Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery Education & Research

Our Programs

Our commitment to education includes teaching undergraduate and postgraduate trainees, as well as other health care professionals. Due to our clinical diversity and case volumes, UHN has the largest clinical fellowship program in Canada. On any given day, learners at all levels, including medical students, residents, fellows and observers, can be found in our division. Below is a list of our educational and research programs.

Fellowship Programs
- Breast Cancer Reconstruction
- Canadian and American Microsurgery & Hand Surgery Fellowships
- Hand, Wrist and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Fellowship
- Plastic & Reconstructive Microsurgery
Resident Program
Research
Undergraduate Program
Observerships

Surgical Resident and Fellow Orientation, University Health Network

Fellowship Programs

The University of Toronto offers Clinical Fellowships in plastic, reconstructive and hand surgery through its affiliated hospital sites to provide additional specialized clinical and research training. Fellowships span up to two years and are based at the affiliated hospital sites in Toronto. During this time, Fellows will be exposed to a mix of cases and may participate in elective rotations, lecture series, journal clubs, institutional rounds and conferences. Most Fellowships offer research opportunities. The following Fellowship programs offered by the University include a UHN hospital site.

Further information on application requirements and procedures as well as other details on the Fellowship Program is provided by the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Toronto and the Michener Institute of Education at UHN.

Breast Cancer Reconstruction

The one-year Breast Cancer Reconstruction program aims to train the next generation of surgeons in the management of breast reconstruction. The Fellowship is divided into two six-month rotations: one at UHN's Toronto General Hospital, where Fellows will focus on microsurgical and immediate breast reconstruction techniques; and one at Women's College Hospital, where Fellows will focus on implant-based and non-microsurgical breast reconstruction as well as aesthetic breast surgery. During the course of their training, Fellows will have to opportunity to participate in or begin clinical breast research projects. Dr. Toni Zhong is the Fellowship Director and Drs. Stefan Hofer and Mitchell Brown are the site supervisors.

Canadian and American Microsurgery & Hand Surgery Fellowships

The University of Toronto and UHN support fellowships matched through the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Hand, Wrist and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Fellowship

The one-year Hand, Wrist and Peripheral Nerve Surgery Fellowship exposes the fellow to a range of reconstructive problems, hand trauma (including large volumes of digital reimplantation), complex wrist pathology, arthritis, and peripheral nerve problems. Fellows will rotate at Toronto Western Hospital and Sunnybrook Hospital. Over the course of the year, each fellow will be expected to produce a research paper. UHN surgeons who may supervise this program include:

Dr. Jamil Ahmad
Dr. Ryan Austin
Dr. Heather Baltzer
Dr. Paul Binhammer
Dr. Andrea Chan
Dr. Jana Dengler
Dr. Ryan Paul
Dr. Herb von Schroeder

Plastic & Reconstructive Microsurgery

The one-year Plastic & Reconstructive Microsurgery provides experience in a range of techniques for cancer-related defect construction. This includes microsurgical and non-microsurgical reconstruction techniques for head, neck, breast and musculoskeletal sarcoma defects. Fellows will be expected to pursue at least one clinical or basic research project. The Fellowship is based at UHN's Toronto General Hospital and is supervised by Dr. Stefan Hofer.

The Clinical Fellowship Coordinator for the program is Dr. Toni Zhong.

Resident Program

The University of Toronto offers a five-year residency program in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery to train the next generation of surgeons. Toronto General Hospital, Toronto Western Hospital and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre at UHN are three of thirteen hospitals and health centers that Residents rotate through. Residents will be trained in modern medical, surgical and treatment methods and gain exposure to UHN's subspecialties in breast and reconstructive microsurgery, hand and upper extremity surgery, surgical oncology, peripheral nerve surgery, and facial reanimation surgery.

Residents will be able to apply to the Surgeon Scientist Training Program (SSTP) to complete a Masters or PhD level research project in preparation for an academic career in cardiovascular surgery. Many of these SSTP residents are under the supervision of UHN faculty.

Residents are evaluated in the clinical setting by their supervisor(s), and are encouraged to develop autonomy and skills that will help them on their path toward independent practice.

Resident education includes didactic teaching sessions with specific topics presented over the duration of their rotation, simulation sessions, oral exam practice sessions, cardiac surgery seminars, education and research rounds. In addition, journal club rounds are offered periodically.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of these formal rounds have been shifted to a virtual format.

Daily Teaching

An important focus of our postgraduate resident education program is daily teaching, which consists of informal and formal teaching sessions through residents and Faculty as well as fellow interactions on the ward, in the clinic, the operating room, and on-call.

The entire teaching series has been designed to allow important basic and subspecialty surgery lectures to be completed during each resident rotation.

Most of our staff participate in these teaching sessions. To ensure a comprehensive curriculum, we include teaching by our non-physician healthcare colleagues, where appropriate.

