University of Toronto - Obstetrics and Gynecology - NOSM University
2023 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
CMG Stream for CMG
Last approved on December 20, 2022
Summary of changesAccreditation status : Accredited
Provincial Criteria
University of Toronto
123 Edward St, Suite 1200
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1E2
Program Contacts
Important Information
Please be aware that most, if not all, hospitals and Universities in Ontario have mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies in place that require, in the absence of a valid medical or human rights exemption, proof of vaccination. Acceptable vaccination must be in accordance with Health Canada. You will be required to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to the appropriate institution if matched. Failure to comply and provide the appropriate documentation may result in the termination of the contract. These guidelines could change at any time in accordance with future direction from the Ministry of Health or the Universities based on information from Public Health.
The University of Toronto has deferred the use of the CaRMS Self-Identification Questionnaire (CSIQ) responses until the 2024 R-1 Match. PGME is seeking to learn from the experience of other schools in the 2023 CaRMS match with a view to piloting this initiative in 2024 R-1 Match.
For the 2023 R-1 Match - If you assign the CSIQ to any University of Toronto program the programs will NOT be able to view the content of your CSIQ response. There are programs which provide applicants other opportunities to self-identify as a member of an equity seeking group. Please see individual program descriptions for details.
Applicants are not disadvantaged by applying to both the UofT and NOSM/UofT Residency programs.
The NOSM/UofT Obstetrics and Gynaecology Program is committed to providing our residents with the best possible training experiences to ensure their development into outstanding physicians who will contribute to our society and the medical community as leaders, advocates, scholars and educators. The inaugural class of this new and innovative collaborative program will began training in July 2023. The Residency Program is embedded within two departments that actively seek to promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. We seek to develop a community of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists that reflect the wide diversity of our communities and demonstrate commitment and capability to serve remote, rural, or Northern populations.
We strive to provide equal opportunities to all candidates who would like to become excellent Obstetricians & Gynaecologists. We welcome applications from people of all communities, including but not limited to racialized persons, persons of colour, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S persons, and others who may contribute to diverse ideas and perspectives. Our admissions process includes providing training in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as well as unconscious bias for all members of the admissions committee. Our admissions process will recognize and value a wide range of accomplishments and experiences, while using the same metrics for all applicants at both the file review and interview stages.
General Instructions
Program application language: English
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Supporting Documentation
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence in Canada
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of card)
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
Legal Status
Proof of valid current citizenship or permanent resident status must be provided by submitting one of the following verifications to CaRMS by the File Review Opening deadline. Failure to provide valid proof will result in your application being removed. No other forms of verification are acceptable:
- Notarized/certified photocopy of Birth Certificate/Act of Birth issued by an authority in Canada accompanied by photo ID (must be Canadian government-issued photo ID).
- Failure to provide proof of citizenship will result in the removal of your application. No other forms of verification are acceptable.
- Documents must be notarized/certified photocopies. Notarized/certified copies must be dated and not older than two years from the date of application submission deadline; otherwise, a new notarized/certified copy is required.
- Confirmation of permanent residence must be accompanied by a photo ID (must be a Canadian government-issued photo ID).
CaRMS is partnering with third-party organizations to automate the verification of citizenship/legal status required by postgraduate offices for entry into residency. Third-party verification simplifies the process for applicants and programs. All applicants who do not receive third-party citizenship verification will be required to upload and assign an acceptable proof of citizenship document. Please see additional information here.
- Reference letters should comply with CaRMS applicant information under Match Tips/Letters of Reference, as follows:
- A confidentiality statement indicating that the applicant has not seen and will not receive a copy of the letter.
- The date the letter was written.
