General Surgery

General Surgery Residency Program

Welcome to the General Surgery Residency Program at the University of Alberta.

High

Clinical volume and operative exposure (minimal fellows)

BROAD

Exposure to all subspecialties including transplant, surgical oncology with HIPEC and robotic colorectal surgery

Outstanding

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS INTERESTED IN RESEARCH

CaRMS Specific Information

The General Surgery match at the University of Alberta is processed through CaRMS. Please see the CaRMS website at http://www.carms.ca for detailed program information, and a description of the requirements for applying to our residency program.

We will be hosting multiple Program Showcases from October to January. Each Program Showcase will be a discussion with our Co-Program directors and will feature a staff member from a different specialty. You will have a chance to chat with some of our residents. Events are advertised on the CANPREPP Portal.

Contact Information

Dr. Michael McCall
Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program
University of Alberta, Office of Surgical Education
2D2.01 WMC, 8440 - 112 St NW
Edmonton AB T6G 2B7

Isabel Jewell

Christy MacKinnon

Program Administrators
gsurgpg@ualberta.ca
780.407.6325

Dr. Michael McCall
Program Director

A welcome message from our Program Director, Dr Michael McCall:

A career in General Surgery is one of the most rewarding and interesting professions available. The diverse nature of the surgical specialty and the skills to manage complex, critically ill, and injured patients are reasons most of us chose this exciting career. Exposure to General Surgery and all of its sub-specialties are available at the University of Alberta.

Edmonton General Surgery residents will get learning opportunities in:

o Acute Care Surgery
o Bariatric Surgery
o Breast Surgery
o Colorectal Surgery
o Critical Care Medicine
o Endocrine Surgery
o Endoscopy
o Global Surgery
o Head & Neck Surgery
o Hepatobiliary/Transplant Surgery
o Minimally Invasive Surgery
o Pediatric Surgery
o Surgical Oncology
o Thoracic Surgery
o Trauma Surgery
o Vascular Surgery

General Surgery in Edmonton covers a large catchment area including the city of Edmonton, Northern Alberta, Northern British Columbia, Northern Saskatchewan, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon. It is an extremely busy operating and clinical experience at four main sites within Edmonton.

The University and Royal Alexandra Hospitals function as trauma centers. Several Edmonton-area and rural community hospitals provide outstanding surgical learning opportunities in Community General Surgery. The result is an incredible operative volume, breadth of clinical experience, and a variety of simple and complex cases. Our training program offers residents outstanding exposure to both community and sub-specialty general surgery and after 5 years you will be ready for immediate independent practice or very competitive for a sub-specialty General Surgery fellowship.

In addition, for the resident interested in pursuing a career in rural General Surgery, the is an option to spend the majority of the third and fourth years of residency in Grande Prairie, Alberta. Applications to this stream are submitted in the second year of residency.

The General Surgery Program at the University of Alberta has a strong tradition of training excellent surgeons. We have a collegial atmosphere among the staff and residents who are friendly and passionate about surgery. Clinical volume is among the highest of all the training programs in Canada – a fact the residents regularly quote as the best aspect of the program.

There is a strong emphasis on research with many opportunities throughout training. During the second year of residency, some residents chose to apply to the Clinician Investigator Program (CIP). The successful applicant leaves the General Surgery program for 2-3 years to pursue a MSc or PhD. Our residents have traditionally had a high level of success with degree attainment.

We are now fully integrated into the Competency by Design (CBD) program. Our Assistant Program Director, Dr Bonnie Tsang, is the CBD lead for our program. Each resident is paired with their own academic advisor and progress is monitored closely. We entered into CBD in 2020 so we truly believe that this has become a fully integrated aspect of everyday resident life.

