The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) General Surgery program is fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Most of the training is split between the tertiary care hospitals in Thunder Bay and Sudbury Ontario. Residents may also travel to other centres in Canada to complete electives. 

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The NOSM General Surgery Program offers residents a comprehensive training experience leading towards successful acquisition of certification in general surgery along with the requisite knowledge and skills to effectively practice in a variety of community environments as a General Surgeon.

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Program Overview

Length of training: five (5) years

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The NOSM General Surgery program includes core rotations and subspecialty rotations selected to incorporate a diversity of experience and proficiency in subspecialty areas integral to a future practice as a General Surgeon. Residents spend the majority of their first year in either Sudbury or Thunder Bay, providing them with an opportunity to become acquainted with colleagues and to gain a foundation of skills before traveling outside of this home-base. After this, there are multiple options available for ongoing training for a variety of rotations in the following communities: Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, North Bay, Sault Ste Marie, Huntsville, Ottawa and Hamilton. The majority of training will be completed in northern Ontario.

 

Based on the resident’s personal learning plan, the content, sequence of training and schedule of movement between teaching sites may vary. Years one and two comprise the core program (Surgical Foundations). At the completion of the core program residents will be eligible to take the Surgical Foundations Examination, which must be successfully completed prior to the fellowship exams.

 

Program Highlights

The following represent the highlights of our program:

• Early surgical skill training

• A unique and challenging hands-on learning experience

• Unparalleled preceptor support from physicians committed to practicing in Northern Ontario

• Early integration as a key member of a health care team dedicated to professionalism, high quality patient care and excellent medical education

• Subspecialty general surgical experiences available at NOSM surgical training sites includes colorectal, endocrine, trauma and hepatobiliary.

• Commitment to resident learning

• Self-directed, learner centered training to meet your career goals

• Exposure to the culture and social fabric of Northern Ontario

• Financial assistance for resident travel to and from core clinical placements away from the home base and all mandatory educational activities at non home base locations

• Housing support for core rotations away from primary residence

• Opportunity to participate in research under expert guidance

• Funding available for research, professional development and conferences

• Access to advanced technology and informatics in residency training

• 24/7 access to electronic search engines, electronic indexes as well as an extensive collection of electronic medical/health journals and textbooks

 

Please visit General Surgery | NOSM.

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Clinical Curriculum

A Content of Training  sample structure can be found below. Please note that PGY1 & 2 years can be redistributed with approval from the Program Director.

 

PGY1
7 Blocks General Surgery (Thunder Bay/Sudbury)
1 Block Emergency Medicine
2 Blocks endoscopy (Surgery Call)
1 Block Selective (Internal Medicine)
2 Blocks General Surgery (Community)

 

PGY2
2 Blocks General Surgery (Community)
2 Blocks Trauma
3 Blocks ICU
3 Blocks Acute Care Surgery/General Surgery (Thunder Bay/Sudbury)
1 Block Research
2 Blocks Vascular Surgery

LMCC II should be completed in PGY2 Year.

 

PGY3
6 Blocks of Selectives/Electives
2 Blocks Pediatric Surgery (Ottawa)
2 Blocks General Surgery (Community)
3 Blocks Acute Care Surgery

Resident must have passed Surgical Foundations exam prior to progressing on to PGY-4.

 

PGY4
13 Blocks in General Surgery or relevant surgical disciplines

• Pediatric Surgery

• Vascular Surgery

• Surgical Oncology

• Transplantation

• Thoracic Surgery

• Community Surgical Rotation

*Maximum of 4 blocks outside of General Surgery
*Maximum of 4 blocks away from NOSM
*Alternate sites between chiefs

 

PGY5
13 Blocks in General Surgery, alternating between Thunder Bay and Sudbury (7 and 6 blocks)

 

Academics

Academics are delivered to the full resident group during two full day sessions which occur every two months throughout the year.  The residents will gather together for these academic days during protected time from clinical duties. Residents will also have the opportunity to participate in PGY1 Core Curriculum events, local community educational rounds, presentations, journal clubs and rounds through a WebEx online classroom as well as the Ontario Telemedicine Network.

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Surgical Foundations

The Surgical Foundations program is delivered to the PGY1 & 2 group on a weekly basis, either face to face or via videoconference if residents are out of town.

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Research

All residents are expected to complete and present a minimum of two research projects over the five-year program.

In discussion with the Program Director and Research Coordinator, up to one half-day per week can be set aside as protected time for research.

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Research electives can also be arranged.