Residency Training Program
This program is designed for surgeons who have completed their postgraduate training in General Surgery and are at least American Board or Royal College Examination eligible. They must have had an approved Senior Residency year in General Surgery.
Presently, this is a 2-year General Thoracic Surgical Training experience leading to eligibility for accreditation in General Thoracic Surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. The applicant wishing to take these exams should note the requirements required prior to the one year of senior General Thoracic Surgery training.
You are required to participate in clinical research projects.
The mandatory content of training in General Thoracic Surgery is as follows:
| Description | Duration | Sites in which this training may be taken |
| Thoracic Surgery | 6 months (junior) 12 months (senior) | Toronto General Hospital,St Joseph’s Health Science Centre – Toronto,Toronto East General Hospital (up to 3 months may be considered outside of Toronto, with approval of Program Director) |
| Cardiac Surgery | 4 months | University of Toronto Approved Hospitals: St Michael’s Hospital, Sunnybrook andWomen’s Health Science Centre, TorontoGeneral Hospital |
| Non-Thoracic Surgery Elective Training | 2 months | based on discussion with Program Director, can also be used for additional Thoracic Surgery training |
Once requirements from the 1st year are met, elective rotations may be considered. This is usually discussed during your first year in the program. Requests for electives are considered by the Residency Program Director. Typical electives could include one month ambulatory experience in interventional bronchology, gastroenterology, or medical or radiation oncology.
These elective may be taken during either the first year with prior discussion. A lung transplant elective rotation is available but recommended only for the latter portion of the second year.
We provide an excellent training program as our centre performs many pulmonary resections per year and approximately 40 esophageal resections per year. We also perform over 200 lobectomies and approximately 50% of these are done by VATS. Unique programs include our Pulmonary Endarterectomy , Mesothelioma and Lung Volume Reduction Programs. They also include our ITSS Program (Interventional Thoracic Surgical Suite) where we perform EBUS and other innovative endoscopic procedures.
The selection of residents usually takes place in March for the following year (i.e 15 months in advance) The application deadline is January 1st in the year prior to beginning training. Candidates are notified around the beginning of April regarding their acceptance and have 2 weeks to finalize their decision.
Dr. Andrew Pierre is the Program Director for Thoracic Surgery at the University of Toronto.
Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program
Funded fellowship training opportunities are available in thoracic surgery to both Canadian and international surgeons. The program is tailored to the needs of the fellow and varies from 6 months to 2 years in duration. Exposure to all aspects of general thoracic surgery is available depending on the duration of the fellowship. We have a separate lung transplant fellowship but 6 months – 1 year can be incorporated into training depending on training and interests of the applicant.
Applications to the fellowship program can be received at any time but decisions will be made for these limited positions in May for the following year (i.e. 14 months in advance). The interested candidate should send a letter of intent, CV, and 3 reference letters to the fellowship director Dr. Thomas K. Waddell as early as possible.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FELLOWS:
Health status check is a requirement of any visitors staying more than 7 days. Please ensure immunization is up to date. Immunization records and TB skin test result must be included in application.