Fellowship Programs

Gynecologic Oncology is a subspecialty of Obstetrics and Gynecology focused on the diagnosis and management of patients with preinvasive and invasive disease of the female genital tract, including cancers of the uterus, cervix, ovary, fallopian tube, vulva, and vagina.

Eligibility

To begin training in Gynecologic Oncology, residents must either (1) hold Royal College certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology OR (2) be eligible for the Royal College examination in Obstetrics and Gynecology OR (3) be registered in a Royal College-accredited residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Minimum Training Requirements

Twenty-four (24) months of approved residency training in Gynecologic Oncology. This period must include:

• Eighteen (18) months of clinical Gynecologic Oncology
• Two (2) months of Medical Oncology
• Two (2) months of Radiation Oncology
• Two (2) months of additional residency training, which may include:
  • One (1) month of pathology
  • A maximum of two (2) months of electives, as approved by the program director

Certification Requirements

Royal College certification in Gynecologic Oncology requires all of the following:

1. Royal College certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology;
2. Successful completion of a 2-year Royal College accredited program in Gynecologic Oncology;
3. Completion of a scholarly research, quality assurance, or educational project relevant to Gynecologic Oncology; and
4. Successful completion of the certification examination in Gynecologic Oncology.

Examination

The Royal College Examination in Gynecologic Oncology is a written-only examination (total test time: 6 hours). The pass score is 70%.

The purpose of the examination is to assess the candidate’s clinical competence and readiness to enter clinical practice. The content of the examination is based on a blueprint that reflects the Competencies in Gynecologic Oncology and the depth of knowledge required for the examination to ensure that the examination reflects relevant clinical practice in Gynecologic Oncology. Most questions will concentrate on the Medical Expert role, but some can also assess the other intrinsic CanMEDS roles (Communicator, Professional, Health Advocate, Leader, Collaborator and Scholar).

Typical areas of knowledge assessment include: cervix, uterus, ovary/fallopian tube/primary peritoneal, gestational trophoblastic disease, vulva/vaginal, chemotherapy/medical oncology, radiation oncology, pre-invasive disease/colposcopy, critical care/palliative care, ethics/legal, communication/consent, psychosexual, screening/prevention, hereditary/genetics, epidemiology/pathology/tumour markers, surgical techniques and perioperative care.

This information was adapted from the Subspecialty Training Requirements in Gynecologic Oncology document developed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. For more information and resources about the exam format, visit the Royal College’s Format of the Examination in Gynecologic Oncology.

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