- The time and duration of your contact with the applicant
- Assessment of the applicant's:
- Cognitive skills and knowledge
- Problem solving and patient management skills
- Behaviour and attitudinal skills
- Communication skills and working relationships
- Motivation
- Sense of responsibility
- Procedural skills specific to the discipline
- Special qualities and unique contributions
- Suitability for training and practice in remote, rural or northern communities
- If a referee is unable to comment on a specific component of an applicant's performance in any of the above categories, referee should indicate that referee did not observe/does not have knowledge of that specific component in the reference letter.
- TWO or THREE letters of reference (MAXIMUM) are required. Do not submit more than THREE letters.
- If possible one or more letters from a faculty member in Obstetrics and Gynecology who has observed you in a clinical setting is helpful but not required.
- We welcome ONE letter of reference from a medical professional, university professor, employer or community leader that highlights work you may have done outside of the clinical environment. This may include work that highlights your involvement in advocacy, leadership, research, education and/or teaching, and demonstrates key aspects of the CanMEDS roles such as collaboration, communication and professionalism, particularly in a remote, rural or northern community
- Letters from Residents or Fellows are not accepted.
Candidate photographs will only be used during the interview stage and will not be released prior (i.e. in selecting residents for or during file review).
Medical School TranscriptOrder from your Registrar.
Medical Student Performance RecordOrder from your Dean's office.
Personal LetterDescribe why you are interested in a career in Obstetrics & Gynaecology and aspects of the NOSM/UofT ObGyn Residency Program that are of interest. Your personal letter is an opportunity to speak to your professional motivations and ambitions; your leadership experience and aspirations as well as your interpersonal and communication skills.
Include any personal qualities that make you an ideal candidate for training and practice in remote, rural or northern settings, as well as any challenge(s) you foresee if accepted into this program.
Please feel welcome to share any circumstances or lived experiences that will contribute to the diversity of experience and thought in our program and profession, including but not limited to your identity as a Black, Indigenous or racialized student, or a member of the LGBTQ2S and differently-abled communities. We also welcome you to share your experience as an ally to others in your journey.
For candidates voluntarily self-identifying as Black Canadians or Americans, or a member of an community, if you would like your application to be reviewed by a faculty member who self-identifies as a member of one of these communities, please indicate this in the first line of your letter. Note that although we do not currently have any self-identified Indigenous faculty members, we have a number of Black faculty members participating in our process.
Maximum word count: 1000 (no minimum)
Your CV should highlight your accomplishments. Please ensure that references to presented/published work, if any, are included, ideally with a hyperlink to the work in question.
CASPer examYour CASPer assessment result is sent directly to CaRMS from Altus approximately one week prior to the application deadline. Please ensure that you give Altus permission to share your results with CaRMS.
The CASPer assessment is only valid for one admissions cycle. If you have taken the assessment in a previous year, you are expected to re-take it.
The opportunity to register for the CASPer assessment for the 2023 R-1 Match has passed. If you have completed this assessment it is required to apply.
Documentation of prior postgraduate training Detailed outline of medical practice experienceReview Process
Applications submitted after file review has opened on January 10, 2023
Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened on January 10, 2023
Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on January 10, 2023
Only COMPLETED applications released through CaRMS and adhering to their application deadline will be reviewed. Selected candidates will be offered interviews by January 26, 2023.
Interviews
Dates:
- February 9, 2023
- February 10, 2023
- The interview team has been developed according to our department’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion; these principles will be adhered to during the interview process in order to create a fair and equitable interview process.
- Applicants will have four interviews by four different teams that include senior residents and faculty members representing both NOSM and U of T. These will be virtual interviews.
- Applicants are encouraged to attend a CaRMS InfoNight specific to the NOSM/U of T , (details below) and participate in the GatherTown Social Event with residents, which will be held virtually during the interview period. There will be opportunities during these sessions to ask questions about the program.
Selection Criteria
Resident selection is based on a combination of outcomes in the following areas: (1) the applicant file review, and (2) the interviews.
1) File Review
Each component of the candidate’s online CaRMS application is reviewed and scored by 2-3 members of the program’s Resident Selection Subcommittee. Members include both faculty and senior residents. Reviewers use a standard form for scoring. Applicants with the highest file review scores are invited to interview.
