Program Contacts

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Important Information

Important Information:

This is a newly accredited Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at NOSM University, with our first intake of residents beginning in July 2026. As a new program, we are committed to building an innovative, supportive, and learner-centered training experience rooted in NOSM U’s social accountability mandate.

Our program offers the unique opportunity to be part of shaping a new residency environment, with close mentorship, strong faculty engagement, and the chance to provide feedback that will help guide the future of OB/GYN training in Northern Ontario.

We’re more than just a training program- we’re a community. At NOSM you’ll join a close-knit team of residents, faculty and staff who are passionate about caring for patients, supporting one another, and growing together as physicians and leaders.

Our residents train in a diverse range of clinical settings gaining early hands on experience in obstetrics, gynecology and subspecialties. We have fostered a close relationship with the University of Toronto in order to ensure access to subspecialties including maternal fetal medicine, urogynecology, gyne-oncology and high volume obstetrics.  NOSM university is dedicated to help support all residents through their residency program by funding travel and accommodations when required.

Applicants are encouraged to attend our virtual information sessions and visit our website for updates and event details. We do not offer individual meetings with candidates to ensure a fair and transparent selection process.

Electives:
While elective experiences in our discipline are highly encouraged, as this helps demonstrate your interest and aptitude in the field, it is not required. We recognize that not all candidates have the opportunity to arrange and complete electives outside of their home institution and would like to reassure you this will not negatively impact your application.

Gaps in Training, Remediation, or Professionalism issues:

Please address any gaps in training, remediation, or professionalism issues in your personal letter as a separate paragraph. This will not count towards your maximum word count.

 

NOSM University OBGYN – Information Session

Date: Wednesday October 15th 2025

Time: 7:00pm EST

An information session on all things related to the NOSM University OBGYN Surgery Residency Program. Staff and residents will be available to meet and greet the attendees. Come out and learn more about our great program!

Link: NOSM U OBGYN Virtual Info Night

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Return of Service

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

In addition to the application requirements outlined in this program description, applicants must ensure they meet all Provincial Eligibility Criteria. To review the Ontario Eligibility Requirements, please visit:  https://www.carms.ca/match/r-1-main-residency-match/eligibility-criteria/ontario/

 

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Supporting Documentation / Information

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Review Process

Applications submitted after file review has opened on November 27, 2025

Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened  on  November 27, 2025

Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on November 27, 2025

• Applications will be reviewed and scored independently by a combination of 2-4 program faculty members. Scores will be generated for each applicant and the program will then offer interviews based upon data.
• All eligible applicants from medical schools in Canada and the U.S. will be considered.

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Interviews

Dates:

• January 22, 2026

Selection Criteria

Candidates for the OBGYN Residency Program at NOSM are selected based on the following factors:

• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of OBGYN and the NOSM University OBGYN Program
• Strength of academic record (performance, medical knowledge and clinical abilities)
• Strength of references
• Strong interpersonal, communication and collaborative skills
• Evidence of self-directed learning, reflective practice, a high standard of professionalism and resiliency
• Strong desire to train in northern clinical settings as well as tertiary hospitals

 These factors are assessed through the following:

• A personal interview
• The review of the personal letter
• The review of the CV
• The review of performance assessments from clinical rotations in medical school, particularly during OBGYN rotations and/or electives
• The review of letters of reference

Program goals

Our mission is to educate residents who have a strong surgical and procedural aptitude to become competent specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology, prepared to practice in any setting, including rural and northern communities.

Our goal is to deliver a comprehensive hands-on curriculum that's designed to ensure that all of the OBGYN training objectives outlined by the Royal College are met, thus allowing our residents to acquire and hone all the necessary skills/competencies to develop into highly knowledgeable and skilled professionals. 

Selection process goals

Our residency program seeks candidates who demonstrate a strong academic foundation and a
deep commitment to Obstetrics and Gynecology. Ideal candidates will have a robust academic record
complemented by substantial hands-on experience in the field, electives, scholarly activities, and participation in relevant conferences.

We are seeking a candidate with the skills and adaptability to learn in a northern, rural setting. Ideally, applicants will demonstrate a genuine interest in working in northern and remote communities, along with an understanding of the unique challenges faced by northern populations.