Further information on application requirements and procedures as well as other details on the Residency Program is provided by the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery at the University of Toronto and the Michener Institute of Education at UHN.

The residency site representative for UHN is Dr. Stefan Hofer.

Research

Research is integral to many of the educational programs supported by the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery. Many of the Division's surgeons lead cutting-edge research programs and are appointed, affiliated or clinical scientists in the Krembil Research Institute, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Toronto General Hospital Research Institute at UHN:

Dr. Heather Baltzer

Dr. Andrea Chan

Dr. Siba Haykal

Dr. Stefan Hofer

Dr. Steven McCabe

Dr. Anne O'Neill

Dr. Herbert von Schroeder

Dr. Toni Zhong

Research areas of interest include free tissue transfer, head and neck reconstruction, reconstructive microsurgery, breast reconstruction techniques, tissue engineering, paralysis, hand surgery, arthritis, breast cancer, bone production, cell signalling, cortical plasticity, and health services and outcomes.

Some of our surgeons hold additional appointments in departments at the University of Toronto beyond their appointments with the Department of Surgery, such as:

For more information on the research being done at UHN and the University of Toronto:

Undergraduate Program

University of Toronto Medical Students

The Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery at UHN has a significant role in Undergraduate Education at the University of Toronto.

The University offers core and elective experience for its undergraduate Medical Students. First- and second-year students have the opportunity to do clinical electives, meet with surgeons, and do summer research projects. In addition, the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery at UHN offers shadowing opportunities, where students can observe cases and spend time in the clinic or operating room. Students in their third year can rotate with UHN's Division as Clinical Clerks. As Clerks, students will be assigned to a team where they will be integrated into the daily patient care activities. By being in the clinic and operating room as well as participating in rounds, Clerks will be exposed to an overview of the different types of surgical problems and care.

During their rotation, students may have the opportunity to:

Examine at least one wound, and learn the phases of wound healing and the types of dressings
Attend one reconstructive procedure, and learn the reconstructive ladder and reconstructive techniques
Perform a basic hand examination
Perform a wound closure with simple interrupted sutures
Learn the clinical features of three common skin cancers: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma

Further information on Undergraduate education is provided by the University of Toronto.

Elective Program

The Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery at UHN accepts Elective Students from universities across Canada and abroad.

Comprehensive Research Experience for Medical Students (CREMS)

The CREMS Summer Program provides medical students with the opportunity to obtain research experience during the summer months.

The CREMS Summer Program is open to first- and second-year medical students at the University of Toronto.

Applications are submitted, reviewed, ranked and selected by the CREMS Director and a review panel of three other faculty members.

Students in the program present their work at the University of Toronto Medical Student Research Day, which is held in the following year with a poster presentation. Supervisors ensure that students receive the appropriate training needed to conduct their research projects.

Further information is provided by the CREMS office at the University of Toronto.

Patient as Teacher Program

The third-year surgical clerkship for undergraduate medical students at the University of Toronto integrates the Patient as Teacher program. Comprising three workshops and production of a creative reflection piece, this program aims to promote humanism and patient-centred approaches in medicine. Patients share their experiences and insights to provide students with the patient perspective of the surgical journey.

Further information on the Patient as Teacher program »

Artwork by University of Toronto surgical clerks George Ho (left) and Sivaani Sivaselvachandran (right).

Observerships

The Observerships program at UHN provides health care professionals and students from around the world the opportunity to observe examinations and other procedures performed by UHN staff physicians, surgeons, nurses, and health professionals. All Observers require a UHN sponsor—a clinical or surgical staff member who will be responsible for the Observer's learning experience. It is the observer's responsibility to connect with a sponsor and then proceed with the application process.

Meet the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgery's team
Further information on Observerships at UHN as well as the application and registration process

In addition to the general Observerships program, the International Centre for Education at UHN's Michener Institute of Education offers the Personalized Learning Program.

Personalized Learning Program (PLP)

The PLP at UHN is a fully customizable, observership-based program designed to meet learner goals and objectives. No two PLPs are exactly the same! Various resources and expertise throughout UHN are leveraged to enhance the learning experience. The program office works closely with host program(s) and learners to develop an Education Plan, outlining the activities of the PLP which are meant to meet the learning objectives. One-on-one coaching time and check-ins are also scheduled throughout the program, as needed. Learners are asked to provide a short presentation at the end of the program to summarize their learning and provide feedback. Learners also receive a UHN-Michener Certificate of Completion at the end of the program.

Depending on the PLP, the program may also be done virtually. A virtual PLP will provide one-on-one or group mentorship-like experiences and masterclasses with UHN clinicians and leaders. The virtual programs will be designed around and focused on meeting learners' personalized learning needs and objectives.

Further information on the PLP is available from the International Centre for Education.