Preparing the next generation of leaders in obstetric anesthesiology

When Dr. Margarita Blajeva began looking for advanced training in obstetric anesthesia, she wanted a program that would challenge her clinically while offering opportunities to contribute to research and learn from leaders in the field. 

“What drew me to Mount Sinai was the unique combination of exceptional clinical volume, a deeply research-active faculty and a genuine commitment to training the next generation of leaders,” says Dr. Blajeva. “Fellows aren’t just exposed to complex, high-acuity cases - we’re mentored to question, innovate and push the specialty forward.”

Offered in partnership with the University of Toronto, the fellowship provides experience in one of Canada’s busiest high-risk maternity programs. Working alongside obstetricians, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, nurses and other members of the care team, trainees are immersed in the collaborative approach that defines modern obstetric anesthesiology. 

Training for a changing specialty

As maternal care becomes increasingly specialized, obstetric anesthesiologists play a broader role in caring for patients with complex medical conditions before, during and after childbirth. Beyond technical expertise, they must collaborate across disciplines, educate future clinicians and advance research to improve care for mothers and babies. 

For Dr. Blajeva, her year in the fellowship brought those elements together. “This fellowship has been the most transformative year of my career,” she says. “What I will carry forward isn’t just the clinical depth or research experience, but the privilege of caring for patients at extraordinary moments in their lives, knowing I was trained to do that at the highest level.” 

Preparing physicians for that reality is a defining goal of the program, according to Dr. Ronald George, the program's director. "Fellows train across the spectrum of obstetric anesthesiology while developing as educators, researchers and clinical leaders. The fellowship helps shape a future leader who will improve care for pregnant patients wherever they practice.”

Image

Building a global community of leaders 

The fellowship also reflects Sinai Health’s commitment to advancing maternal care through education and research. Graduates lead clinical programs, contribute to research, develop new models of care and teach future anesthesiologists, while remaining connected through an international network of mentorship and collaboration. 

“As graduates return to their home institutions, they carry forward the knowledge, standards and culture of care developed here,” says Dr. George. “In that sense, the fellowship is both a training program and a global network-building platform.” 

Fellows also contribute to quality improvement in areas including postpartum hemorrhage, trauma-informed childbirth, cardio-obstetrics and Cesarean delivery safety. This work advances maternal care at Sinai Health and through collaborations across Canada and internationally. 

For Dr. George, the program’s lasting impact is reflected in its graduates. “One of the most rewarding parts of directing this fellowship is seeing graduates take what they have learned here and adapt it to improve care in very different settings,” he says. “Through their clinical work, research, teaching and leadership, they extend Sinai Health’s impact far beyond our walls.”