Our program believes that resident wellness is paramount to a successful
residency. We have a resident-led wellness committee and are always looking
for ways to facilitate comradery outside of the hospital. Some examples
include:

Resident/staff spin bike classes
Yearly golf tournament
Yearly resident educational retreat in the Rockies
Journal club
Mentor groups

Thank you for your interest in General Surgery at the University of Alberta

Our Program

Our five-year residency program leads directly to accreditation by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

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Program Highlights

Training at two busy trauma centres in Edmonton

Simulation opportunities available with a Royal College accredited Surgical Simulation Program

Excellent Competence By Design (CBD) in-house platform for obtaining and tracking EPA’s. Strong faculty and administrative support for providing successful CBD program

Residents graduate ready for immediate independent practice or as extremely competitive candidates for fellowship training

Despite high volumes of tertiary-level procedures and sub-specialty, we have minimal fellows competing for cases

Collegial atmosphere with diverse staff interested in education and resident success

RESIDENCY AT A GLANCE

Our program has successfully transitioned to CBD in accordance with the nationally coordinated schedule. Our program will continue to undergo the same rigorous accreditation processes as traditional programs.

Learn More About CBD

PGY-1

General Surgery - 5 blocks
Orthopedic Surgery/Plastic Surgery - 1 block each
Medicine - 1 block
Coronary Care Unit - 1 block
Pediatric General Surgery - 1 block
Anesthesia - 1 block
Vacation - 1 block
Trauma - 1 block

PGY-2

General Surgery - 8 blocks
Intensive Care Unit - 3 blocks
Thoracic Surgery - 2 blocks

PGY-3

Paediatric General Surgery - 2 blocks
Endoscopy - 2 blocks
General Surgery - 7 blocks
Elective - 2 blocks

PGY-4

General Surgery Selective - 3 blocks (Community – either Lethbridge, Red Deer or Grande Prairie)
General Surgery - 3 blocks (Trauma Site)
Elective - 2 blocks
Vascular Surgery - 2 blocks
Chief Resident - 3 blocks

PGY-5

The first 10 blocks of the PGY-5 year are Chief Resident rotations where the resident is able to run a team and begin transitioning to a junior faculty role. The last three blocks make up an ambulatory care rotation.

Arranging an Elective

Medical students, please click here. Residents, please click here.

Teaching Hospitals

University of Alberta Hospital

This level 1 trauma centre Alberta Health Services’ University of Alberta Hospital (UAH) is located on the University of Alberta campus next to the Health Sciences Light Rail Transit (LRT) station. It is one of Canada’s leading clinical, research and teaching hospitals, treating more than 700,000 patients annually from across western and northern Canada. With over 885 beds, it offers a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services for both adults and children, including specialized services within surgery, cardiac sciences, neurosciences, medicine, renal, critical care, emergency and trauma care, and a state of the art burn unit.

The UAH’s Organ and Tissue Transplant Program is recognized as a national leader in both success rates and transplant volumes. Providing support to the transplant and surgery programs is the University Hospital’s Comprehensive Tissue Centre, one of only two fully accredited multi-tissue banks in Canada.

This teaching hospital is recognized across the country for superior research and learning opportunities.

Royal Alexandra Hospital

The Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH), located in the heart of downtown Edmonton, offers general and specialized medical and surgical health services. Its extremely busy emergency department caters to the inner city population and sees more than 63,000 visits per year. The hospital operates 870 beds, cares for over 1/2 million patients annually, and employs over 4,800 full and part-time staff. It is home to 25 operating theatres and features a strong surgical robotic program.

The Centre for the Advancement of Surgical Education and Simulation (CASES) skills centre is based at the RAH and offers expertise in surgical management, training and research. It is the first facility of its type in Western Canada and is dedicated to the development of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) and enhanced patient care. All Surgical Foundations residents will complete several wet/dry labs during their first year of training.

Through an exciting redevelopment project, the RAH recently expanded to include The Lois Hole Hospital for Women. This new and modern facility provides additional space for Women’s Health programs, as well as a Health Resource Centre, which provides Telehealth facilities and multimedia resources for physicians and their families. The Lois Hole Hospital for Women is also home to a Learning Centre, which provides improved professional development opportunities for staff and physicians, both in the region, and to the outlying communities served.

As a teaching hospital, the RAH has strong affiliations with the University of Alberta Departments of Surgery, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Family Medicine, and Laboratory Medicine among many others. The new Light Rail Transit Metro Line is now open which takes passengers to the RAH in less than 15 minutes from the University. This has made it much easier for residents to get to and from academic half days which are mostly run out of the UAH.

