Cardiac Surgery Residency Program

The PGY-1 year is part of the Surgical Foundations Program at the University of Alberta. In Cardiac Surgery, the block rotations is equivalent to a one month rotation. The first year rotations comprised of the following blocks:

6 – Junior Cardiac Surgery  
1 – CCU  
1 – Echo  
1 – ACES/Trauma
1 – Cardiac Anesthesia
2 – Vascular Surgery

The PGY-2 year consists of the following blocks:

2 – Thoracic Surgery
1 – Cardiac Imaging 
1 – Cardiac Cath Lab  
1 – VAD (Selective)
6 – Cardiac Surgery
2 – Cardiovascular ICU

Years 3-6 are designed to comply with the Royal College requirements. Historically residents tend to
start their academic enrichment year at the start of year 3. One year is available for "academic
enrichment" which can be extended to two or more years for those pursuing an academic career
and can be taken anywhere between the PGY 3-6. A two or three year of research training leading
to an MSc or PhD can be obtained through the (CIP) Clinician Investigator Program. Funding for this
program must be arranged in advance through the Director of the Clinician Investigator Program.
Clinical research is highly stressed and it is expected that a resident will prepare several
abstracts/publications during their residency. The year available for "academic enrichment" can be used as a clinical or basic science research year. Basic science areas of interest in our Division include xenotransplantation, overcoming senescence in transplantation, pulmonary vascular development, neonatal myocardial protection and fetal surgery and improving homograft valve preservation. A 2-year research period to obtain a Master of Science degree is highly recommended.

• At least 20 blocks of cardiac surgery, including three blocks of pediatric cardiac surgery
• Three blocks of endovascular surgery
• Three blocks of cardiac catheterization lab
• One block of cardiac rhythm device implantation
• No more than 13 blocks of academic enrichment
• 9 Nine blocks in Transition to Practice

I wanted to be able to directly impact patients’ lives, manage critically ill patients, and make genuine contributions to clinical medicine.

We typically see patients with surgical cardiovascular disease.  This includes patients with coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, pericardial diseases, major vascular disease, cardiac arrhythmias and those being assessed for heart and/or lung transplantation.  Paediatric cardiac surgeons encounter a myriad of congenital abnormalities ranging from intra-cardiac shunts to severely mal-developed cardiac structures.

Residents would typically begin the day by rounding on patients in our intensive care unit between six and six thirty.  We then proceed to round on our patients on the ward, with enough time to allow us to be at the operating room by seven thirty.  We then would review the relevant imaging studies for the case that morning including angiography, echocardiography and other modalities.  Then we would proceed with the morning case.  Upon conclusion of the first case we would escort the patient to the cardiovascular intensive care unit.  We then round again on our patients in the ICU and the ward.  We then would review the imaging studies for the next case, and then proceed with the afternoon case.  Upon conclusion we would escort the patient to the ICU and round again on the ICU and ward.  

Depending on the complexity of the cases the day would end between 4 pm and whenever you are done.  The residents and fellows are responsible for in house call throughout their training.  The residents and fellows are also always available for assistance with transplantation.

The question of lifestyle is not typically one we ask ourselves.  To quote Dr. Norman Shumway, one of the pioneers of cardiac surgery, “there are lesser and greater things in life to do . . . “.  Having said that the lifestyle is highly variable and depends on the institution one works at, the type of practice plan, the speed of the operating surgeon, and the complexity of the practice profile.  Furthermore, the autonomy and independence one has as a staff surgeon provides for flexibility in one’s lifestyle.

There is no doubt that cardiac surgery is a demanding specialty. However, I don’t know many physicians that have not at some time had to miss a soccer practice, or a family dinner, That said, most cardiac surgeons work as part of medium-to-large group practices which allow them substantial opportunity for time away.