This stage of training is comprised of General Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Family Planning rotations at five difference locations in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland:
- BC Women's Hospital (Obstetrics)
- Vancouver General Hospital (Gynaecology)
- Royal Columbian Hospital (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
- St. Paul's Hospital (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
- Surrey Memorial Hospital (Obstetrics and Gynaecology)
- Family Planning
- Research
Core
This stage of training consists of subspecialty training as well as further development of gynaecological skills as follows:
- Maternal Fetal Medicine & Ultrasound
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility including Pediatric Gynaecology
- Vulvovaginal Health/Sexual Medicine
- Reproductive Infectious Diseases
- Gynaecologic Oncology
- Urogynaecology
- Community Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Kamloops, Prince George, Victoria or Nanaimo)*
- Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Surgical Selective/Elective
- Daycare O.R.
* Accommodations are provided at no charge for residents during their Community rotation. Funding is available for round-trip visits back to Vancouver every 4 weeks and for mandatory program events. Weekly academic seminar are videoconferenced to each site so the resident remains connect with the other residents. The Community site is assigned prior to the start of the stage of training and residents must attend that assigned site.
Transition to Practice
This stage of training consists of Chief resident rotations at BC Women's, Vancouver General and St. Paul's Hospitals. These rotations encourage development of teaching and leadership skills. They also include ambulatory clinic experiences where residents hone and develop their skills as independent consultants.
Research
Resident involvement in research is a mandatory requirement of the program. Each resident must complete one research project to manuscript form and present their research at least twice by the end of their residency training. A minimum of one presentation must occur at the annual department Academic Day.
Residents receive dedicated research rotations, as well as training in research design. Residents are encouraged to present their projects at local, national and international meetings and conferences.
A dedicated Research Advisory Group provides assistance and mentorship to the residents throughout their residency.
Training Hospital Site Information
Please visit our website for more information on each training site.
In summary we have five major teaching centres in Vancouver (BC Women's, Vancouver General, St. Paul's, Surrey Memorial and Royal Columbian Hospitals) and provide mandatory rural Community rotations in Nanaimo, Kamloops, Victoria and Prince George.
Resources
Each affiliated hospital teaching site has resident access to computers in the resident call room.
All the teaching hospitals have UpToDate subscriptions and access to the UBC E-Journal library.
Vancouver is set in the midst of great natural scenic beauty and offers a wealth of outdoor and cultural activities to suit all lifestyles.
Residents in the program come from a variety of cultural, educational and ethnic backgrounds. The program prides itself on the collegiality of the residents.
More information about the program can be found on our website.
Q: What subspecialty fellowships and advanced training programs are there at UBC?
A: There are fellowships offered in Maternal Fetal Medicine, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility and Gynaecologic Oncology.
UBC Advanced Training Programs are available for Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery, Family Planning, Infectious Diseases and Endometriosis, Pelvic Pain & Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery.
Q: What are the recent changes to the program?
A: We are in the third year of CBD (Competence By Design) competency based medical education training. Rotations continue to evolve with additional training in Ultrasound in the first year and increase of general obstetric and gynaecology training. Residents are assigned Academic Advisors to help review their progress and coach the residents through the stages of training. Competence Committee reviews each resident biannually and provides update reports to the residents.
We have introduced a Daycare rotation to increase surgical exposure and opportunities for junior residents, split Maternal Fetal Medicine/Ultrasound rotation into junior and senior rotations throughout Core stage of training and increased Urogynaecology to two consecutive block rotations for greater exposure and learning opportunities.
QUINTS mentorship groups have been established where residents in all 5 years of training are paired with a faculty mentor and provides an opportunity for OBGYN residents to create relationships between the training year with near-peer mentorship, as well as mentorship with a staff physician to help residents' personal and professional development.
Dr. Roxana Geoffrion is our new Resident Research Chair and has implemented a Resident Research Fair, staged research project reports and mentorship to help aid the residents with their research projects. A Research Research Database has been created to house a list of projects available to the residents.
Simulation training has increased with the introduction of OB Simulation, Laparoscopy Dry Labs, Surgical Procedure Review, Sphincter Labs, Hysteroscopy Course, Cadaver Labs, Bootcamp (Transition to Foundations) and Pig Labs.
Laparoscopic box trainers are housed in each of our local and Community hospital centres for residents to use.
Academic seminars are offered in-person and virtual and structured by topic blocks and the format has been modified to a combination of didactic lecture, case based discussion and review. Transition to Discipline residents participate in academic seminars or program event for the last 4 months of the academic year once finished Transition to Discipline.
First and second year residents participate in the UBC Surgical Foundations program to enhance their surgical skills knowledge early in their training. Residents attend weekly seminars and a dedicated CRASH Course rotation.
Q: What makes UBC unique?
A: You will find a wide variety of clinical material, teaching and faculty support, the diversity of patients from the DTES (Downtown East-Side) at St. Paul's Hospital, the obstetrics experienced at BC Women's Hospital (> 7500 deliveries per year), provincial training at distributed rural community sites, excellent training in advanced laparoscopic gynaecology procedures, dedicated rotations for Family Planning (Terminations and Contraceptive Counselling) centered in an inter-professional maternity unit, dedicated research support staff, support for international experiences/electives, funding support for conferences and research endeavours, a collegial atmosphere amoungst residents and strong resident input into the Residency Program Committee (RPC) and Business Meetings. Funding to attend conferences and research projects are at some of the highest levels of any program in Canada.
Q: What are the locations for the 3 block Community rotation? It is mandatory to attend a rural community location and how it is funded?
A: The Community rotation block occurs during Core stage of training in Nanaimo, Prince George, Victoria or Kamloops. This rotation is mandatory and residents are expected to complete their rotation in one of those training locations. Accommodations are provided and funding is available for travel every 4 weeks back to Vancouver and for mandatory program events. Academic seminars are video broadcast to Community hospital sites so residents can interact and participate in the seminars along with their colleagues.