Values: clinical excellence, research development, and surgical expertise.

Department of Surgery Directory

The Department of Surgery postgraduate education has >100 residents and fellows enrolled in its program. There are 10 training programs including the Divisions of: General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Urology, Thoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery, Cardiac Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, Vascular Surgery and Pediatric General Surgery.

The exemplary surgical postgraduate specialties at the University of Ottawa are taught at the three campuses of The Ottawa Hospital.

The Core Surgery Educational Program is complemented by the opening in 2011 of state of the art University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Center, making the Department of Surgery a leader in both simulation and medical education.

Select a division to view more on divisional postgraduate education:

Surgical foundations

Surgical Foundations at the University of Ottawa welcomes approximately 65 junior residents each year, from the disciplines of General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Urology, Plastic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology and Obstetrics/Gynecology.

The two-year curriculum focuses on the attainment of basic surgical knowledge, technical skills, and CanMEDS values required to provide a strong foundation for their senior residency years.

The program incorporates technical surgical skills laboratories, interactive Q & A sessions, lectures, and workshops.

Residents meet weekly for their Surgical Foundations academic sessions at the University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Center.

The curriculum benefits greatly from the accessibility of these facilities, allowing the use of various bench models, simulators, and other technologies such as polling software and broadcasting.

Sessions are made possible by enthusiastic participation from surgeons and physicians from the University of Ottawa as well as allied health professionals and community partners.

Some of the topics featured in the curriculum are:

Technical skillsMedical ExpertCanMeds Workshops
  • Casting
  • Splinting
  • Suturing
  • Catheter insertion
  • Knot tying
  • Central line insertion
  • Laparoscopy
  • Arthroscopy
  • Vascular anastomoses
  • Internal Medicine subspecialties as applied to surgery
  • Surgical Subspecialties
  • Pathology
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Pain Management
  • Wound healing
  • Nutrition
  • Conflict resolution
  • Professionalism
  • OR safety
  • Patient decision making

The PGY1 residents’ curriculum is augmented by the incorporation of the PGME Symposia series, the use of the American College of Surgeons Fundamentals of Surgery software, and Advanced Trauma Life Support.