In the CARE Program we are truly celebrating an important milestone and an important new beginning.
The Fellowship in Family Planning, which started at UCSF 25 years ago, has now been extended to include UBC as the 31st Fellowship site –the only fellowship outside of the USA.
In 2007 Dr. Dorothy Shaw and I began discussing how to bring the Fellowship to Vancouver. Together (and with support from Drs. Kent and Liston) we started with the Ryan Program and focusing on residency training. In 2008, UBC obtained the second Ryan Residency rotation in Canada (Winnipeg being the first); a start-up grant allowed us to purchase 6 ultrasound machines, educational tools, and IUD’s for the LARC program. Within the year we welcomed the first Ryan Program Resident, Dr. Nadia Branco who is now a faculty member on our team, and with the launch of our Fellowship in Family Planning she will be taking over as director of the UBC Ryan Program.
Between 2007 and 2009 we’ve had at least 8 residents per year on 4-week rotations; 60 trainees since 2009. Our training program has also facilitated training 7 visiting OB/GYN resident & 21 Family Practice trainees. These trainees have gone on to provide clinical services in British Columbia, Newfoundland, Ottawa, Halifax, Edmonton and Toronto. We are now also host to pharmacy, midwifery, and medical students as well. Dr. Regina Renner (Assistant Director) and I welcome Dr. Roopan Gill as the first fellow to the Program. Dr. Gill completed her Medical training at The University of Toronto, her Residency in OB/Gyn at The University of Ottawa, and while doing her residency, completed an MPH at Harvard. Dr. Gill is an avid researcher, who brings with her enthusiasm and a wealth of ideas.
We have expanded clinical training, and have an excellent opportunity to expand our research with the support of the Fellowship and its underwriting sponsor. Research funding is built into the training program, providing increased opportunity through our extensive network to build on excellent research being done in the fellowship community. With the support of the WHRI team, we have established the Family Planning Research Steering committee; a committee to guide research within our Division. Thanks go to Nicole Prestley, Drs. Deborah Money, Wendy Norman and Gina Ogilvie for their experience and ongoing guidance.
In the future we hope to help other programs expand their residency training and collaborate with research. We wish to thank Dr. Cundiff for his unwavering support and guidance, as well as the team in the department, specifically Leah Solomon for helping to navigate the hurdles of financing and paperwork.