Enhanced Skills

Family Medicine Obstetrics

Welcome to Family Medicine Obstetrics Enhanced Skills at the University of Alberta.

Competence

Our curriculum builds on core skills through diverse clinical exposures and high yield academic instruction

Confidence

Our program enables graduates to practice effectively in any clinical setting by targeting training to their individual learning needs.

Social Accountability

All Albertans deserve competent and confident care from family physicians during their most vulnerable moments

Contact Us

5-16 University Terrace
8303 112 Street
Edmonton, AB T5G 0B7

Dr. Sanja Kostov
Program Director, Family Medicine Obstetrics
skostov@ualberta.ca

Dr. Emily King

Assistant Program Director, Family Medicine Obstetrics

ebking@ualberta.ca

Ms. Claire Paterson
Enhanced Skills Program Administrator
Email: fmpgy3@ualberta.ca

Welcome to Our Program

The University of Alberta Enhanced Skills Family Medicine Obstetrics Program is a 12-16 week (3-4 block) category 2 non-surgical program designed to provide additional training for family physicians committed to providing late gestation antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum care as part of their practice. Residents will acquire knowledge and skills to help them feel competent and confident in the management of pregnant patients in a range of clinical settings. To support family physicians as lifelong learners and scholars, residents will also have opportunities to develop skills and comfort as medical educators.

Applicants to the 2025/2026 academic year must be in their PGY2 year in a Canadian postgraduate family medicine residency training program. Applicants are encouraged to outline their learning and future practice goals with the program so that their experiences can be tailored to meet their needs.

The Enhanced Skills program in Family Medicine Obstetrics is a Category 2 program. It is a local, university-based, and domain-specific competency-based training program, under the Department of Family Medicine.

Dr. Sanja Kostov

Program Director

Program Highlights

#1 - Targets the expressed learning goals of each resident.

#2 - Upon completion, graduates can expect to feel confident and able to practice intrapartum care anywhere in Canada.

#3 - Graduates gain skills in teaching medical students and residents so that they can meet the dynamic and ever-changing needs of their communities and maintain essential capacity in family medicine obstetrics.

#4 - Rich and vibrant rural communities welcome trainees and allow them to develop their skills in unique clinical environments.

#5 - Category 2 program does not require a full year commitment, only 3-4 months of enhanced training.

#6 - Mentor assigned to maintain a connection to comprehensive family medicine and longitudinal experience.

RESIDENCY AT A GLANCE

This residency program is for 3 months (and optional 4th block).

Community Site FMOB - 4 weeks

Residents will complete a 4 week rotation in an urban, group practice with family medicine obstetrics providers. Residents will be an integral part of the compassionate, comprehensive, and evidence based care provided at these clinics. Residents will be supported on call to manage patients presenting for assessment, induction and management of labour and delivery. During this rotation, residents will receive mentorship from colleagues to support their transition to practice in family medicine obstetrics. This mentorship will continue throughout the program as residents work with a faculty advisor who includes family medicine obstetrics as part of their practice.

Rural Placement - 4 weeks

Residents will work with family medicine obstetrics providers in a busy regional centre in Alberta. Residents will work with family physicians who are passionate about continuing obstetrical care in their communities. Residents will be supported in the clinic and on call. Residents will continue to increase their confidence in antenatal care, management of labour and delivery. Residents will have opportunities to increase their confidence caring for newborns and managing hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn.

GNH Off-Service Rotation - 4 weeks

Residents will work with and learn from obstetricians at a community hospital with high obstetrical volumes. During this hospital rotation residents will be immersed in labour and delivery. Residents will learn from more high risk cases and may have opportunities to learn about assisted vaginal births and cesarean sections. Residents will have opportunities to mentor and teach junior learners, including medical students and junior family medicine residents.

Optional Selective - 4 weeks

This block offers room for the enhanced skill resident to extend the program an initial block if they wish. They may have a second block in the training area that they feel they need the most. Additional selective time must be arranged with the Program Director prior to the start of Block 1.

Application Process

Timelines

For the 2025/2026 academic year (program commencement in summer 2025) we have 4 positions available.

Application package submission opens August 12, 2024 and is due by October 14, 2024
Interviews offered October 16th to November 11, 2024
Offer letters sent November 13, 2024
Deadline for accepting offer December 2, 2024

Details

Application is not done through CaRMS. The full application package should be sent to fmpgy3@ualberta.ca by October 14, 2024.

Applicants are encouraged to outline their learning and future practice goals with the program so that their experiences can be tailored to meet their needs.

Documents required for application to the program to be emailed by the applicant include all of the following:

Letter of Interest (limited to 1000 words)
Curriculum Vitae (please include an overview of relevant clinical experience)
Letter of support from your Family Medicine Residency Program Director
Two reference letters; one from your Faculty Advisor and one from your lead Family Medicine Obstetrics preceptor
Proof of successful completion of CFPC exam (to be submitted prior to program start)