Misericordia Community Hospital

This acute care facility, located East of West Edmonton Mall, has 306 beds and offers 24-hour Emergency care, General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Urology, Plastic Surgery, Intensive and Coronary Care, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Mental Health, Women’s Health, Diagnostics and Ambulatory Care.

The Misericordia is also home to the Institute for Reconstructive Sciences in Medicine (iRSM), an internationally recognized clinical and research institute focused on medical reconstructive sciences. The iRSM combines expertise in disciplines such as Surgery, Medicine, Dentistry, Rehabilitation Medicine, Engineering and Computing Science to create a fully integrated environment for clinical care, research, education and training in reconstructive medicine and technology. As an international referral center, it is a leader in the complex area of osseointegration (bone) implanted devices for prosthetic replacement of skull and facial defects resulting from cancer, trauma and congenital conditions.

The Misericordia Hospital also offers the only publicly funded hyperbarics oxygen program in Alberta.

Grey Nuns Community Hospital

With 347 beds, the Grey Nuns Community Hospital, located in south Edmonton in the Mill Woods neighbourhood, is an acute care hospital and provides a full range of services. This includes a 24-hour Emergency Department, General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Intensive and Cardiac Care, Children’s Health, Women’s Health, Diagnostics and Mental Health. The hospital’s tertiary palliative care unit is world-renowned for its delivery of care and teaching practices, and is a home base for a regional palliative program.

Program Supports

Residents are assigned to small mentor groups (3-4 residents) led by a staff member. These groups are helpful in providing career guidance, creating bonds and building collegiality among residents and staff in an informal setting. In addition,both our program directors and program administrators have an “open door” policy and are always available to offer advice and to help navigate the residency program.

One half day each week is devoted to seminars, individual study or time for research projects. A variety of topics pertaining to surgery are covered. Protected time for PGY-1 (Surgical Foundations) residents is on Wednesday mornings. For PGY-2 to 5 residents, protected time for seminars is on Friday mornings.

The following courses are provided to residents:

ATLS
ATOM
FAST Ultrasound training (PGY1)
Anatomy Lab / curriculum
CASES – MIS curriculum, labs, Surgical Medical Research Institute
PGY1 – Research Methods
PGY1 – Resident Teacher Training retreat

General Surgery began Competence By Design (CBD) in July of 2020. This allows residents to be evaluated more frequently based on their abilities and skills using Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) within a hybrid time/competency based model.

Extensive opportunities exist for residents to participate in research. Research methodology is incorporated into the core Surgical Foundations curriculum to ensure all residents are given opportunities and formal education. Supervisors, projects, and funding are available to support research training in the broad areas of basic sciences, surgical education, clinical outcome research, public health, health economics, global surgery and epidemiology. Research presentations are presented annually at the Division of General Surgery's Research Day as well as the Department of Surgery's Resident Research Day and are eligible for generous awards. Recent graduates of our program have consistently won national awards such as the Canadian Association of General Surgeons Resident Research Prize. There is an opportunity to obtain a master's degree or PhD through the Royal College-approved Clinician Investigator Program.

To support and encourage collegiately among residents and staff we host an annual Welcome BBQ, a holiday party, a resident retreat and other non-work related events.

Frequently asked questions

What are some strengths about your specialty? What draws and keeps people in your specialty?

A career in General Surgery is without a doubt one of the most rewarding and interesting careers available. The training is five years long, and the program is designed to make you a skilled surgeon, while still allowing you to practice medicine. General Surgeons pride themselves in being able to manage critically ill and injured patients, something that is sometimes lost in other surgical specialties. Upon completion of the training program, you will have the opportunity to practice as a community surgeon, or pursue further fellowship training. Graduates from our program have been very successful in some of the most competitive fellowship programs in the world. Typical fellowship programs include Trauma and Critical Care, Hepatobiliary and Transplantation, Head and Neck Oncology, Endocrine Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Breast Surgery and Pediatric Surgery. The diverse nature of the specialty is what makes General Surgery an attractive career choice.

What are some common complaints about your specialty?

