Division of General Surgery - Education Programs
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General Surgery Residency
This is a five-year post-M.D. program. The curriculum follows the specialty objectives and training requirements specified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
The first year (PGY-1) is divided into 13 four-week blocks, one of which is elective. Three blocks are spent in general surgery, two blocks on general medicine and one block each in emergency medicine and paediatric medicine. There are a number of other elective blocks available both in surgical and non-surgical specialties. Residents in PGY-1 must also complete the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Provider Course. In the second to fourth years (PGY-2 through PGY-4), each year is divided into four blocks of 13 weeks, with two blocks per year spent in general surgery. Further, in PGY-2 one block is spent in the Intensive Care Unit (Critical Care). In PGY-3 two blocks are divided between paediatric surgery, gastro-enterology and ambulatory surgery. In PGY-4 one block is elective. Community hospital experience is arranged during this elective block if desired. During the remaining block each year, rotations are chosen between plastic surgery, thoracic surgery and vascular surgery. In PGY-5 the year is spent as Senior Resident on general surgical services, usually as two six-month segments.
All residents will be responsible for completing at least two clinical or basic research projects during their training. The first project is to be completed by the spring of their third year and the second by the spring of their final year.
A surgeon-scientist program is offered. A resident’s eligibility for the program will be determined by the resident’s future career plans as well as demonstrated strong academic and clinical performance.