ANNUAL REPORT 2009-2010 - University of Toronto Department of ...

ANNUAL REPORT 2009-2010
Division of Urogynaecology
Harold Drutz, Division Head
Introduction: The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology program in “Female Pelvic
Medicine and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery” (FPMRPS) co-ordinates teaching and training of
medical students (core and elective), and core and elective residents (from other national and
international universities) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Urology, and our three-year
Postgraduate Fellowship Training Programs in Disorders of the Female Pelvis. The academic
programs function at Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospital, and Sunnybrook Health
Sciences Centre. Residency and fellowship positions are highly competitive and valued. The
Division receives local, province-wide, across Canada, and international referrals.
Faculty members include Drs. Harold Drutz, Danny Lovatsis and May Alarab (MSH), William
Easton (Scarborough Centenary Hospital), Colleen McDermott, Dana Soroka, Guylaine Lefebvre,
Abeha Satkunaratnam, Deborah Robertson (SMH), and Janet Bodley, Rose Kung, and Patricia
Lee (SHSC), who are also part of a group of seven Minimally Invasive Gynaecological Surgeons
(MIGS), including Drs. Kay Lie, Grace Liu, Herb Wong, and Romy Nitsch, with Mary Melchior,
at St Joseph’s Health Centre, involved in MIGS postgraduate training.
The Division leads practice in advanced laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of women with
urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse/pelvic floor reconstruction and offers laparoscopic
treatment of large fibroids and complex endometriosis involving the bladder and bowel.
Highlights: Colleen McDermott is a new staff member, with a three year Board-certified
fellowship from Indiana. While on maternity leave, she continues to organize rounds and
research meetings.
The ambulatory clinics at SMH were housed in an interim space, as building proceeds towards an
October 2010 opening of a new clinic.
Trainees are exposed to a large number of procedures in gynaecologic surgery. The Division has
been involved in the development of the Surgical Skills Lab Curriculum for junior residents since
1998 and has developed courses for residents and staff in advanced laparoscopic surgery and
continues to work on the development of web-based educational teaching modules for residents,
to be embedded in the Department website.
The Division has five externally funded research grants and is active in national and international
presentations and publications.
Dr Romy Nitsch ended her term as Co-Advisor for Resident Wellness along with Dr. Janet
Bodley, the latter being unanimously voted in by residents to take over next year.
Honours: Drs. Lovatsis and Drutz both received Chair’s Awards from the Department and Dr.
Guylaine Lefebvre was honoured with the SOGC’s Distinguished Service Award.
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