The residency program training for General Surgery is busy and sometimes intense but the rewards far outweigh the sacrifices. As in other areas of medicine, General Surgeons have demanding jobs and need to strive for a balance between their professional and personal lives. On the other hand, once training is finished, General Surgeons have control over how many hours they wish to work each week. Many people who do not know the facts suggest that the lifestyle is poor. There is some night work involved, and sometimes the schedule when on-call can be unpredictable (but never boring!). However, many surgeons are now in call groups, which free up most evenings and weekends. The Canadian Association of General Surgeons has recently published guidelines on call frequency, and most surgeons are now on-call one in six nights. This is reasonable and allows for a balanced lifestyle.

Why did you choose your specialty?

The diverse nature of the specialty, together with the ability to manage the critically ill and injured patient are the reasons most of us chose a career in General Surgery. The satisfaction of having not only the technical skills but the clinical judgment and medical knowledge to treat patients with acute and sometimes life-threatening problems is immense. General Surgeons are masters of a wide range of operations in different areas of the body and this diversity keeps the job interesting and challenging.

What types of clinical cases do you commonly see?

A General Surgeon will see a wide variety of cases on a daily basis. The typical General Surgeon will take care of multiple injuries in the trauma patient. The Surgeon will also care for patients with biliary tract problems, hernias, bowel obstructions, and vascular disorders. Oncology is a major part of the surgeon’s practice, with a variety of tumors encountered. Surgeons play a major part in the treatment of breast cancer, lymphoma, stomach and colon cancer, pancreatic and biliary tract cancer, sarcomas, and head and neck malignancies, both endocrine and nonendocrine.

Briefly describe a typical day.

This question is best answered by describing a typical week. Each Surgeon typically has one and a half days in the operating room per week. The OR day starts at 0730 in most hospitals and ends at 1530. The Surgeon will generally spend one to one and a half days in the clinic, seeing new consultations and follow-ups. A day is often spent doing paperwork and administrative duties. Many surgeons also spend time performing upper and lower endoscopy each week. A day is usually kept free for emergencies, and the Surgeon often will try to schedule his call duty on that day so that most of the emergency work can be done during the day, freeing up the evening. The Surgeon will often round on the inpatients before the OR or clinic, and will usually round in the afternoon after the day's work is finished. Most weekends are free, except when the Surgeon is on call.

What are the varieties of lifestyles within your field?

The lifestyle of a General Surgeon can be varied, just as in any other specialty. The Surgeon can be as busy as he or she wants to be, and the Surgeon can tailor a practice to any lifestyle. Some General Surgeons are heavily involved in research and academics but many are focused primarily on clinical practice. There is much more of an emphasis on having free personal time than there was historically when General Surgeons were ‘on call all the time.’

Specifically, how able is your specialty to accommodate family life?

Family life is important to all Surgeons, and the specialty of General Surgery can accommodate a fulfilling family life. Many Surgeons are joining forces with other Surgeons to create call schedules that are realistic and allow for a balanced life outside the hospital. Most call groups take turns covering hospital inpatients on weekends to avoid having everyone rounding on their patients every weekend.

Range of incomes?

Most incomes are currently based on a fee-for-service schedule, and a wide range exists, the amount depending on the number of patients seen, and his or her geographical location. Many Surgeons across Canada are now looking at alternate payment plans, where they are given a very competitive salary in return for providing specific services. Most plans in Canada will salary the Surgeon at roughly $ 400 000 per year.

How do you see your discipline changing over the next decade?

Over the next decade, there will be a large number of Surgeons retiring, and this will leave many jobs available across the country. This will allow the new Surgeon to have the ability to work in virtually any part of the country, and in a variety of geographical settings. There is also a shift towards performing more and more procedures by minimally invasive (laparoscopic) techniques.

What are you looking for specifically in an impressive candidate?

The candidate must show a genuine interest in General Surgery. This interest will be identified as the student rotates on a General Surgery service. The candidate must have exceptional academic and clinical skills, and must be able to communicate effectively with the patients, their families, and the other team members.

What can a potential candidate do now in order to be an appealing applicant to your program?

The candidate should ensure that his or her preceptor knows there is an interest in Surgery. If possible, the candidate should try to spend some elective time in Surgery.

