MIGS Surgeon Spotlight: Dr. Courtney Jolliffe
DR. COURTNEY JOLLIFFE
Lecturer, University of Toronto, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Staff, Michael Garron Hospital
What's your background in medicine?
I completed a Masters of Science in physical education and epidemiology at Queen’s University before deciding I was better suited patient facing than behind a data set. I then completed medical school and residency at the University of Toronto. My path to a MIGS fellowship was non-traditional. My plan out of residency was to be a generalist in a community setting and with this intention, I practiced as a locum for 2.5 years. One afternoon, I was chatting with Jamie Kroft – as we often did after our respective clinics, and she nudged me to apply for the AAGL MIGS fellowship. It was not an easy decision but I applied… and the rest is history. I have never looked back!
What is the best part of your job?
I know this is an interview about MIGS and I really love operating but the best part of my job is the people I work with. I am so lucky to have colleagues that are supportive, non-judgmental, who advocate for each other, and are open to change. They are my good friends and my second family.
I also have to say that my patients bring me back to work every day. Our health care system is not easy to navigate and our patients wait so long to see us. But when they do, I find they are so grateful to have their symptoms validated and, hopefully, resolved. They truly appreciate what we do for them.
What’s your favourite surgery and why?
I have three if you’ll indulge me! They all involve recreating original state.
The first is hysteroscopic septoplasty. It’s not a long or complicated surgery, but the end result is often is dramatic. Second, is a specific stage 3-4 endometriosis, without rectal involvement. My favourite part is the photo at the end: the organs are back where they should be, all the peritoneum is stripped, and the retroperitoneum is dissected out. It looks so clean!
Lastly, I love an open myomectomy. YES, you heard me, OPEN! I get such pleasure from dissecting out the fibroids with my fingers and methodically recreating the uterus layer by layer.
Do you listen to in the OR?
I don’t really like noise in any other part of my life but I am uncomfortable operating in silence. I trained with music playing in the OR and this has stuck with me. I think it distracts me enough that I don’t get in my own head when the surgery is tough.
I have an eclectic 10-hour playlist that ranges from Motown to Dr. Dre and Biggie to Taylor Swift. I’ll never forget a time I was five hours into an eight-hour endo resection and “Closing Time” by Semisonic came on. I think I cried! It was quickly cut from the list!
For the shorter cases, the nurses love taking turns choosing the music! I find it creates a fun, safe, inclusive environment where everyone is singing and involved.
What is next?
MGH is a fabulous community hospital and we have an incredible gynaecology department. We already have specialty in paediatrics, colposcopy, urogynaecology, and gender reaffirming care. I hope to expand our MIGS to become a community endometriosis and complex gynaecologic surgical centre in the east end of the city.
I was also so inspired by the cross-city collaboration that Dr. Darl Edwards and Dr. Wilson Chan have initiated. We are a large city but a small surgical community; what an amazing way to stay connected and to continuously learn from each other.
A plug to fellow MIGS - Let me know if you are interested in collaborating!