Residency Program Curriculum
The primary objective of the Â鶹AV General Surgery Training Program is to produce a polyvalent general surgeon well versed in all aspects of general surgery, with a good grounding in basic or clinical research. Our graduates will be able to practice with confidence in either the community hospital or as an academic in a university teaching hospital.
Throughout the five years of training, the Program Director in consultation with the resident will establish the curriculum based on the resident's needs and long-term goals. Residents wishing to enter competitive programs in vascular surgery, critical care and trauma, colorectal, endocrine, pediatric surgery and surgical oncology are allowed to spend extra time on services subspecializing in these areas. In addition residents are allowed to complete an elective at an outside institution which they wish to attend at the completion of their residency.
We have a highly structured teaching program that includes academic half day sessions such as Senior Face-Off, Video Sessions (generated by residents with Pivothead Wearable Imaging technology), Jeopardy, MIS Laparoscopic Skills Course, Open Skills Course and Journal Clubs. Furthermore, we have annual oral examinations andÌýwritten examinations, and all our residents take the annual CAGS in-training exam.Ìý
PGY 1 & PGY 2: Surgical Foundations
The philosophy of these two years is to produce a resident with excellent exposure to general surgery, trauma/critical care, pediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery and vascular surgery. The resident completing these core years will be well prepared for the Royal College Principles of Surgery Exam and be competent technically in performance of basic procedures such as hernias, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, breast biopsies, etc.
This part of the program is presently run by the general surgery program and clearly meets all the objectives of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
The rotation requirements are as follows: Ìý
13Ìýblocks of General Surgery
2 blocks of Trauma
2 blocks of Pediatric Surgery
2 blocks of SICU
2 blocks Endoscopy,
1 block Vascular Surgery,
1 block Thoracic Surgery,
1 block R1 Boot Camp,
There are 13 blocks of 4-week duration during an academic year.
Visit the Surgical Foundations Homepage here:Ìý/sf/
PGY 3: Research Year/Flexible
This is a flexible year. Residents intending to practice in the community can spend the entire year in clinical rotations. Resident funded through RAMQ who are interested in an academic career can spend 12 to 18 months in research. Residents who are funded from sources other than RAMQ are eligible to complete 6 months of research in their R3 year. There are some exceptions to completing 6 months of research; you must submit your proposal 6 months in advance to the General Surgery RPC for approval.Ìý
RAMQ-funded residents who opt to do research in their R3 year may select to do so through the Surgical Scientist Program offered by Â鶹AV Department of Surgery. Applications to the Surgical Scientist Program should begin at the start of your R2 year. Learn more about the Surgical Scientist Program here.
After completing their research, residents complete their PGY 3 year with 6 months of senior clinical rotations in order to fulfill the American Board of Surgery requirements. These senior years are established with the primary goals of maximizing the number and variety of clinical experiences, sharpening diagnostic and therapeutic skills, of becoming an independent consultant and maturing into an independent, competent and confident general surgeon.
Rotations across all teaching hospitals provide the senior resident with significant responsibility and clinical exposure and prepare our residents well for the final Royal College Examinations.
ÌýPGY 4 & PGY 5
These senior years are established with the primary goal of maximizing the number and variety of clinical experiences, sharpening diagnostic and therapeutic skills, of becoming anÌýindependent consultant and maturing into an independent, competent and confident general surgeon. Rotations in all teaching hospitals provide the senior resident with significant responsibility and clinical exposure and prepare our residents well for the final Royal College Examinations.
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