Plastic Surgery

Program Director
Dr. David McKenzie
Room 382, Foothills Medical Centre
1403 - 29 Street NW
Calgary  AB  T2N 2T9
Tel: (403) 944-4317
Fax: (403) 944-2840
e-mail: michelle.mills@albertahealthservices.ca

For further information see:
http://www.carms.ca
http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/stage/surgicalservices/education_surgery_residency.html

The University of Calgary Plastic Surgery residency training program is a small, preceptor-based program with abundant clinical material. There are currently 9 residents in the program. The Foothills and Alberta Children's Hospitals are regional referral centres for Level I Trauma, Oncology, Burns, and Replant Surgery.

PGY-1 and 2
Rotations are designed to prepare residents for the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part II and to establish the foundations for managing the surgical patient. Seminars and courses in biostatistics, bioethics and research protocol, critical thinking, CanMEDS and POS are mandatory. The Royal College requires rotations in General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma ICU, and Plastic Surgery. Rotations in Surgical Oncology, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, and Pediatric Plastic Surgery are required by the program. Rotations are objective-specific to optimize resident experience. Plastic Surgery residents are expected to attend all Plastic Surgery academic rounds and will be excused from their clinical duties when off-service.

PGY-3, 4, and 5
All residents complete rotations in Adult and Pediatric Plastic Surgery for three years in preparation for the Royal College certification exams. Residents are exposed to all facets of Plastic Surgery, including Maxillofacial, Craniofacial, Microvascular, Microneural, Hand and Esthetic surgery. Time is spent in consultants' offices as well as scheduled clinics, which include hand, reconstructive (oncologic) cleft lip and palate, and vascular birthmark clinics. Final-year residents are excused from the call schedule for 2 months prior to Royal College examinations and free from all clinical duties 2 weeks prior to the exam, as per Royal College guidelines.

Research
PGY-1 - Research methodology and related topics provided in the form of courses and seminars.
PGY-2 to 5 - Substantial research project (on an annual or ongoing basis) is compulsory. Some elective time is available in PGY-2 or 3. Presentation of research material at national meetings is strongly encouraged. Financial support for attendance at meetings is available for residents who are presenting papers. Time is spent in the Microvascular laboratory throughout training.

Seminars, Courses, and In-training Examinations
Biostatistics, bioethics, critical thinking, research methodology, ATLS course / ACLS course, departmental rounds, general Plastic Surgery rounds, burn rounds, hand rounds, CAGS exams, POS exam, CanMEDS, MCC Part II, American Plastic Surgery in-service exam, biannual divisional exams, American Hand in-service exam. There is a protected academic/research half-day on a weekly basis.

Resources

• Foothills Hospital
• Tom Baker Cancer Centre
• Alberta Children's Hospital
• Rockyview General Hospital
• Peter Lougheed Centre