In February 1995 the department took a major change in direction while under the chairmanship of Dr. Peter Mitchell. The regional health authority announced that, due to “health-care restructuring,” the decision had been made to close the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University Hospital and relocate its clinical and academic sub-specialty programs to the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
The Perinatal Research Centre’s basic science program remained in the Heritage Medical Research Centre on the U of A campus. But to facilitate perinatal study on a now “relocated” patient population, the health authority provided the PRC with lab and office space at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. This was the establishment of the Perinatal Clinical Research Centre.
Transition to an “off-campus” university department required major adjustments – both for the staff members who were relocated and to the Royal Alex hospital staffs that accepted former members of the University Hospital. The undergraduate and postgraduate training programs have remained strong, and there is an increasing volume of translational and clinical research activity.
Dr. Faught becomes new chair
In 2002, a new chair was appointed to the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Dr. Wylam Faught, a University of Alberta graduate, was recruited from the University of Ottawa to become university department chair, as well as department chief at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Dr. Faught became the third member of the Gynecologic Oncology team.
In late 2002, two additional sub-specialists in Maternal-Fetal Medicine were recruited. Dr. Sue Chandra graduated from Memorial University and attended Dalhousie University for her sub-specialty training. Dr. Roger Turnell graduated from his residency at McMaster, and received his sub-specialty training at the University of British Columbia. Before coming to Edmonton, Dr. Turnell was chair of obstetrics & gynecology at the University of Saskatchewan.
In a strangely ironic twist, our priorities today have come full circle and echo the words of the department’s second chair, Dr. J. Ross Vant, more than 40 years ago, when he spoke of the need to obtain more resources (beds, outpatient space, nurses and equipment) to look after our increasingly large and complex clinical responsibilities.
Although the GTF (geographic full time) appointments constitute what is often considered as “the university department,” such is clearly not the case. As was the situation several decades ago when the concept of the GFT appointment originated, these positions today are largely committed to reimburse sub-specialty care, and provide leadership for development and organization of teaching programs.
In the past and the present, the vast majority of our clinical education programs depend on the volunteerism of our clinical faculty members who receive token or no remuneration for their considerable efforts.
After Dr. Faught’s term ended in 2007, Dr. David Cumming served as acting chair from 2007 to 2009.
Dr. Margaret (Peggy) Sagle was appointed interim chair in 2009. In 2010, the department moved into the new Lois Hole Hospital for Women, the only women's hospital in Alberta. The Lois Hole Hospital is located at the Royal Alexandra Hospital site.