Continuing Medical Education

Our Mission

  • To promote excellence in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology and to advance the health of women through education
  • To provide evidence-based, innovative educational programs and online learning applications to meet the continuing medical education needs expectations of obstetricians and gynaecologists, family practitioners, nurses and nurse practitioners, midwives and skilled birth attendants

Our Goals and Objectives

  • Develop learning materials that result in the application of SOGC Clinical Practice Guidelines in daily practice
  • Disseminate clinical updates in obstetrics and gynaecology to enhance daily practice
  • Assess and promote the practice of new techniques
  • Innovate to encourage participation in interactive educational environments
  • Employ challenging case studies to animate discussions relevant to their practice
  • Promote implementation of knowledge and best practice
Online Courses
Premier medical education combined with the convenience of online study.

 

SOGC Online Courses

 

Designed by SOGC experts and employing the most current medical knowledge, our accredited online courses combine premier medical education with the convenience of online study. These courses are designed specifically for improving the learning experience and to tailor your educational experiences to meet your personal learning objectives.

 

Already Registered for a course? Visit your account here to access the Online Learning Platform.

 

 
ALARM Courses
ALARM - Advances in Labour and Risk Management Improving care provided to women, babies and families during pregnancy, labour and delivery.

Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM)

                 The SOGC places the utmost importance on improving intrapartum care, from the process to its outcomes. One way to achieve that objective is through offering continuing education programs like the ALARM course (Advances in Labour and Risk Management).

Welcome and Overview

ALARM was developed by obstetricians/gynaecologists, family physicians, midwives and nurses, who jointly continue to maintain and teach the course. Backed by the SOGC, the ALARM course arose out of our work to improve the care provided to women, babies, and families during pregnancy, labour, and postpartum.

  • The content of the course is evidence-based and incorporates the Canadian practice guidelines, so participants who complete the course gain an understanding of the latest best practices for providing care.
  • The ALARM course objective is to evaluate, update and maintain the competence of obstetricians/gynaecologists, family physicians, midwifes and nurses.
  • This two-day course offers case-based and hands-on workshops.
  • This course is not intended to certify attendees in any procedural skills. It provides education and hands-on experience, but this is not a substitute for clinical exposure and mentorship.
  • The courses have a ratio of approximately 6 participants to 1 faculty member to ensure a highly interactive and educational course.

The ALARM certificate will be awarded only to those who pass the written examination and who attend the course in its entirety.

If you are unable to attend an ALARM course but would like to purchase the PDF ALARM manual, please download this form  and submit it by email to [email protected].

Partnership with CFPC

The SOGC is proud to partner with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) to offer the ALARM course to Family Physicians Residents across the country. 

 

Already Registered for a course? Visit your account here to access the Online Learning Platform.

 

 
Accreditation
The SOGC is recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a fully accredited provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits within the College's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program.

Accreditation

The SOGC is recognized by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as a fully accredited provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits within the College's Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program. The SOGC can review and approve Section 1 and Section 3 applications (Section 2 activities must be entered into MAINPORT by the member).

  • Section 1 - Group Learning: 1 credit per hour of an accredited group learning activity
  • Section 2 - Self-Learning: Credits vary, please click here for more information. Note that the SOGC cannot review Section 2 credits.
  • Section 3 - Assessment: 3 credits per hour of a program or simulation activity

Before applying

Has your program been developed by a physician organization?

In order to be considered for accreditation, a program must be developed by a physician organization, which is defined by the Royal College as "a not-for-profit group of health professionals with a formal governance structure, accountable to and serving, among others, its specialist physician members through:

  • continuing professional development,
  • provision of health care, and/or
  • research.
This definition excludes pharmaceutical companies and their advisory groups, medical and surgical supply companies, medical device companies, communication companies and other for-profit organizations and ventures/activities."

Organizations that do not meet this definition can co-develop activities with a physician organization or with an accredited CPD provider.

