Perioperative Medicine

The Preoperative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Ottawa and The Ottawa Hospital will provide the successful candidate with clinical, scientific, educational and administrative experience and training in one of Canada’s largest multi-hospital health sciences networks. This is a 12-month specialized training program focused on the preoperative assessment, optimization and management of adult patients undergoing surgical and interventional procedures at The Ottawa Hospital, a tertiary care center providing a wide range of surgical services (excluding cardiac and pediatric surgery). 

The preoperative medicine program at The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa is nationally and internationally recognized for its expertise in evidence-based preoperative testing strategies, leadership in Canada’s Choosing Wisely campaign, and a scientific program focused on innovation in the assessment and optimization of older and high risk patients considering surgery. In particular, the scientific agenda includes a specific focus on frailty assessment, prehabilitation and personalized risk assessment. Furthermore, The Ottawa Hospital features world-leading access and capabilities for perioperative data science, including a fully integrated electronic health record, data warehouse and linkage to multidimensional health system data at ICES, a provincial research institute that houses Ontario’s health administrative data. Opportunities for graduate and specific training in perioperative outcomes and data science research are available for appropriate and outstanding candidates.   

The successful candidate will participate in clinical care at our two inpatient campuses, the General (focused on surgical oncology, thoracics and advanced arthroplasty) and Civic (trauma, vascular, bariatrics, spine and neurosurgery). Our annual case volume exceeds 30,000 major inpatient cases, as well as numerous ambulatory procedures. We also feature well-established enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs. There is a Preoperative Assessment Unit located at each of these campuses with established processes to triage, based on high risk patient and procedural characteristics, patients for assessment by physician anesthesiologists. The Ottawa Hospital also features a Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine with a preoperative medicine practice group composed of anesthesiologist with fellowship training, specific interest and expertise in perioperative medicine, as well as internationally recognized clinician scientists engaged in research in perioperative medicine. The focus of this group and these clinics is to ensure appropriate assessment and optimization of patients prior to surgery. The Fellow will also gain exposure to the administrative aspects of managing a preoperative assessment unit and the implementation of perioperative protocols.

The goal of the fellowship is to provide Anesthesiologists with focused training and to foster clinical excellence in the preoperative management of a broad range of high-risk patients undergoing surgical cases and non-surgical invasive procedures. It is designed for individuals who wish to deepen their understanding of evidence-based preoperative assessment and optimization or in the development and management of a preoperative assessment clinic. Various opportunities also exist for research and scholarship in perioperative medicine.

The fellow will spend two days a week practicing perioperative medicine in PAU and two to three days a week providing anesthesia care in the main operating room. The fellow will have a minimum of two days a month of protected non-clinical time to work on research and scholarly projects. It is expected that the fellow will participate in a clinical research project which will lead to a presentation at a national or international meeting or publication in a medical journal. Opportunities exist for development and implementation of enhanced care protocols and/or patient experience or quality and patient safety projects. Scholarly activities will be supported by faculty and members of our department. The opportunity to secure further academic time exists through a competitive process whereby the Fellow (supported by the program) will submit a proposal for a research project by mid-September. The fellow will also be involved in the education of Anesthesiology residents and medical students. The Fellow will be expected to give a minimum of one presentation at Departmental morning teaching rounds. The fellow will participate in on call duties on designated weekends. 

Dr. Anna Wyand MD FRCPC : Perioperative Medicine Fellowship Lead

Dr. Wyand completed a fellowship in Perioperative Medicine at The Alfred Hospital (Melbourne, Australia). In addition to her expertise in perioperative medicine, Dr. Wyand has a specific focus on perioperative medical education. She is an examiner for the Anesthesia examination board at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and has worked extensively in residency medical education, including curriculum development, competence based medical education and evaluation.

Dr. Sylvain Gagné MD FRCPC : Corporate Medical Director, PAU

Dr. Gagné completed a fellowship in Thoracic Anesthesia at the University of Ottawa. As the Preoperative Assessment Unit Corporate Lead for The Ottawa Hospital since 2011, Dr. Gagné has extensive experience in the administrative and clinical aspects of perioperative medicine. In addition, Dr. Gagné has a specific interest in perioperative medical education and has been involved in curriculum development, competency based medical education and evaluation and was the previous perioperative medicine fellowship director. He has an interest in standardization of care and preoperative optimization.

Dr. Patrick Sullivan:MD FRCPC:  Medical Director PAU (Civic Campus)

Dr. Jane Prud’homme MD FRCPC: Medical Director PAU (General Campus)

Dr. Daniel I. McIsaac MD, MPH, FRCPC: Scientific Lead

Dr. McIsaac is an international leader in perioperative outcomes research, with specific expertise in care of older surgical patients and health systems evaluation. In addition to his training in anesthesiology, Dr. McIsaac also completed a Masters in Public Health at the Harvard School of Public Health and a research fellowship in Health Systems Performance and Evaluation at ICES, where he is a full status scientist. Ongoing scientific projects in perioperative medicine include multicenter trials of prehabilitation, functional recovery and personalized risk prediction to optimize care and outcomes for high risk patients. 

Dr. Sylvie Aucoin

Dr. Claudia Gomez MD FRCPC

Dr. Claudia Gomez completed fellowships in Acute Pain Management and Perioperative Medicine. She is a member of the Acute Pain Management and the Transitional Pain Service Pilot Teams at the Ottawa Hospital. She is passionate about patient safety and medical education and holds a degree in Health Professions Education. Dr. Gomez is the current Resident Coordinator at the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital and a member of the Residency Program and of the Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine Quality and Patient Safety Committees.

We have one position per year for a high-quality individual who is passionate and enthusiastic about preoperative medicine. Candidates must apply through University of Ottawa Postgraduate Medical Education office and selected candidates will be invited for an in-person interview (or via telephone if overseas).

Mrs. Michelle Akimov
Canadian Medical
Schools Applicants
Interim Fellowship Program Coordinator
The Ottawa Hospital,
1053 Carling Avenue
Room B310, Ottawa, ON
Canada K1Y 4E9
Tel: 613-761-4940
Fax: 613-761-5209
Email: makimov@toh.ca