Training Program Director

Dr. Mitchell Brown
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
The Banting Institute, Rm. 213
100 College St.
Toronto, ON M5G 1L5
Tel: 416 978-8534
Fax: 416 978-7316

Approximate Quota:

4-5 positions per year

Resources:

There are ten University of Toronto teaching hospitals involved in the plastic surgery training of residents.

Links:

Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS)

Curriculum:

The residency rotations are designed to meet the requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

PGY 1 & 2:

There are two years of core surgery. These two years are designed to prepare the trainee for the MCCQE II exams which occur seventeen months after commencement of the rotations as well as the Principles of Surgery examination of The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. They are also designed to prepare the trainee for plastic surgery training in the subsequent years. As such, the rotations are broad and include plastic surgery, burns, ENT, orthopedics, general surgery, intensive care, emergency, internal medicine, oral, as well as dermatology and dermatopathology. The rotations will be reviewed with the candidates, keeping in mind their preferences and the needs of the program. Interviews with the Director of Postgraduate Education and Chair of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery are conducted to plan individual programs, review progress and obtain feedback from the resident.

PGY 3 - 5:

The PGY3 to PGY5 years are assigned such that each resident has nine, four month rotations over a three year period. These rotations are at nine different teaching hospitals and one private aesthetic surgical facility. The order of these rotations is designed; 1. To provide increasing complexity of patient problems. 2. To fit the residents' individual preferences and 3. To provide progressive increase in resident responsibility.

 There are ten teaching sites, each with their own areas of subspecialty interest.

• The Hospital for Sick Children - paediatrics, developmental problems, craniofacial surgery, burns, microvascular and hand surgery
• Toronto General Hospital - microvascular surgery, head and neck reconstruction, oncologic reconstruction, breast reconstruction
• Toronto Western Hospital - hand surgery, microvascular extremity reconstruction, peripheral nerve surgery
• St Michael's Hospital - microvascular surgery, hand surgery, trauma, wound care, general plastic surgery
• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - craniofacial surgery, trauma, hand surgery, burn surgery, surgical treatment of skin malignancies
• Women's College Hospital - aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, aesthetic surgery
• St Joseph's Health Centre - community plastic surgery, aesthetic surgery, hand surgery, primary paediatric surgery, minor procedures
• Toronto East General Hospital - community plastic surgery, emergency procedures, general plastic surgery
• Trillium Health Centre - community plastic surgery, aesthetic surgery, hand surgery, general plastic surgery
• 199 Avenue Road - aesthetic surgery in a private aesthetic surgical facility

 The residents' rotations are chosen to provide a broad training in plastic surgery and training in each of the subspecialty areas of plastic surgery. During each of the residents' rotations, they are given training in history taking, physical examination, diagnosis, clinical problem solving, selection of surgical techniques, operative surgery and postoperative care.  Specific training in the non medical expert CanMEDS competencies is also provided  and evaluated.

Mandatory Content of Training 

  Elective Content of Training 

 Research:

Trainees who are looking towards the possibility of an academic plastic surgery practice are strongly encouraged to pursue research. Research training is usually undertaken between the second and third years of the program. Residents are registered with the Institute of Medical Science and pursue a Masters of Science degree. The objectives of these years are to teach research methodology and research skills. The trainee is assigned to one of the division's researchers with a supervisory committee which reviews their progress during the two years of research (see Surgical Scientist Training Program). All residents engage in basic or clinical research during the program and annually produce a paper during their three years of plastic surgery training. Each resident presents three research projects during the clinical residency. Residents are encouraged to have a project in the PGY2,3,4 years so that the final year can be reserved for the preparation needed for final examination.

Seminars:

The core of the educational program is centered around the residents' clinical experience. Learning occurs primarily through involvement with patient care, self directed study and discussions with the staff surgeons. In the first two years of training there are weekly Principles of Surgery lectures. A didactic program of seminars and journal clubs is provided for three years during the plastic surgery portion of the program, on a once weekly basis. In addition, there are a number of symposia in burns, hand surgery, microvascular surgery, maxillo-craniofacial and aesthetic surgery.

Selection:

All applicants who apply to the University of Toronto Plastic Surgery Training Program are considered by the Residency Program Committee. The committee is composed of the Division Heads of each of the University Hospitals offering training in plastic surgery, the Chair of the Division, and the Program Director. Two resident representatives also sit on the committee. Selection is on the basis of academic record, a proven interest in the speciality, and references. Exposure to members of the selection committee through electives and other rotations is valuable. Candidates who aspire to an academic plastic surgical practice are particularly encouraged in this program.

Interviews:

After applications through the CARMS match, applicants will be provided with a more detailed application form from the Department of Surgery, University of Toronto. A short list of candidates will be prepared by the Selection Committee and it will be necessary for each of these short listed candidates to be interviewed in late January. Video conferencing interviews are not permitted.

Documents:

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Department of Surgery, Postgraduate Education
The Banting Institute, Room 307
100 College St.
Toronto, Ontario
M5G 1L5
Tel: 416 978 5575

or the Program Administrator, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery:

Ms. Kathy Pavlovic
The Banting Institute
100 College St. Suite 213
Toronto, ON
M5G 1L5
Tel: 416-978-8534
Fax: 416-978-7316