The Section of Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Calgary is pleased to offer a two-year clinical fellowship program in Urogynecology / FPMRS.
As part of the academic Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, our group provides an 8-week core Resident Rotation for PGY-4 trainees. Occasionally, as schedule permits, visiting electives of 4-8 weeks duration are available for Canadian residents interested in a FPMRS fellowship. In the upcoming academic year, elective time is available for trainees of Canadian residency programs in Block 11. Electives are arranged through the Program Administrator for the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology Residency Program at the U of C.
Our current and past fellows are working across the country and internationally. Please click here if you’d like more information about our trainees.
Entrance is open to successful graduates of Canadian Obstetrics & Gynecology or Urology residency programs who meet requirements for independent practice in the province of Alberta. Non-Canadian trained applicants must meet the requirements for a provisional licence. Please check the College of Physicians of Alberta website for eligibility. We offer 1 to 2 positions annually, with a flexible start date between July 1 – Dec 31 in the year of offer.
Our fellowship involves working in a multidisciplinary setting. The program includes a very busy clinical load with large surgical volume. Four Urogynecologists work out of the Pelvic Floor Clinic, each with a unique background and area of interest. Fellowship curriculum is flexible to meet your needs, but we ensure experience can be gained in all aspects of advanced vaginal and laparoscopic approaches to pelvic floor repair, including use of prosthetics and biographs, ureteric stenting, and uterine preserving techniques. Advanced laparoscopic techniques are generally introduced in the second year, depending on the fellow’s baseline surgical skills. Additionally, in second year a Fellow run clinic and OR is introduced.
Interpretation of multichannel urodynamics and dynamic cystoscopy is taught. The fellow will have direct contact and interaction with nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, and pessary clinic. Electives with gastroenterology, urology and MIS team as possible, as are electives with other institutions.
The opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary pain clinic is available and recommended.
While our program is primarily clinically focused, a research project is expected – with completion by the second year of fellowship. Financial support is available for presentation of research.
It is possible to undertake a Master of Science at the University of Calgary, through the Department of Community Health Sciences in the disciplines of Epidemiology, Clinical Epidemiology or Health Services Research concurrently with the fellowship, extending training by only 6 months.
Call requirements are 1:3 home call/weekend rounding. Fellows are expected to participate in formal and informal education of medical students and OB/GYN residents.
Due to the nature of our funding model, applicants must obtain a full unrestricted license (non-trainee) from the College of Physicians of Alberta.
Interested?
Application deadline: April 30th (annually)
Interviews: Mid-June (annually) – in-person or by teleconference
Application details:
- Cover letter outlining your interest in FPMRS/Urogynecology
- CV
- 3 letters of reference
Please send all documents to Dr. Erin Brennand at erin.brennand@ahs.ca
Current Fellows

Allison Edwards
Dr. Allison Edwards grew up in St. Albert, Alberta and completed her Bachelor of Science with Honors in Physiology at the University of Alberta. She continued her medical training at the University of Alberta completing medical school and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Edmonton. After practicing as a general obstetrician gynecologist in Edmonton for a year she is excited to begin her fellowship training in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery in Calgary.
Allison has a passion for clinical teaching and her research is focused in medical education. She finds mentoring junior learners extremely rewarding and hopes to refine her teaching skills through educational opportunities within the Cumming School of Medicine.
Ultimately, she looks forward bringing the new skills in surgery, research, and education acquired from her fellowship back to her clinical practice in Alberta.

Alison Carter Ramirez
Dr. Ali Carter Ramirez is a junior fellow in the Female Pelvic Medicine Reconstructive Surgery program and she is really excited about starting the next steps of her career here at Foothills Medical Center. She completed her Medical School and Obstetrics & Gynaecology Residency at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and then relocated to Calgary to pursue her goal of subspecialty training as a Urogynaecologist (as well as her dream of living near the mountains!).
Her research interests include postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, surgical education and quality improvement in gynaecologic surgery.
Ali is looking forward to actively contributing to the education of medical students and OBGYN residents on caring for women with pelvic floor disorders.
Former Fellows
Since its inception, the Urogynecology / Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Program at the University of Calgary has graduated numerous fellows who are providing first class care to women across Canada & internationally. Our esteemed alumni include:
- Dr. Hazam Al-Mandeel – 2006, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Roxana Geoffrion – 2008, Assistant Professor at UBC, Vancouver, BC
- Dr. Isabelle Girard, 2011, Universite de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC
- Dr. Anita Harding, 2011, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK
- Dr. Erin Brennand, 2013, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB
- Dr. Eider Ruiz-Mirazo, 2015, South Health Campus, Calgary, AB
- Dr. Dobrochna Globerman, 2016, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB
- Dr. Louise-Helene Gagnon, 2016, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON
- Dr. Sara Houlihan, 2018, Royal Columbian Hospital, UBC, Vancouver, BC
- Dr. Hanan Al-Shankiti, 2018, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Breffini Anglim, 2020, University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland
- Dr. Emily Sandwith, 2020, Victoria General Hospital, Victoria, BC
Calgary Pelvic Floor Clinic
Foothills Medical Centre
Basement of North Tower, Women’s Health Centre
Calgary, AB
p: 403-944-4000
f: 403-944-2154