What is your residency program’s orientation and focus?

The General Surgery Residency Program is a five-year program designed to produce some of the finest Surgeons in Canada. There is a large clinical volume and residents receive an education in all aspects of General Surgery. The program emphasizes the importance of research, and there are opportunities to enter into the Clinician Investigator Program.

What is the availability of experiences in subspecialty areas during training?

There are many subspecialists who teach in the program. The resident will be exposed to all the subspecialty areas of General Surgery during their training. If there is any area in which the resident would like to spend more time, there is time available during the elective rotations to explore these interests. The University of Alberta has faculty members with specialty training in liver transplantation, hepatobiliary surgery, bariatrics and MIS, surgical oncology with HIPEC, head and neck surgery, endocrine surgery, robotic colorectal surgery and oncoplastic breast surgery. Residents also rotate through services dedicated to vascular surgery and thoracic surgery.

Are there sufficient elective opportunities during training to explore your special interests?

There are elective opportunities in the 3rd and 4th years which can be used to explore any specific areas of interest.

What is the on-call schedule during each year of residency?

In general, the residents will be on a 1 in 4 schedule during their in-house rotations. The residents will be in-house for their General Surgery rotations at the University Hospital and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. Chief Residents perform a combination of home and in house call during their trauma site rotations. The residents are on call 1 in 3 from home when rotating at the Grey Nuns and Misericordia Hospitals. All call schedules abide by the PARA contract. The residents are encouraged to leave the hospital the morning after being on-call according to the PARA contract.

What distinguishes the U of A program from other programs?

The General Surgery Program at the University of Alberta has a strong tradition of training excellent surgeons. The clinical volume is among the highest of all the programs in Canada. There is a strong emphasis on research, and there are many opportunities throughout the training program to carry out research. All the surgeons in the city are committed to teaching, and this is reflected in the excellent teaching our residents receive. There are few programs in North America with such clinical volume, research opportunities, and dedicated teachers.

How competitive is it to get in, and then to succeed in your field?

General Surgery is traditionally a competitive program but the numbers of applicants do fluctuate from year to year. Graduates from our program are exceptional surgeons, and many have succeeded in obtaining competitive fellowship positions. Many surgeons start practicing immediately on graduation, and they all feel well prepared for the task.

Is there active and/or required research in your residency program?

Each resident is required to present at the annual research day a minimum of 3 times during the course of their residency. The research is presented at a General Surgery Research Day each spring. Residents are encouraged to enter an MSc or PhD program if they have a strong interest in research.

What role does research play in your career?

Research plays an important part in the career of a Surgeon. The fields of medicine and surgery are continually evolving and it is through research that we are able to continue improving the care that we deliver to our patients. Research activity highlights the importance of critical thinking and analysis, both of which are necessary as a practicing surgeon.

RESIDENT TESTIMONIALS

We asked our residents what they like about Edmonton, their highlights of the program, and one piece of advice for applicants about the interview process. Here is what a few of them had to say.

What do you like about Edmonton: Edmonton is a big city, but also has a small city feel. Being from somewhere smaller I was worried about moving to a larger city and being overwhelmed, however that never occurred with Edmonton. There are plenty of activities around the city or even a short drive away to the mountains for those that love skiing/snowboarding or hiking in the summer.

What are the highlights of the program for you: The General Surgery program at the UofA is honestly second to none, we have an amazing staff that are receptive to the needs of residents and from my experience have always pushed me to be my best. The volume that we get in this program from an operative perspective is great and I have not had any trouble learning about a wide variety of general surgery complaints. Through the four sites we typically rotate through you have access to specialist in basically every general surgery subspecialty. Additionally the resident team is great to work with.

One piece of advice you want to share with applicants about the interview process, starting with the U of A, or residency in general: Residency is a grind regardless of what program you choose or where you end up so it is important to find something that you love to do, it makes the good days amazing and the not so good days alright that way. I always encourage applicants to be themselves and honest with what they want in a program, if you don't like research don't pretend that you do because you think that is what a program wants. Every applicant is different and that is the exciting part of the process is we can see all of the amazing personalities of the new group of residents.