2) Interviews
The interview format will be provided to candidates offered an interview, in advance of their interview date. Interviews will be conducted by a team of faculty, senior residents and/or allied health. Candidates should anticipate that they will meet with more than one team.
A standard set of questions and standardized scoring is used for interviews. Each question is linked to interview components as listed in the Interview Process section below.
NOTE: The program will accommodate re-scheduling due to technology failure or unforeseen circumstances; however, rescheduled interviews must occur within the two days designated for our interview process (see interview section for further details). Accommodations due to unforeseen issues on the second day of interviews will be considered on a case-by-case basis but are subject to availability of our interviewers and must be rescheduled before our rank order meeting the following week.
Applicant Ranking
- Applicants are ranked based on a cumulative score of File Review Score and Interview Score.
- Applicants are placed on a ranking list according to their combined scores.
- The Resident Selection Subcommittee reserves the right to adjust the final rankings by consensus to address issues of program priority and diversity.
Program goals
The NOSM/ U of T Obstetrics & Gynaecology residency program seeks to train highly skilled Obstetricians and Gynaecologists who are representative of the diversity in our population and are committed to serving remote, rural and/or northern populations.
Our graduates will be:
- Exemplary in all CanMEDs roles
- Excellent clinicians and surgeons
- Competent to practice in community and/or academic settings
- Prepared to pursue careers that include both clinical practice and leading roles in research, QIPS, education, advocacy, and / or administration.
- Skilled at working with a diverse & multicultural population
- Balanced practitioners who value both personal wellness and professional fulfillment
- Capable and committed to serving a rural, remote, or northern population
Selection process goals
The NOSM / University of Toronto Obstetrics & Gynaecology residency program seeks to bring together a group of residents who will enrich and inspire our community, within and outside of medicine. We value the life experiences of all applicants and are interested to hear how your experience of culture, race, social and economic background, gender and/or sexual expression may have informed your understanding of the medical profession and your personal goals as a future Obstetrician & Gynaecologist.
We value proven interest and ability in many different arenas, including but not limited to leadership, advocacy and scholarly work.
Our selection process emphasizes the following traits:
- Compassion
- Communication skills
- Collegiality and teamwork
- Professional behaviours and attitudes
- Self-reflective abilities
- Respect for the wellbeing of colleagues, family and self
- Potential for academic success.
- Adaptability and Resilience
- Suitability for remote, rural and/or northern training and practice
File review process
Review team composition : A senior resident and faculty members from both NOSM and U of T will review each file in its entirety. When these two individuals have divergent opinions regarding the merit of an applicant's file, a senior faculty member will provide a third review.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 0 - 50
Not applicable
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 0 - 25 %
Not applicable
| File component | Criteria |
|---|---|
| CV | Academic success, scholarly activity and research projects, leadership roles, advocacy projects, work experiences |
| Electives | We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted candidates’ opportunities to arrange and complete electives and would like to reassure you that a lack of elective activity this year will not negatively impact your application to our program. |
| Examinations | Academic success |
| Extra-curricular | Evidence of sustained leadership, advocacy and service-oriented interests, ability to work in teams, collaboration |
| Leadership skills | Abilities and interests in leading teams |
| MSPRs | Academic success, communication and collaboration skills, professionalism |
| Personal letters | Interest and insight into the specialty, resilience, communication skills, reflection on lived experiences |
| Reference documents | Academic success, surgical potential, scholarly activity, collaboration skills, professionalism, communication abilities, compassion, insight, suitability for training in remote, rural and/or northern locations |
| Research/Publications | Interest in scholarly activity; evidence of sustained scholarly work is not required but will be considered |
| Transcripts | Potential for academic success |
Elective criteria
Interview process
Interview format :
We routinely accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants due to weather, technology failure or unforeseen circumstances.
