Noah Martin
Project: Equipping future obstetricians and gynecologists to care for patients with physical disabilities
“The most valuable piece of advice I received this summer was to remain curious and not be afraid to adapt the research focus as new information emerges. This mindset allowed our team to uncover deeper insights into the specific educational gaps residents face, ensuring our project is as impactful as possible.”
Summary: Women with physical disabilities often face barriers when getting obstetric and gynecology (OB/GYN) care. Specialized equipment, extra time or unique methods may be required for some procedures, such as pelvic exams or birth planning. If doctors are not trained to meet these needs, care can be uncomfortable, unsafe or delayed, and women may feel overlooked or unsupported.
While about one in three women in Canada experience physical disability, most OB/GYN residents say they have never had formal teaching on how to care for these patients. As a result, many feel unprepared and must learn on the job.
Our study focuses on OB/GYN residents training at the University of Alberta. In one-on-one interviews, we will ask about their clinical experiences, how prepared they feel to care for patients with physical disabilities, and gaps in their training.
Our goal is to improve OB/GYN training to ensure doctors have the knowledge and skills needed to provide safe, respectful, high-quality care for women with physical disabilities.
Noah Martin was supervised by Dr. Jane Schulz in the University of Alberta Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and his WCHRI summer studentship was funded by the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation. He completed a bachelor's degree in the U of A’s Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation and is now a masters student at the University of Calgary studying community health science.
Read more about WCHRI’s training awards for students at all levels and generous grants for researchers. See the rest of the 2026 summer studentship recipients here.
