Maternal-Fetal Medicine Subspecialty Residency

Program Contacts

Program Director:

Dr. Sheryl Choo
5S 155, Lois Hole Hospital for Women, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta

Email: slchoo@ualberta.ca

Program Administrator:

Lalitha Srinivasan

Email: mfmres@ualberta.ca

One Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) residency position is available each year.

The program is based out of a tertiary level obstetrical care centre, the Lois Hole Hospital for Women, in the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH), Edmonton, Alberta. Within the city and neighboring community of St. Albert, there are four obstetric care hospitals. The Maternal-Fetal Medicine division provides high risk obstetric care to this expansive catchment area including patients from the Northwest Territories through northern Alberta and further south to Red Deer, Alberta. Our diverse patient population provides a wealth of clinical pathology, research opportunities, and educational experiences. The MFM division works closely with our dedicated affiliated colleagues in Fetal Cardiology, Obstetric Medicine, Medical Genetics, and Neonatology.

Goals & Objectives
At the end of the program, the resident is expected to become a competent Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist with completion of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Competencies and Training Experiences as outlined by the standards from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). Educational programming follows the RCPSC standardized Competency Based Medical Education methods. The resident will have acquired high risk obstetric clinical knowledge, an understanding of the basics of research, fetal screening and diagnostic skills such as in-depth obstetrical sonography, and the communication skills necessary to counsel patients with new or existing medical, obstetrical fetal, or familial conditions that can affect the outcome of pregnancy.

Core Programming will include rotations or experiences in:
• Clinical Inpatient and Outpatient Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• High Risk Obstetric Ultrasonography
• Inpatient High-Risk Obstetrics
• Obstetric Medicine
• Fetal Cardiology
• Medical Genetics
• Neonatology
• Perinatal Pathology
• Introduction to Research

The program will also include educational experiences such as the basics of sonography, initiation of a scholarly project, longitudinal clinical care, clinical case reviews, Academic Half-Day Seminars, OBGYN Rounds and MFM Journal Clubs.
Eligibility Criteria

There are different eligibility requirements for applications to be considered. Within each category all criteria must be met in order to apply for this program.

1. Applicants are currently enrolled in an Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at a Canadian university.


a. Applicants must be completing their Obstetrics and Gynecology training through a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada accredited program. They must be eligible for and plan to take the Royal College Obstetrics & Gynecology Examination.
b. Applicants are in good standing in their current Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Program.
c. Applicants are eligible for an educational license from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.


2. Applicants who are certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the Royal College prior to applying for the MFM Residency Program:


a. Applicants must demonstrate that they were in good standing at the completion of their general Obstetrics & Gynecology program.
b. Applicants are eligible for an educational license from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.


3. Applicants who have completed or are completing Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency in an institution outside of Canada (Considered International Education Applicants).

a. Enrolled in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited United States residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology and planning to complete certification with the RCPSC.

b. International medical graduates must have their training approved by the RCPSC and be eligible to sit the RCPSC examinations in Obstetrics and Gynecology, with confirmation from the RCPSC to that effect.

c. Successful English Language Proficiency results within the last 24 months as per the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) website (IELTS Academic, OET Medicine and CELPIP General exams), if required.

d. Pass on the MCCQE Part 1 Exam.

e. International applicants can be accepted only when they are endorsed by a sponsoring agency that has entered into a postgraduate training agreement with the University of Alberta. Charitable foundations, private corporations or self-funding are not considered acceptable sources of funding.

f. Applicants are eligible for an educational license from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.

g. Sponsorship letters from home countries sent to pgspon@ualberta.ca

Application Process & Deadline

*NOTICE - Applications are no longer being accepted for Fall 2025.

Please contact mfmres@ualberta.ca for the application form.

FOR APPLICANTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN A CANADIAN OBGYN RESIDENCY PROGRAM OR PREVIOUSLY CERTIFIED AS A FELLOW OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY BY THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS OF CANADA:

The following documents are required to be returned:
1. Completed application form
2. Personal Statement (500 words maximum)
3. Curriculum Vitae
4. Notarized Copy of medical degree and specialist certificate*
*For applicants in their final year of training, please submit a Letter of Good Standing from your Obstetrics & Gynecology Program Director confirming your enrolment in the training program and expected date of program completion.
5. Three letters of reference. One letter must be from your Obstetrics & Gynecology Program Director.

The Fall 2025 Canadian Maternal-Fetal Medicine Match is now complete and there are no positions available for Canadian or International applicants. Applicants for the Fall 2026 Canadian Match (for the start of ~ July 2027) will open in Spring 2026. Please contact mfmres@ualberta.ca for details at that time.

Selection Process
      1. 1. Application Packages will be reviewed by the Program Director and Program Administrator to determine eligibility for interview.

      1. 2. All eligible applicants will be offered an interview.

      1. 3. The interview will be a panel format with a selection committee.

      1. 4. Canadian Residency Applicant Matching Process – Once interviews are completed, the University of Alberta MFM selection committee will rank candidates and send the list to the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons’ Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialty Committee Chair.

      1. 5. Each candidate must email their rank list to the Specialty Committee Chair, and the match occurs according to established rules. Once the match is completed, the candidates are contacted with the results.

      1. 6. If there is not a match via the Canadian Residency Matching Process, then International applicants may be considered.

      1. 7. If a position is available for Sponsored International Applicants, applications will be reviewed by the Program Director and Selection Committee for interview offers.
      2. 8. The Sponsored International Applicants will be interviewed via a panel format with the Selection Committee.
      3. 9. All interviewed candidateswill be contacted with the results of the Sponsored International Match.

      1. If you are interested in more information, please contact slchoo@ualberta.ca


    Program Director
      1. Dr. Sheryl Choo, MD, MPH, FRCSC

      1. slchoo@ualberta.ca


    Royal Alexandra Hospital Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division Members
      1. Dr. Sue Chandra

      1. Dr. Sheryl Choo

      1. Dr. Christy-Lynn Cooke

      1. Dr. Venu Jain

      1. Dr. Cindy Kao

      1. Dr. Sophie Palmer

      1. Dr. Trina Stryker

      1. Dr. Carmen Young

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): Our Program is committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion through all recruitment initiatives. We also aim to create an environment of equity, diversity & inclusion by recruiting for the related skills and competencies and increase the capabilities to collaborate in a diverse environment.

University of Alberta

As an inclusive community, the University of Alberta encourages and supports individual and collaborative efforts to identify and address inequities, and we welcome and enable contributions of all voices as we engage in diverse ideas, knowledges, and perspectives in the pursuit of inclusive excellence as we transform into the University of Alberta for Tomorrow.

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