Hayley Forbes (R3)

What do you like about Edmonton: Edmonton is a large enough city to have all the major amenities and activities, while still being small enough to avoid the traffic and congestion seen in some of the other major Canadian cities. The Edmonton River Valley can compete with any urban green space in Canada, and is excellent for biking and running in the summer as well as cross country skiing and hiking in the winter. In addition, we are close enough to the mountains that world class skiing is available on weekends off.

What are the highlights of the program for you: The University of Alberta is unique as it not only provides trainees with appropriate case volumes to become competent surgeons able to practice in the community at the end of a 5 year residency, but it also provides ample opportunities for research. Our recent graduates have been successful in securing various competitive fellowship opportunities, as is shown by our program's success in matching to pediatric surgery, colorectal, HPB/transplantation and other competitive fields. Residents have the opportunity to pursue the type of career that suits them, and the program provides the means to succeed in both academic and community careers. The support from the staff and senior residents when on call is excellent, and because of the teaching provided by the program our residents are very confident and competent in managing surgical and medical issues in complex, acutely ill patients.

One piece of advice you want to share with applicants about the interview process, starting with the U of A, or residency in general: Make sure to ask questions, especially early in your residency. If you have a good understanding of the physiology and rationale behind clinical decisions it is much easier to deal with difficult issues when on call.

Kieran Purich

Where did you originally come from: A little bit of everywhere, but UBC Prince George for med school and my family is in Nova Scotia and Ottawa.

What are the highlights of the program for you: The junior years are hard anywhere, but I have an incredible group of coresidents and our bond has been one of the best things about being here. Programs across Canada are consistent in many respects, but some of the U of A highlights are excellent trauma exposure throughout residency, R2 community rotations with additional rural experience later in residency, and biannual practice oral exams (not fun at the time, but helpful long-term!). Having worked in other provinces, I would also say the EMR in Alberta is one of the friendlier ones. Also all four hospitals have at least one solid post-call breakfast option!

What do you like about Edmonton: I am not a big-city person, but Edmonton is a manageable size and a pretty easy city to navigate. I have been able to bike or walk to work for at least half the year! There are lots of great bike trails along the River Valley and parks throughout the city, with accessible XC trails in the winter as well. Trips to the mountains are doable on weekends, and closer to home there are great weekend farmer's markets. My unpopular opinion is that I love winter and Edmonton will certainly give you a real Canadian winter!

One piece of advice you want to share with applicants about the interview process, starting with the U of A, or residency in general: CaRMS is not a normal process and neither is residency. We normalize a lot of unhealthy things in medical culture and I am hopeful that the next generation will slowly change that. In the meantime, lean on your fellow applicants (and eventual coresidents) and don't be afraid to laugh together about interview gaffes or residency struggles. So much of CaRMS and medicine requires putting on an air of confidence to instill trust, but being vulnerable is what will keep you human.

Sarah MacVicar, R2

Where did you originally come from: I’ve lived in a number of places, but I did my medical school and undergraduate degree in Edmonton.

What are the highlights of the program for you: First and foremost, the people. I feel very supported by my co-residents and staff and love spending time with them both in an out of work. Secondly, the catchment area of Edmonton. I knew that pursuing General Surgery training in Edmonton would expose me to all areas of the specialty from trauma to transplant, breast to bariatrics. And finally, the research at the University of Alberta. I was already involved in a few projects as a student that I was excited to continue and wanted to continue to grow my leadership and research experience in residency.

What do you like about Edmonton: I love that Edmonton has something for everyone – restaurants, galleries, shows… and the largest urban park in North America! I love biking or cross-country skiing in the river valley. Edmonton can simultaneously feel like a big city or serve as a green escape from the busy hospital life.

A piece of advice for applicants: CARMS is an incredibly overwhelming time, but it can also serve as a great reflection of your strengths and weaknesses. Take the time to really think about how your story has unfolded over the last few years and how your experiences shaped your interests in medicine. Be prepared to really delve into your extracurricular activities – often they’re what make you stand apart from other candidates and can really help you illustrate unique character traits in your interviews.

Zosia Prus-Czarnecka, R1