Updated May, 2026
Now Accepting Applications
Applications for the 2027–2028 academic cycle are closed. We are currently accepting applications for the 2028–2029 academic year, with a July 1 start date.
Application deadline: December 31, 2026
Late applications: Considered on an individual basis
Start date: July 1, 2028
Program duration: Minimum 12 months
Apply now: Click here for application details
Train at British Columbia’s Provincial Referral Centre for High-Risk Obstetrics
The Obstetric Anesthesia Clinical Fellowship at BC Women’s Hospital offers advanced clinical, academic, teaching, simulation, and research training in one of Canada’s leading obstetric anesthesia centres.
BC Women’s Hospital is the tertiary referral centre for obstetrics for the Province of British Columbia, with 7,000-8,000 deliveries per year and a cesarean delivery rate of approximately 40%. Fellows gain broad experience in routine obstetric anesthesia, antenatal consultation, multidisciplinary care planning, obstetric emergencies, academic teaching, simulation, and scholarly work.
Thank you for your interest in our obstetric anesthesia fellowship program at BC Women’s Hospital. We are a tertiary referral center for obstetrics for the Province of British Columbia. We have an annual delivery rate of approximately 7000-8000, with a cesarean delivery rate of approximately 40%. We offer anesthesia and analgesia services primarily for obstetric patients; we perform elective ambulatory gynecologic surgery on weekdays. We also provide a high-risk antenatal anesthesia consultation service for outpatients with complex medical problems.
Our fellowship program has a long (>30 years) history of excellence. We accept up to 3 fellows each year. Fellows will have ample opportunity to hone their clinical skills during their year as well as learn the many challenges of non-clinical work. Upon completion of fellowship training, the individual will be well prepared to assume the mantle of a consultant obstetric anesthesiologist.
Why Train at BC Women’s Hospital?
The BC Women’s Obstetric Anesthesia Fellowship offers a rich clinical and academic experience in a high-volume tertiary obstetric centre. Fellows work with experienced obstetric anesthesiologists and multidisciplinary teams caring for patients with a wide range of routine and complex pregnancies.
Fellows benefit from:
- High-volume exposure to obstetric anesthesia and analgesia.
- Participation in high-risk antenatal anesthesia consultation clinics.
- Graduated clinical responsibility with close faculty mentorship.
- Multidisciplinary collaboration with obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine, obstetric internal medicine, neonatology, family practice, and other teams
- Protected academic time for teaching, simulation, research, and scholarly activity.
- Opportunities to attend major obstetric anesthesia conferences.
- A supportive environment designed to prepare fellows for consultant-level practice.
Eligibility and Prerequisites
Applicants must have completed at least five years of residency training in anesthesia and hold the FRCPC or equivalent qualification. Applicants must also have anesthesia skills sufficient to work independently at the level expected of Canadian graduates, typically PGY6 or above.
The ideal applicant will have:
- Demonstrated interest in obstetric anesthesia
- Strong clinical judgment
- Respond positively to feedback and seek out areas for personal improvement
- Excellent communication and teamwork skills
- Interest in research, quality improvement, or educational scholarship
- Commitment to respectful, collaborative, patient-centred care
In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority is given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada. BC Women’s Hospital hires based on merit and is committed to employment equity.
Duration, Start Date and Salary
The fellowship is a minimum of 12 months in duration and begins on July 1 at the earliest each year. The start date may be flexible, although earlier start dates are preferable to optimize time for spring and early summer conference submissions.
The program does not typically offer fellowship training of fewer than 12 months.
Clinical Training Experience
Applicants interested in the July 2028 start date or later should send application materials to the Program Director and cc the administrative contact. siologist. In addition, fellows will develop confidence and competence in devising care plans for parturients with complex medical problems.
During the fellowship year, fellows initially work under close supervision from consultant anesthesiologists, with progressive responsibility toward the level expected of a consultant obstetric anesthesiologist.