Examples of physician organizations

Examples of non-physician organizations

  • faculties of medicine
  • hospital departments or divisions
  • medical societies
  • medical associations
  • medical academies
  • physician research organizations
  • health authorities not linked to government agencies
  • Canadian provincial/territorial medical regulatory authorities (MRAs)
  • disease-oriented patient advocacy organizations (e.g. Canadian Diabetes Association)
  • government departments or agencies (e.g. Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada)
  • medical education or communications (MEC) companies (e.g. CME Inc.)
  • for-profit online educators, publishing companies or simulation companies (e.g. Medscape, CAE)
  • small groups of physicians working together to develop educational programming

Is your program compliant with the new National Standard for Support of Accredited CPD Activities?

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has recently updated their standards for accreditation in order to:

  • safeguard high-quality CPD from commercial influence,
  • outline a clearly defined role for sponsors of CPD activities, and
  • standardize development and delivery of CPD activities for both family and specialist physician audiences. To facilitate the accreditation process, we encourage you to download and review the National Standard to ensure that your program is compliant. The Royal College has also developed a suite of tools and templates that may be helpful in completing your application.

How to apply

Step 1: Review the SOGC accreditation guide(s) pertaining to the type of MOC credits for which you are applying.

Step 2: Complete the application form.

Download and complete the Application for Accreditation.

Note that applications for accreditation must be submitted to the SOGC a minimum of 8 weeks prior to the intended date to advertise the approved CPD activity.

Step 3: Send in your application form, accompanying documents, and payment.

Completed applications, including all accompanying documentation as listed in the application form, can be sent to the SOGC via email to [email protected], or via mail to:

Education and Accreditation Division
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
2781 Lancaster Drive, Suite 200
Ottawa, ON, K1B 1A7
Canada

Please review the table below to determine the applicable review fee that must accompany your application. To pay by credit card, please complete the Credit Card Authorization Form and include it with your application.

Cheques can be made payable to The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, and can be mailed to the address above. Please note that accreditation will not be finalized until payment is received.

Step 4: Review accreditation results.

The SOGC will review your application and do one of the following:

  • grant approval based on a successful application
  • grant conditional approval requiring minor modifications to the activity
  • require an additional full review requiring major modifications to the activity
  • reject the application
Further action (i.e. review of your application to meet the criteria outlined by the SOGC to receive accreditation) may be required.

Physician Organization Review Fees

MOC Section 1 and Section 3 (No private sector support)

$500 + applicable taxes

MOC Section 1 and Section 3 (Less than $10,000 of private sector support)

$750 + applicable taxes

MOC Section 1 and Section 3  (More than $10,000 of private sector support)

$1250 + applicable taxes

Repeat Review Fees (for accredited events that repeat throughout the year)

Per repetition

$250 + applicable taxes

Additional fees for expedited accreditation of events between 2 and 4 weeks prior to the event

Physician Organization Fast Tracking Accreditation Review Fee

$1000 + applicable taxes

 

Applications are not accepted within 2 weeks of the event dates.

Fees are non-refundable.

For more information, please contact [email protected], or call 613-730-4192 or 1-800-561-2416, extension 238.

 
Residents
Find out more about Resident Wellness, the SOGC Resident Committee, Opportunities for resident involvement at the SOGC, as well as other resources.

Residents

Resident Wellness 2022/2023

Residents let’s practice some wellness! Take the time to participate in fun activities and send along your photos to [email protected] to have the chance to win prizes and be featured in the Delphi! Activities can be done individually, with other residents or friends/family. Calendar of wellness activities >

Make sure to include your name, University, and whether you consent to having your picture shared.


Resident Committee

The Resident Committee acts as the national voice for residents within the SOGC. The objective of the Resident Committee is:

  • to provide a forum in which ob/gyns in training can express opinions and recommendations pertaining to issues affecting training and practice;
  • to create resources and CME activities for ob/gyn residents;
  • to promote the specialty of ob/gyn to medical students and the community; and
  • to address issues directly impacting on ob/gyn residents.

The Resident Committee is made up of two representatives (one junior and one senior) from each of the 16 medical schools across Canada, as well as one fellow representative, two medical student representatives, and one board representative. The committee is represented on the board of directors and the Academic Council through resident representative positions.