| Interview components | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Collaboration skills | Ability to work in team settings |
| Collegiality | Allyship, interest in helping colleagues and working for the communal good |
| Communication skills | Outstanding ability to communicate complex concepts |
| Health advocacy | Insight into when and how to advocate for patients and populations; specifically in remote, rural and/or northern locations |
| Interest in the discipline | Demonstrated insight into the rewards and challenges of the specialty; knowledge of and suitability for competence-based education |
| Interest in the program | Interest in training in a large, multi-site program in a large urban centre |
| Leadership skills | Ability to motivate a team, problem solve, people skills |
| Professionalism | Dedication, responsibility, commitment, collegiality, insight, ethical decision making, and commitment to principles of equity, diversity and inclusion |
| Scholarly activities | Interest in scholarly work, ability to identify and articulate a scholarly problem |
| Other interview component(s) | Ability to foresee and plan to overcome challenges in this training program |
Information gathered outside of CaRMS application
Specifically, we may consider:Ranking process
The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :Program Highlights
The Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at NOSM and the University of Toronto are committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EDI). We seek to use the principles of EDI to inform our work in our key focus areas of: Research, Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS), Global Health and Community Advocacy. Our education programs at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels are strongly integrated with all of these initiatives. Our residents are leaders and key participants in the academic life of our department as we pursue this work.
Our program provides comprehensive training in Obstetrics & Gynaecology leading to Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons certification. Strengths of our program include:
- An innovative and successful curriculum. Our RCPSC Competence-by-Design (CBD) Curriculum will welcome our 5th cohort at U of T in July 2023. Our faculty have developed expertise and experience in the delivery of this new curriculum.
- Core rotations in OBGYN and subspecialty rotations that incorporate a diversity of experience in subspecialty areas integral to community-based practice.
- Half of the five-year training in Thunder Bay, Sudbury and other sites affiliated with NOSM U, with preceptor support from physicians committed to practicing in Northern Ontario.
- Half of the five-year training in Toronto, a large tertiary care centre with a diverse patient population and extensive range of clinical situations and practice settings.
- A diverse patient population and multiple training sites, providing a range of clinical situations and practice settings. Exposure to the culture and social fabric of Francophone and Indigenous communities.
- Financial support for resident travel to and from core clinical placements away from Thunder Bay, and accommodation.
- Integration with the RCPSC Surgical Foundations Program including a dedicated Surgical Skills Prep Camp, focus on Quality Improvement, a year-long seminar series, and preparation for the RCPSC Surgical Foundations exam in PGY2.
- A Surgical Skills curriculum designed for the acquisition of basic and advanced technical skills in obstetrics and gynaecology using bench models, trainers and simulation.
- A weekly Academic-Half Day (AHD) curriculum that includes reviews of essential topics led by both faculty and residents
- Clinical Epidemiology sessions.
- A supportive and nurturing learning environment that includes a robust Resident Wellness program embedded in all aspects of the residency program.
- A Longitudinal Ambulatory Rotation (LAR) in the first year of residency that allows for clinical continuity and mentorship.
- A focus on scholarly activity including mentorship, peer feedback through regular research proposal sessions, and opportunities to conduct projects with a variety of faculty exploring novel and ground-breaking topics in basic or clinical research, QIPS, Education or Advocacy.
- A well-established QIPS program which welcomes resident involvement.
- The Clinician Investigator Program (CIP), a fully funded two-year program (resident must apply and be accepted) leading to a Master’s degree or a PhD, which is normally undertaken between PGY3 and PGY5. There are also opportunities to fund residents who wish to pursue a master’s or PhD outside of the CIP program.
- Many opportunities for residents to initiate and lead advocacy projects.
- A strong Global Health program, with opportunities to pursue Global Health courses and Global Health opportunities.
- Numerous opportunities to develop skills in medical education, with opportunities to take teaching courses, teach undergraduate medical students and conduct research.