Clinical experience includes:
- Labour and delivery anesthesia and analgesia
- Development of advanced collaborative care plans
- Elective cesarean deliveries
- Multiple gestation deliveries
- Management of postpartum hemorrhage and obstetric emergencies
- Acute pain service
- Elective ambulatory gynecology cases
Fellows complete 13-14 clinical shifts per month, including up to five in-house night calls.
Please note: BC Women’s Hospital does not routinely provide care for patients with high-risk cardiothoracic conditions or patients requiring ongoing mechanical ventilation and critical care.
Academic Structure
The fellowship supports both clinical excellence and academic development. Fellows spend approximately 60% of their time in clinical service and 40% in academic activities. Fellows have their own office desk space and access to research assistant support.
Academic activities include teaching, simulation, multidisciplinary rounds, clinical education, research, and quality improvement.
Teaching
Teaching is an important part of the fellowship experience. Fellows participate actively in the teaching program and help support the learning of anesthesia residents, medical students, and clinical colleagues.
Teaching opportunities include:
- Weekly rounds with staff, residents, and medical students
- Direct clinical teaching on the labour and delivery unit
- Bedside teaching during clinical care
- Participation in formal and informal academic sessions
Simulation
Simulation is an integral component of anesthesia education at UBC and BC Women’s Hospital. Fellows have opportunities to participate in obstetric anesthesia simulation training, including scenario development, facilitation, and debriefing.
Simulation experience may include:
- Obstetric emergency scenarios
- Interdisciplinary team-based simulation
- Crisis resource management
- Communication and debriefing skills
- Teaching residents and learners in a simulated clinical environment
Multidisciplinary Learning
Fellows attend multidisciplinary meetings and participate in collaborative care planning for complex patients. These meetings provide valuable exposure to the team-based nature of high-risk obstetric care.
Program Director
Email: clare.burlinson@cw.bc.ca
Associate Program Director
Email: juliana.kruthof@cw.bc.ca
Program Administration
Research and scholarly activity are core components of the BC Women’s Obstetric Anesthesia Fellowship. Fellows are encouraged to develop the skills needed to contribute to academic anesthesia, quality improvement, education, and patient-centred care.
Each fellow is supported in identifying a scholarly project that aligns with their interests and career goals. Projects may involve clinical research, quality improvement, educational scholarship, simulation, patient safety, or knowledge translation.
Fellows will have opportunities to:
- Develop or contribute to a research, quality improvement, or educational scholarship project.
- Work with faculty mentors to refine project ideas, study design, and methodology.
- Present scholarly work locally, nationally, or internationally.
- Prepare abstracts, posters, manuscripts, or quality improvement reports.
- Build skills in project design, data interpretation, presentation, and publication.
Applicants with prior research experience are welcome, but formal research training is not required. Fellows are encouraged to use the fellowship year to build a foundation for future academic, clinical leadership, or quality improvement work.
The fellowship includes built-in protected time for fellows to attend key educational and professional meetings, including the Whistler Anesthesia Summit and the Society for Obstetric Anesthesiology and Perinatology Meeting.
These conferences provide opportunities to:
- Learn from national and international experts,
- Present research or scholarly work,
- Build professional networks,
- Explore emerging topics in obstetric anesthesia,
- Connect with the broader obstetric anesthesia community.
Successful candidates are notified at least 15 months in advance of the start date. Salary is equivalent to the Resident PGY6 level as set by PARBC, plus 8% for extended health benefits and educational support.
Applications are currently open for the 2028–2029 academic cycle.
Please submit your application materials to:
Dr. Clare Burlinson
Program Director
clare.burlinson@cw.bc.ca
Jacqui Moolenbeek
Administrative Assistant
jacqui.moolenbeek@cw.bc.ca
For fellowship research specific inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Juliana Kruthof
Associate Program Director
juliana.kruthof@cw.bc.ca
Application deadline: December 31, 2026
Start date: July 1, 2028
Late applications: Considered on an individual basis.
Click here for application details
Applicants interested in the July 2028 start date or later should send application materials to the Program Director and cc the administrative contact.