General Surgery

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Research

The Division has a long history of research in several areas including diabetes, hepatitis, and more recently, bariatric surgery. It is still a worldwide leader in islet transplantation and cancer research. Basic science research in transplant surgery is carried out in collaboration with the Division of Cardiac Surgery in the area of ex-vivo organ perfusion.

EVENTS:

38TH ANNUAL - GENERAL SURGERY RESEARCH DAY 
April 4th, 2025
Fairmont Hotel Macdonald
Book of Abstracts 2024

Teaching

The Division is heavily involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate education. The residency program recently had a very positive Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada external review. The Clinician Investigator Program is available to all general surgery residents as a means to further their career goals, and is an important aspect of surgical education. All varieties of surgical research are available to a resident, including basic bench research to public health and the recent addition of a Masters of Surgical Education. Dr. Jonathan White has won national awards for innovation and leadership in education and is the co-creator of the ‘Surgery 101’ podcast series, which has been downloaded about 5 million times worldwide.

Facilities and Technology

In addition to the six clinical care hospitals, the Division’s surgeon-scientists have access to the latest research facilities, including Ray Rajotte Surgical Medical Research Institute, Alberta Diabetes Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation, Centre for Advancement of Minimally Invasive Surgery, and the Cross Cancer Institute.

Clinical

High-volume, acute care general surgery is performed at six regional hospitals: Fort Saskatchewan, Grey Nuns, Misericordia, Royal Alexandra, Sturgeon and University of Alberta Hospital. The Division closely collaborates with Northern Alberta sites, including Grande Prairie and Fort MacMurray. There are now standalone acute care services at some sites, and an acute care fellowship training program. The creation of city-wide groups of interest have the Division looking forward in a very positive fashion. Instead of regionalizing to a hospital site, we have regionalized to specialized areas of care.

General surgeons from all over the Edmonton Cinical Zone now work in collaboration in areas of interest such as breast, colorectal, and trauma care. This allows for the best possible patient care within collaborative working groups – also optimizing research opportunities. The trauma program is based out of both the Royal Alexandra Hospital and University of Alberta Hospital sites, and through ongoing recruitment, it is working towards 24/7 trauma coverage services for the Zone. The Bariatric Program is recognized as a centre of excellence with outstanding clinical and research output. The Abdominal Organ Transplant Program is the only centre in Western Canada to offer liver, pancreas, islet, kidney, and intestinal transplantation. The Complex Hernia and Abdominal Reconstruction Group of Edmonton (CHARGE), established in early 2021, is Canada’s first multidisciplinary complex abdominal hernia program.

Global Surgery

The division has continued to support the Department of Surgery’s Office of Global Surgery (OGS) whose innovation makes it an international leader. Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Program Director, Dr. Michael Kim, is co-leading (along with Dr. Abdullah Saleh) the OGS’ Global Surgery and Acute Care Surgery (GSACS) Fellowship in 2019. This innovative model sets the University of Alberta apart and establishes a reputation as a national and international leader in training future academic global surgeons.

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Division of General Surgery

2D4.38 W.M.C
University of Alberta Hospital
8440 - 112 Street
Edmonton AB, Canada T6G 2B7
Fax: 780.407.1773
Phone: 780 407-2906

Email: surggen@ualberta.ca

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta

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