OBSTETRICS+: A SPECIALIST UPDATE WELCOME MESSAGE

It is my pleasure to welcome you to Obstetrics+: A Specialist Update Scientific Conference, being held at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel on November 6–7, 2026. Our goal is to create a space where clinical expertise, innovation, and collegiality come together to strengthen the care we provide to patients across Nova Scotia and beyond.

This year's program highlights several important and timely topics, including quality improvements in MFM ultrasound, Rh alloimmunization, leadership in medicine, and reproductive choice. I want to extend my gratitude to our dedicated Planning Committee, led by Dr. Heidi Bentley, whose thoughtful work has shaped a program that is academically rigorous and deeply relevant to our evolving practice.

A special highlight of this year’s conference is the Leo J. Peddle Memorial Lecture, delivered by Dr. Greg Ryan, Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of Toronto. His lecture on Radio Frequency Ablation promises to be an exceptional and insightful session, reflecting the cutting-edge advancements shaping maternal–fetal medicine today.

We also gather this weekend to honour a cherished colleague. On Friday evening November 6, we invite you to join us for a Retirement Reception celebrating Dr. Mike Van Den Hof, whose leadership, mentorship, and 37 years of service have profoundly shaped our department and the broader obstetrics community. This will be a meaningful opportunity to reflect on his contributions and wish him well in the next chapter.

On Saturday November 7, we look forward to a full day of learning, discussion, and connection. Whether you are a seasoned specialist or a resident joining us for the first time, I hope you find inspiration, new knowledge, and renewed energy for the important work we do.

Thank you for being part of this year’s conference. I wish you a productive, engaging, and enjoyable experience.

Sincerely,
James Bentley, MB ChB, FRCSC
Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Registration and Program PDF available now ...

Click here to download.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

  • Apply current evidence and best practices to the assessment and management of a range of obstetric and maternal-fetal medicine clinical scenarios (MEDICAL EXPERT, SCHOLAR, PROFESSIONAL)
  • Evaluate emerging and evolving approaches in obstetric care, including radiofrequency ablation and contemporary management of Rh alloimmunization, and incorporate relevant evidence into clinical decision-making (MEDICAL EXPERT)
  • Identify opportunities to improve the quality, consistency, and safety of MFM ultrasound practice through quality improvement principles and evidence-based approaches (LEADER, SCHOLAR)
  • Use patient-centred, evidence-informed approaches to reproductive choice, including effective counselling and shared decision-making (MEDICAL EXPERT, HEALTH ADVOCATE)
  • Apply leadership, mentorship, and communication strategies to support effective collaboration, professional development, and a positive clinical learning environment (LEADER, COLLABORATOR)
  • Integrate clinical reasoning and evidence-based decision-making when approaching complex or challenging obstetric cases (MEDICAL EXPERT, SCHOLAR)

TARGET AUDIENCE

This interactive program is designed for specialists in obstetrics & gynaecology, featuring an advanced focus on maternal-fetal-medicine.

SPECIALTY PLANNING COMMITTEE

  • Dr. Heidi Bentley (Chair), Halifax, NS
  • Dr. Navi Bal, Halifax, NS
  • Dr. James Bentley, Halifax NS
  • Dr. Brittany Black, Truro, NS
  • Dr. Caitlin Davis, Halifax, NS
  • Dr. Leanne McCarthy, Halifax, NS
  • Dr. Karla Willows, Halifax, NS
  • Dr. Krystal van den Heuvel, Halifax, NS

The organizers gratefully acknowledge the Scientific Planning Committee, representing the Atlantic provinces, for their invaluable expertise and dedicated contributions to the development of this Program.

DR. LEO J. PEDDLE HISTORY

Leo J. Peddle was born and raised in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, and graduated from Dalhousie University Medical School in 1962. Following residency training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Winnipeg, including a year as a clinical research fellow in the Rh Laboratory, he returned to Newfoundland and later served as Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St. Boniface General Hospital in Winnipeg.

In 1978, Dr. Peddle returned to Dalhousie University as Chief of Perinatology and Co-Director of the Reproductive Care Program of Nova Scotia. In 1983, he became Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Dalhousie and Chief of Staff at the Grace Maternity Hospital, positions he held until 1997.

A leader nationally and internationally, Dr. Peddle served as President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, President of the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Chair and President of the FIGO World Congress held in Montreal in 1994. His leadership was instrumental in the planning and development of the new Grace Maternity Hospital and the eventual consolidation of obstetrics and gynaecology services at the IWK Grace Women's site.

Dr. Peddle died in 1999. In recognition of his remarkable contributions to obstetrics and gynaecology, the Dalhousie Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology established the Leo J. Peddle Memorial Lecture in his honour in 2000.