The Resident Committee takes on a variety of projects each year through the work of its four subcommittees: Meetings & Conferences, Advocacy & Wellness, Postgraduate, and Undergraduate. The committee meets quarterly via teleconference.

Meet the 2022-2023 Resident Committee

Opportunities for resident involvement at the SOGC

  • Join the Resident Committee
    • The Resident Committee recruits new junior representatives from each university every year. Speak to a current Resident Committee representative at your school to let them know that you are interested in joining next year’s committee.
  • Join another SOGC committee
    • Many SOGC committees have designated positions for resident representatives. Residents wishing to get involved at the SOGC are invited to apply for vacant committee positions during the annual call for applications that is sent to members each fall. For more information, please contact [email protected].
  • Submit an abstract
    • Abstract programs are held during the Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference (ACSC) and the Ontario CME. Details are posted on the websites for each of these events. For more information, please email [email protected].
  • Connect with a medical student
    • Resident Champions Program: Residents can provide their names to the Resident Committee to be included on a directory for medical students, allowing them to ask questions about training programs. For more information, speak to a Resident Committee representative at your school.
    • Medical Student Program (MSP): This program takes place each year at the ACSC and includes a residency fair component. Representatives from all residency programs are invited to create a booth where they can promote and answer students’ questions about their program. For more information, please contact [email protected].

Resources

Resources developed by the SOGC Resident Committee – coming soon!

 

Provincial and National Associations for Residents

Follow us on social media!

 
Medical Students
Interested in a career in obstetrics and gynaecology? Ob/gyn is a unique specialty combining medical and surgical skills.

Medical Students

Interested in a career in obstetrics and gynaecology? Ob/gyn is a unique specialty combining medical and surgical skills.

Medical Student Program

SOGC Medical Student Program

The SOGC is proud to host a virtual Medical Student Program, designed to provide medical students with the opportunity to enhance their awareness and understanding of the profession of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The winter 2024 virtual medical student program will focus on providing advice to students on how to prepare for their CaRMS interviews and about a career in Ob/Gyn.

We invite all medical students interested to register for this half-day event, being held on Saturday, January 6th 2024.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/F6X29WR

Virtual Medical Student Program Schedule

Speak with the Residents Week

Each year, the SOGC Resident Committee hosts a week-long series of teleconferences that are open to all Canadian medical students. The calls are organized by region, with resident representatives from each ob/gyn program in Canada attending the calls. Residents will provide information about their respective programs, and be available to answer questions from callers.

View this year's series here

Residency Programs – FAQ Sheets

Updated each year by the SOGC Junior Member Committee, the FAQ sheets answer your questions concerning every residency program in the country.

Dalhousie University (Halifax) - @dalobgyn  
Laval University (Quebec) - @residentsobgynulaval
McGill University (Montreal) - @mcgillobgyn
McMaster University (Hamilton) - @macobgynresidency
Memorial University (St. John's) - @mun.obgyn
Queen's University (Kingston) - @queensobgyn
Sherbrooke University (Sherbrooke)
University of Alberta (Edmonton) - @ualbertaobgyn
University of British Columbia (Vancouver) - @ubcobgyn
University of Calgary (Calgary) - @uofcobgyn
University of Manitoba (Winnipeg) - @uofm.obgyn
University of Montreal (Montreal)
University of Ottawa (Ottawa) - @ottawaobgynresidents
University of Saskatchewan (Regina) - @uofsobgyn.regina
University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon) - @uofsobgyn.saskatoon
University of Toronto (Toronto) - @uoftobgyn
University of Western Ontario (London) - @westernobgyn

Resident Champion List

These residents are willing to be contacted by medical students interested in a career in ob/gyn to assist in answering specific questions about their program, site, CaRMS and/or elective opportunities. This is an opportunity for students to have assistance throughout the very difficult process of obtaining appropriate opportunities, applications, and ensuring the right fit as a future resident within each ob/gyn program.

 Resident Champion List