Program Curriculum
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.
Competency By Design (CBD)
In 2019, the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology launched a Competency by Design (CBD) curriculum, under the direction and guidance of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. More information about this curriculum is available here: Competence by Design (CBD). 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. The residency programs is broken down into four training stages, and each stage requires the successful achievement of Entrusted Professional Activities (EPA’s) based upon required competencies.
All programs implementing CBD continue to undergo the same rigorous accreditation processes and continue to lead to Royal College approved certification. Certification for trainees will include the completion of a Royal College examination.
For more information, contact cbd@royalcollege.ca.
Stages of Training
The four stages of Obstetrics & Gynaecology are (with number of blocks*):
- Transition to Discipline (3 blocks)
- Foundations of Discipline (23 blocks)
- Core of Discipline (30 blocks)
- Transition to Practice. (9 blocks)
*Legend: For the following section, please note that each block is (4)-four weeks in length. For reasons of legibility, we have included site abbreviations; the full name of each hospital as well as a link are provided in the Training Sites section below.
PGY1 & PGY2
During PGY1, residents will complete Transition-to-Discipline (TTD) and the first ten blocks of Foundations-of-Discipline (FOD). The remaining FOD rotations will be completed in PGY2. Residents will be assigned a base hospital in PGY1, where they will complete the majority of their rotations; this is to encourage a greater sense of community as they rotate through their off-service rotation requirements.
Rotations include the following (site codes are explained in the Training Site section):
Transition to Discipline (TTD)
- Transition to Residency (1 block) (various downtown sites in Toronto)
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a major teaching hospital site (1 block) (in Toronto at MSH, SHSC or SMH)
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology at NOSM (1 block) (Thunder Bay)
Foundations of Discipline (FOD)
- Emergency Medicine (1 block) (Thunder Bay)
- General Surgery (1 block) (Thunder Bay)
- Gynaecologic Oncology (1 block) (Thunder Bay)
- Intensive Care Unit (Medical Surgical) (1 block) (Thunder Bay)
- Internal Medicine (1 block Clinical Teaching Unit) (MSH, SHSC, SMH)
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology at a community hospital site (1 block) (Thunder Bay)
- Ultrasound (1 block) (Thunder Bay)
- Longitudinal Ambulatory Rotation (LAR) (2 half-days per month from Sept to June) (Thunder Bay)
- During LAR, the PGY1 trainee will work in an obstetrics and/or gynaecology ambulatory clinic two half-days per month from September to June, directly with a faculty member who acts as a preceptor and mentor. Although PGY1s benefit from a wide experience in many specialties during their first year of training, the LAR helps to ensure residents remain connected with their core interest and their colleagues.
During PGY2, residents will continue to complete the bulk of the FOD stage of their training in Toronto, on the Core Obstetrics and Gynaecology services, as well as spending a short period of time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and 2 weeks planning a scholarly project. The high volume and acuity available in Toronto teaching hospitals provides excellent preparation for the remainder of training and practice.
PGY3, PGY4 & PGY5
Core of Discipline (COD)
The COD stage begins in PGY3 and continues until the Royal College (RC) written exam in the fall of PGY5. Training during this stage focusses on subspecialty disciplines and advanced training in core Obstetrics & Gynaecology.
The order of rotations will vary. All residents have exposure to community practice throughout the program. Our residents will pursue a course of training that includes:
- General Obstetrics and Gynaecology (at major teaching hospitals, community-hospital sites, and endoscopy centres) (4 blocks) (Thunder Bay)
- Ambulatory Medicine (1 block) (Thunder Bay)
- Chief Residency period, focused upon leadership and administration in Obstetrics & Gynaecology (6 blocks total; some may occur in TTP) (Thunder Bay and Toronto)
- Gynaecologic Oncology (4 blocks) (Toronto - SHSC, UHN-PMH or THP-CV)
- Gynaecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (2 blocks) (Toronto - MSH or Thunder Bay)
- Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology (1 block) (Toronto - HSC)
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine (3-4 blocks) (Toronto - MSH, SHSC)
- Urogynaecology (3-4 blocks) (Sudbury or Toronto)
- Focused time to work on a Scholarly Project (3 blocks) (Thunder Bay)
Transition to Practice (TTP)
TTP is the final stage of training in the residency program and will commence after the RC written exams in the fall of PGY5. This time will be spent consolidating skills in anticipation of independent practice or fellowship, culminating in the Royal College oral exams in the spring. This stage will take place in Thunder Bay, although opportunities for some rotations in Toronto if desired.
