Obstetrical Anaesthesia Fellowship (SHSC)

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is one of four major teaching hospitals in the city. There are three hospital sites: Bayview Campus, Holland Centre and St. John's Rehab. Fellows will be expected to work at Bayview Campus and the Holland Centre depending on their subspecialty interest. Sunnybrook is a major tertiary referral centre for cardiac (700 cases/year), major trauma (800+/year), oncology, and burns.  A full complement of surgical specialties except for pediatrics are on site. In total the hospital carries out approximately 18,000 surgical procedures per year and provides obstetrical services for over 4,000 deliveries per year. The Department of Anaesthesia also runs a Clinical Simulation Centre, providing training for multiple medical specialties.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre has a busy obstetric service with a significant volume of high risk deliveries. There are approximately 4250 deliveries every year in our new state of the art obstetric centre at Sunnybrook. Fellows will be taught to critically appraise the evidence base for obstetrical anaesthesia procedures pertaining to labour analgesia, post-caesarean section pain, high risk obstetrical patients and the diagnosis and treatment of post-dural puncture headache. These are areas of active research in the Obstetrical Anaesthesia Research Unit (OARU).

Duration and Positions

This fellowship is 12 months. Fellowships that are shorter or longer may be pursued under certain circumstances.

There are 2-3 positions per year.

Program / Curriculum

Fellows will gain considerable obstetrical anaesthetic experience with ultrasound guided epidural and CSE placement and management, anaesthesia for caesarean sections and the interdisciplinary management of high risk obstetric cases.

Fellows will spend 2 days per week on the labor and delivery floor. They are also expected to do an allotment of obstetrical anaesthesia call. Two days a week will be spent providing anaesthesia care in the general operating rooms. One day a week may be reserved for involvement in an appropriate research project.

Licensing

Once accepted, a temporary license is issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). This enables the fellow to practice under direct supervision in a teaching hospital. After successful completion of a 1 to 3 month assessment period, the CPSO issues an educational license and the fellow may continue the fellowship. This assessment period is mandated by the CPSO and failure of this assessment will preclude licensure and the fellowship will be immediately terminated.

Medical Malpractice insurance must be procured by the fellow.

Application Process

Please follow the application instructions and note that the application links provided will close after the application cut-off date. You may, under special circumstances, be considered for a late application. Please contact the Fellowship Director if you are applying outside the normal timeline.

The fellowship committee will review and rank all candidates and only those highest ranked will be contacted. Fluency in English is mandatory. Applicants whose first language is not English must pass the TOEFL/TSE or IETLS.

The application process is outlined below:

• Applications should be made at least 15 months in advance.
• To apply please use the following links below.  Each link corresponds to a specific intake period.  Please choose only one intake period for your application (if you are flexible in your start time please make this clear in your letter of intent). 
• In addition to using the links below please send a CV and letter of intent to Dr. Faraj Massouh (faraj.massouh@sunnybrook.ca)
• The Letter of intent should stipulate the fellowship position you are applying for and indicate the dates you wish to work, your educational goals, research aims (if any) and future plans.
• Reference letters need to be signed by the referee and sent independently to our office.
• Please note that when applying, electronic correspondence (i.e. email) is preferred for all documents (including reference letters).

Begin Your Application

Applicants can apply using the online platform: 

• The January 2027 application session has now closed.
• If you are interested in applying for July 2027, please complete this online application form HERE
• If you are interested in applying for January 2028, please complete this online application form HERE

General Inquiries and Reference Letters should be directed to:

Dr. Faraj Massouh (faraj.massouh@sunnybrook.ca)
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
2075 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4N 3M5