We place high value on exceptional clinical communication skills. Candidates should exhibit the
ability to connect with patients, their families, and caregivers with compassion, empathy,
sensitivity, and humility. Effective communication is crucial for providing top-tier patient care
and fostering positive interactions within the healthcare team.

Collaboration is at the heart of our program, and we look for candidates who excel in working
within a multidisciplinary team. The ability to work effectively with colleagues from various
professional domains is essential, as is maintaining the highest standards of professionalism,
including responsibility, respect, and self-awareness.

Our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) is a cornerstone of our selection
process. We aim to build a diverse and inclusive cohort of residents who align with these values
and contribute positively to our program’s environment.

Candidates should also be well-suited to the unique aspects of our program, which includes a
hands-on, distributed rural residency involving travel away from the primary residence. We seek
individuals with strong surgical and procedural skills who can adapt and thrive in this setting.

Resilience, personal well-being, and work-life balance are vital for success in our program. We
value candidates who are committed to ongoing self-directed learning, reflective practice, and
continuous professional development, as well as those who prioritize quality improvement.

Through our selection process, we aim to identify candidates who embody these qualities and are
well-positioned to excel in our dynamic and supportive residency environment.

File review process

Evaluation criteria :

Elective criteria

Interview process

Interview evaluation criteria :

Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

Specifically, we may consider:
Social interaction during program related events
Communication with program administration
Social media
Unsolicited reference letters
Unsolicited email references
Unsolicited verbal information on a candidate's prior performance
Unsolicited feedback from colleagues and co-workers
Other : In keeping with the CanMEDs roles, please note that throughout the entire application and interview process, your interactions with NOSM University personnel may be taken into consideration by the program in their selection process and ranking decisions.

Ranking process

The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :
Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior   
Did not attend interview   
Interview performance was not competitive   

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Program Highlights

• Due to a lower volume of other learners within the clinical setting, the residents will also be exposed to surgical procedures early on in their training.
• The population of Northern Ontario provides them with exposure to a unique patient demographic and the right set of circumstances to work with and learn from first nations and rural remote communities. 
• In practice, residents will care for a wider range of gynecological and obstetric issues and gain a limited, generalist approach to subspecialty care. For example, they will be able to provide gynecology care to smaller Northern Ontario communities and also have rotations that provide training in sub specialties and high volumes in Toronto. A particular strength is that residents will learn to navigate remote community care where patients are sometimes transferred to Sudbury or Thunder Bay but can also transfer out to larger centers such as Toronto.   

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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.

PGY1–PGY2 Rotations

• Transition to Discipline (TTD)

• Transition to Residency (PDF)

• Core OBGYN (TTD)

• Foundations of Discipline (FOD)

• Ambulatory Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FOD)

• Core OBGYN (FOD)

• Family Planning

• General Surgery

• Gynaecologic Oncology

• Longitudinal Ambulatory Rotation (LAR)

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

• Emergency Medicine

• Internal Medicine – Clinical Teaching Unit (CTU)

• Internal Medicine – Ambulatory

• Intensive Care Unit

• Ultrasound

• Scholarly Project

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PGY3–PGY5 Rotations (Core of Discipline – COD)

• Chief Resident (COD)

• Gynaecologic Oncology

• Lower Genital Tract Diseases (LGTD)

• Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM)

• Obstetrics and Gynaecology (COD)

• Ambulatory OBGYN (COD)

• Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology (PAG)

• Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility & Menopause (REIM)

• REIM / PAG (combined rotation)

• Scholarly Project / Research

• Ultrasound

• Urogynaecology

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PGY5 Rotations (Transition to Practice – TTP)

• Chief Resident (TTP)

• Transition to Practice (TTP)

• Longitudinal Ambulatory Clinical Experience (LACE)

• Selective

 

Surgical Foundations
Residents in the first two years of training will attend the Surgical Foundations Program. In the fall of PGY2, residents will write the final exam set by the Royal College.  Teaching sessions will normally occur weekly on Tuesday afternoons from 1400 - 1700h.

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Training Sites

Residents will be primarily based in Thunder Bay, with opportunities for rotations at other Northern Ontario learning centres, including Sudbury. Certain rotations may also be completed in Toronto as required.

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Additional Information

To learn more about northern Ontario, please visit the "Wider Campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine" webpage.