The remaining 10 blocks are set aside for residents to personalize their residency training during the COD and TTP stages, including up to (3)-three rotations outside of Ontario (includes global health electives). The program offers a number of pre-defined experiences in areas such as Lower Genital Tract Diseases; however, residents can opt to create their own rotation objectives with an approved faculty supervisor. For the most part, these rotations will take place in Thunder Bay, although there will be an option to do some rotations in Toronto depending upon individual goals.
Scholarly Project Requirement
During residency training, each resident completes a scholarly project in clinical or education research, Quality Improvement (QI) or basic science, under the guidance of a faculty supervisor. Residents are supported through every stage of the process to ensure they gain training and experience in research methodology, ethics, proposal writing, literature review, data work, writing a manuscript and presentation at the Department’s Annual Research Day. Satisfactory completion of residency training at the University of Toronto requires completion of a scholarly project. NOSM/UofT residents outside of Toronto at the time of the annual research day will have travel expenses fully covered by the program in order to participate.
The program encourages residents to attend and present their findings at conferences and meetings through an educational fund set up for each resident. Residents who come to the program with previous research training and/or experience will benefit from the University of Toronto’s extensive network of faculty and staff, as well as leadership and mentorship opportunities.
Residents who would like more focused time to complete scholarly work can choose to pause their clinical training and apply to the Clinician-Investigator Program or other post-graduate programs as approved by the Program Director.
Training Sites
UofT/NOSM OBGYN Residency Clinical Sites
The University of Toronto Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology provides all levels of care to the local community, and tertiary and quaternary care to the Province of Ontario. Together, all core teaching-hospital sites within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have over 35,000 deliveries a year and a large number/variety of gynaecologic operative cases. Our residents are privileged to have the opportunity to learn and work in many different hospitals. This great strength of our program allows the residents to develop strong relationships with many faculty members, meet patients from across Toronto, representing all the cultural diversity of this city, and to experience many different styles of practice.
Residency clinical teaching sites are as follows:
- Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
- Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH)
- St. Michael's Hospital (SMH)
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre (SHSC)
- North York General Hospital (NYGH)
- Hospital for Sick Children (HSC)
- Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH)/University Health Network (UHN)
- St. Joseph's Health Centre (SJHC)
- Trillium Health Partners (THP)
- Michael Garron Hospital (MGH)
- Women’s College Hospital (WCH)
All residents can expect to rotate through several of these hospital sites during their training. All sites are accessible by public transportation.
Additional Information
1) NOSM/UofT OBGYN Information Session
The Program is hosting an information session in Thunder Bay. Dr. Frank Potestio, Regional Site Director, and other faculty will be available to provide information and answer questions.
Date and Time: Thursday, January 5th at 6:00 pm
WebEx Link/Phone Number:
https://nosm.webex.com/nosm/j.php?MTID=mc5123dc84ba4701bf783621bc97daf22
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Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only) |
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+1-647-798-0132,,24200381928## TORONTO LOCAL |
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Join by phone |
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+1-855-699-3239 CANADA/US TOLL FREE |
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2) Meeting with the Current Residents
If you would like to find out more about our residents' experience in the UofT program, we would be happy to put you in touch with a current resident. If you are interested, please contact pg.obgyn@utoronto.ca.
Summary of changes
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