Thinking Outside the Box Without Reinventing the Wheel - How Can We Make VBAC and Induction of Labour a Better Experience for Patients?

Presenter: Jessica Dy MD, MPH, FRCS(C) Associate Professor, Head, Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa ON

Presentation Outline/Description: This interactive session will explore current evidence and best practice initiatives related to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) and induction of labour. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the current evidence about VBAC and an overview of innovative VBAC initiatives, standards and guidelines.
• Understand the challenges and success in implementation of local initiatives to improve Trial of Labour After Cesarean (TOLAC) rates.
• Understand current evidence and controversies surrounding induction of labour.
• Describe old and new approaches to induction of labour.

Dr. Jessica Dy received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Honours Physiology from the University of British Columbia (1995) and her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario (1999). She then completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Ottawa and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2004. She pursued further training in Quantitative Research and Epidemiology and obtained her Master's Degree in Public Health (MPH) at the Harvard School of Public Health (2010).

Dr. Dy is currently Division Head of General Obstetrics and Gynecology at The Ottawa Hospital. She has an active general obstetrics and gynecology practice at TOH – Civic Campus and at the Shirley Greenberg Women’s Health Centre and is Vice Chair of Quality and Patient Safety. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa where she is actively involved in medical education and training both at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. She is also an instructor with the Canadian Network of International Surgery.

Dr. Dy's research interests are in labour management, induction of labour, Caesarean sections, patient safety and health services research in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is the principal investigator of a multi-center randomized labour trial on the use of oxytocin in nulliparous women in labour. She is one of the lead authors of SOGC national guidelines on Induction of Labour and Management of Labour. She has been instrumental in many practice changes occurring locally. From the bedside and beyond, she has dedicated her career in improving the health outcomes of women and their babies.