Endometriosis, Pelvic Pain and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery

The ultimate goal of the Program is to develop highly skilled leaders in clinical management, teaching and research related to chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis and advanced laparoscopic surgery. The program is offered to Canadian gynecologists and is housed at the BC Women’s Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis in Vancouver, BC where Drs. Allaire, Bedaiwy, Williams, and Yong see approximately 2000 new and follow-up patients per year with complex gynecologic problems.

The trainee 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 deeply infiltrating 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 four gynaecologists as well as the physiotherapist and counselor. There will also be opportunity to spend time with allied physicians from the in-hospital complex pain team and to participate in the Multidisciplinary Vulvodynia Program 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 has time and support to complete an original research project in the field of endometriosis, pelvic pain, advanced laparoscopy 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:

  1. Multidisciplinary evaluation and management of complex gynecologic problems, with emphasis on endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain and fibroids
  2. Advanced surgical management of complex pelvic disease
  3. Developing general endovaginal ultrasound skills as well specialized ultrasound for diagnosis of deep endometriosis
  4. Independent practice: the trainees have their own clinic 0.5 days per week starting 3 months into training program.
  5. Master’s courses and starting a research project.

The second year of the program focuses on:

  1. Research productivity and completion of Master’s thesis
  2. Continuing to advance surgical skills in severe endometriosis cases
  3. Improving specialized ultrasound skills for deep endometriosis
  4. Improving the curriculum and teaching our MIS residents
  5. Continued independence with more complex cases seen in trainee’s 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, FRCSC

Education Manager

Leah Solomon
Email: lsolomon@cw.bc.ca

If you are a resident interested in doing an elective in this program, please contact Chriselle Serna, Chriselle.Serna@cw.bc.ca.