Women’s Pain and Health Fellowship

Clinical Curriculum

This is a twelve-month fellowship offered to Anesthesiologists, Physiatrists, and Gynecologists interested in comprehensive, evidence-based pain management within the context of women’s health.

An emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary, integrated care—combining interventional pain techniques with hormonal, psychological, and rehabilitative approaches. Fellows learn to diagnose and manage a wide range of acute, chronic, and cancer-related pain conditions while developing expertise in conditions that uniquely affect women.

Program Focus

Over 70% of individuals living with chronic pain are women, highlighting the need for specialized, sex- and gender-informed training.
This fellowship—the first of its kind in Canada—breaks down traditional silos by fully integrating women’s health into pain medicine.

Fellows gain hands-on experience across several women-focused pain clinics and related specialties, including gynecology and psychiatry, while also participating in interventional and multidisciplinary programs.

Clinical Rotations

Fellows rotate through general and subspecialty pain clinics that include:

• Pelvic and Abdominal Pain
• Pain in Pregnancy and Postpartum Pain
• Endometriosis and Menstrual-Related Pain
• Menopause and Hormonal Pain Syndromes
• Fibromyalgia and Widespread Pain Disorders
• Headache and Migraine Clinic
• Neuromodulation (Spinal Cord & Peripheral Nerve Stimulation)
• Ketamine Infusions for Intractable Pain
• Transitional and Young Adult Pain Clinics

Fellows learn ultrasound- and fluoroscopy-guided interventions, pharmacologic and hormonal pain management, and psychological and physiotherapeutic approaches, working as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes gynecology, psychiatry, physiotherapy, psychology, and nursing professionals.

Locations

Fellows are primarily based at Women’s College Hospital (WCH), Toronto Western Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, with additional rotations at, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.

The fellowship leverages the collaborative network of the Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute (TAPMI), linking five major hospitals: WCH, Mount Sinai, CAMH, UHN, and St. Michael’s Hospital.

Call Duties

Fellows maybe involved in after-clinic on-call coverage for chronic pain consultations, procedures, and follow-ups.

• Typical rotation: one week every six to eight weeks, Monday – Sunday.
• No overnight OR call is required.
• OR exposure may be arranged under special circumstances aligned with learning goals.

Research

Fellows are expected to participate in at least one research project during the year.
Projects often focus on:

• Hormonal modulation of pain
• Pelvic and gynecologic pain syndromes
• Trauma-informed and interdisciplinary care models
• Access and equity in women’s pain services

Fellows are encouraged to present at national or international conferences and submit to peer-reviewed journals.
Presenters at major meetings may apply for travel or presentation funding.

Education

The fellowship is affiliated with the University of Toronto Pain Medicine Residency Program, TAPMI, and the University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain (UTCSP).

Educational opportunities include:

• Weekly academic rounds and case conferences
• Seminars on women’s pain, hormones, and mental health
• Interdisciplinary workshops in psychiatry, gynecology, and rehabilitation

Begin Your Application

Applicants are encouraged to apply 18 months before the intended start date and applications close 9 months before start of the fellowship

Applicants can apply using the online platform:

• Applications for February 2027 are now closed.
• If you are interested in applying for July 2026, please complete this online application form HERE (closes June 30, 2026)
• If you are interested in applying for July 2027, please complete this online application form HERE (closes Sept. 30, 2026)
• If you are interested in applying for February 2028, please complete this online application form HERE (closes February 1, 2027)
• If you are interested in applying for August 2028, please complete this online application form HERE (opens August 1, 2026; closes August 1, 2027)

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Tania Di Renna, MD, FRCPC
Tania.direnna@wchospital.ca
Medical Director, Toronto Academic Pain Medicine Institute
Director, Women’s Pain and Health Fellowship
Women’s College Hospital, Toronto ON Canada