History

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

McGill University Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your interest in the residency program at McGill University Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The Committee on Residency Training in Plastic Surgery accepts candidates who have completed their medical degree via CaRMS. The first two years of the five year Plastic Surgery residency are done via the Core Surgery Program, following which they are trained for three years in Plastic Surgery, as approved by the Collège des médecins du Québec and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Plastic Surgery residents rotate through related surgical specialties.

American applicants can check the residency training requirements with the American Board of Plastic Surgery. The American Board of Medical Specialties can verify physician certification.

The teaching hospitals are the Montreal General Hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital, and the Montreal Children's Hospital. The training is divided to include equal rotations at each hospital.

In addition to daily and weekly rounds at each hospital, one day of the week (at present, Wednesday) is completely given over to rounds, clinics and the presentation of problem cases from the various services and those brought in by outside plastic surgeons. In addition, a weekly seminar follows the selected rounds and is held alternatively in each of the three teaching hospitals. Large plastic surgery clinics are held at least twice weekly at each of the main teaching hospitals and Hand Clinics are held once weekly at the adult hospitals. There are several other clinics in related disciplines at the various hospitals which the plastic surgery residents are urged to attend. These include Tumour Clinic, Hemangioma and Cleft Palate Clinics, the Maxillo Facial Surgical Treatment Group, Limb Asymmetry Study Group and General Surgery Grand Rounds. Trauma rounds are held once weekly and Plastic Surgery participates frequently.

The fairly extensive academic facets of this program are further enhanced by formal tutorials which are held by the attending staff for the residents every two weeks during the academic year. These tutorials are preceded by a two-hour examination of the selected topic and reading list, and then followed by a three hour discussion meeting and oral examination. In the course of training, these tutorials cover the field of plastic surgery and basic science subjects, and are referenced in the reading lists. Basic research topics related to plastic surgery, carried out by research fellows and the attending staff, are regularly reported during these plastic surgery seminars. Each year, the three final year residents prepare papers for presentation at the Senior Plastic Surgery Residency Conference which is held in one of the major American or Canadian plastic surgery centres. All residents are encouraged to participate in clinical research projects and in the presentation of scientific material at local and national meetings.

The McGill University Plastic Surgery Program is broad-based and is directed toward the fulfillment of the requirements for specialty certification by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Collège des médecins du Québec. The Program can also be structured to allow residents to qualify for the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Requests for information and application forms should be directed to:

Dr H. Bruce Williams, Program Director
McGill University Plastic Surgery Program
Montreal Children's Hospital
2300 Tupper Street, Suite C1139
Montreal, Quebec, H3H 1P3
Tel.: (514) 412-4488
Fax: (514) 412-4340
E-mail: bruce.williams@muhc.mcgill.ca

Approximate Quota: 1

Number of applicants 2005/2006: 47
Number of interviews 2005/2006: 20

Link to Interview Dates


	Supporting Documentation

	Medical School Transcript Order from your Registrar Medical Student Performance Record Order from your Dean's office Personal Letter A personal letter is required. It should contain background experience, participation in student affairs and extra curricular interests. Reference Letters Three letters of reference are required. These should be from doctors who have worked with the applicant during medical school training or through research projects, and may be written by senior residents or staff. Late references will be accepted until the end of December 2006. You must submit the following to allow us to determine your eligibility: PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP must be submitted with each application. In the case of Canadian Citizens or Canadian Permanent Residents: birth certificate plus one of the following: both sides of the permanent resident card or citizenship document, passport page. In the case of Quebec medical students currently on a Student Visa in Quebec: A copy of your valid passport page as well as a copy of your birth certificate and Student Visa. We are unable to consider Visa Students from other provinces. Also, it will be necessary for us to receive the certified copy of the documents once the trainee has been matched.

Interviews

Each file is reviewed individually, then those applicants that are put on the short list are contacted by our office for an interview. Interviews will be held Saturday, February 10, 2007.

Each candidate is interviewed by all members of the attending staff with additional interviews by all senior residents in plastic surgery and one representative from the junior resident group. Each interview lasts approximately 15 minutes. Interviews are scheduled in January.

Elective Requirements Survey Response

Our program is looking for and rewarding applicants who have completed a broad range of electives.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

Resources

PGY-1 and 2: Two years of core surgical training are required with a broad exposure to different surgical specialties. A major emphasis is placed on rotations through General Surgery, the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, and related specialties such as orthopedics, emergency, otolaryngology, and neurosurgery. The surgical rotations are based either at the Montreal General, the Royal Victoria or the Montreal Children's Hospitals.

PGY-3, 4 & 5: The Residency Program Committee outlines the training objectives for the three years of formal plastic surgery training (PGY-3,4,5). All major topics in plastic and reconstructive surgery are listed and a schedule is prepared. Each of the topics is then assigned as either a major reading list or as a seminar presentation. In this manner, the syllabus is prepared whereby all subjects can be covered over a 36 month residency. Two hour formal examinations are scheduled every two weeks during the academic year with a written examination and a tutuorial on the evening of the scheduled topics. The marks obtained are recorded over the residency period and these are utilized to indicate to each resident their progress throughout their period of training. In addition to the examination, each resident prepares four topics in depth during the year for formal presentation at the University Interhospital Rounds, which are held weekly. In this manner, the majority of topics can be covered and presented to all members involved in the residency program. Some flexibility in the McGill Program may be possible for those residents wishing to participate in the American Board of Plastic Surgery examinations. The PGY-3 year is structured for those individuals to cover plastic surgery education as well as plastic surgery related specialties. Rotations are organized by the Plastic Surgery Program Committee in collaboration with the General Surgical Program Director. The McGill program intergrates a structed list of reading material, tutorials, and seminars into the curriculum to comprehensively cover the following:

Program Year

Content and Sequence of Rotations
Number of Months (or 4-week blocks)

First

Neuro
Surg

Plast
Surg

Gen
Surg

Ortho

Vasc
Surg

VACN

Second

Emer

SICU

OTL

Ped
Surg

Gen
Surg

SICU

VACN

Third

Plas Surg

Head/
Neck

Burn
Unit

Oculo-plast

Oculo
-Plast

VACN

Fourth

Plas. Surg.

VACN

Fifth

Plas. Surg.

VACN

Research: Opportunities for clinical research exist throughout the clinical residency.

For those who wish to pursue bench or basic research, opportunities are available depending on funding through the Surgical Scientist Program. Two pathways exist - a two year fellowship leading to an MSc in Experimental Surgery, or a three year fellowship leading to a PhD. Successful completion of either offers Certification as a Graduate of the Clinical Investigator Program of McGill University.

Selection Criteria

Mentorship: Each resident is assigned a mentor at the start of his or her residency training. This mentor will be a "Big Brother/Sister" to explain the system, and to help you out if you have problems. The Program Director is always available as well.

For the most updated information on our residency program, application procedures, and application requirements please visit McGill Plastic Surgery at CaRMS.