Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
WN 5018- 820 Sherbrook Street
R3H 1R9
Phone: 204-787-4184
Fax: 204-787-2920
hpymar@hsc.mb.ca
Helen Pymar, MD, FRCSC, MPH
Research
Research summary
Dr. Helen Pymar has extensive experience in guiding research projects related to early pregnancy and ultrasound, particularly focusing on best practices for early pregnancy complications and emergency department utilization. Her research advocates for the use of manual uterine aspiration in the emergency department.
Research Interests
- Early pregnancy complications
- Ultrasound
Research affiliations
Director:
- Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic (EPAC)
- Pregnancy Counselling Clinic
Teaching philosophy
Dr. Pymar is privileged to teach a variety of health care providers throughout their training including medical students, residents, nurse practitioners, international medical graduates and physician assistants with didactic lectures, supervision of patients, simulation models, OSCEs, and rounds presentations.
She organizes, and provides training and curriculum development for PGY2 residents in the Ryan Program Family Planning rotation and the PGY1 rotation in ultrasound related to early pregnancy assessment and medical abortion.
She provides continuing medical education to graduated nurse practitioners, midwives, family physicians and obstetrician/gynecologists.
Leadership style
Dr. Pymar is the director of the Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic (EPAC) and Pregnancy Counselling Clinic.
Her future goals for EPAC are to create electronic patient records to better document treatment success and complications for quality assurance, patient safety and research purposes, and to make ultrasound reports and images available on echart.
She would like to improve patient care in remote centres related to early pregnancy complications by engaging and training local providers to use manual uterine aspiration, point of care ultrasound, and have point of care human chorionic gonodotropin.
She advocates for no-cost contraception for all Canadians, and is a founding member of the twitter group Birth Control Access for Manitoba.
Biography
Dr. Helen Pymar, a professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Manitoba, commenced her tenure in 2004 following a 2.5-year stint as the director of family planning and contraception at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. Notably, she spearheaded the establishment of the Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic in 2006, facilitated by the initiation of the first Ryan Family Planning Program in Canada. In 2020, she co-chaired the Special Interest Group in Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinics in the Society of Family Planning alongside Dr. Jade Shorter, contributing to proposals aimed at addressing healthcare disparities. Dr. Pymar's initiatives led to the expansion of the Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic within the new Women's Hospital, extending its services to encompass all Winnipeg Emergency and Urgent Care Departments. Furthermore, she actively participated in training and providing medical abortion and Nexplanon implants, currently focusing on establishing a center of experience for challenging Nexplanon removals.
Education
Master of Public Health (MPH), University of Pittsburgh (2001)
Fellow Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC), Obstetrics and Gynecology, Western University (1999)
Medical Doctor (MD), Queen's University (1994)
Awards
2018-2019
- Outstanding Teacher Award, Max Rady College of Medicine (Medicine) from Ruth Habte
2015-2016
- Undergraduate Medical Education Teaching Award, Health Sciences Centre
2010-2011
- Undergraduate Medical Teaching Award, Health Sciences Centre
Nomination
- Manitoba Medical Student Association awards for professionalism, mentorship, and patient advocacy
Contact us
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
260 Brodie Centre - 727 McDermot Avenue
University of Manitoba, Bannatyne Campus
Winnipeg, MB R3E 3P5 Canada
204-787-3175
204-787-2887