Program Contacts

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Important Information

Please be aware that most, if not all, hospitals and Universities in Ontario have mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policies in place that require, in the absence of a valid medical or human rights exemption, proof of vaccination. Acceptable vaccination must be in accordance with Health Canada. You will be required to provide documentation of COVID-19 vaccination to the appropriate institution if matched. Failure to comply and provide the appropriate documentation may result in the termination of the contract. These guidelines could change at any time in accordance with future direction from the Ministry of Health or the Universities based on information from Public Health.  

 

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General Instructions

Program application language: English

• The program offers a comprehensive experience in vascular surgery across multiple training sites including community vascular settings
• This program includes open surgical and endovascular training in standard and advanced endovascular aneurysm repair as well as peripheral vascular interventions
• Two of the main training sites (UHN and SMH) participate in a regional call coverage program for the Greater Toronto Area which provides a large volume and variety of emergency vascular cases
• Training in diagnostic vascular ultrasound is a mandatory component of the training
• In addition to elective open and endovascular cases, residents will be exposed to iatrogenic and non-iatrogenic vascular trauma management, paediatiatric vascular trauma, and will be part of a team that provides vascular support to multidisciplinary surgical oncology cases
• Trainees with an interest in research have the opportunity to pursue a higher level degree in the highly acclaimed Surgeon Scientist Program at the University of Toronto (strongly encouraged)

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Supporting Documentation

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Review Process

Applications submitted after file review has opened on January 31, 2022

Supporting documents (excluding letters of reference) that arrive after file review has opened  on  January 31, 2022

Letters of reference that arrive after the unmasking date on January 31, 2022

Individual applications are scored by Faculty and resident reviewers (three scores per application) using an objective scoring process candidates who score above our cut-off will be offered interviews. 

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Interviews

Dates:

• March 3, 2022

Selection Criteria

- A good academic record which demonstrates special proficiency in those subjects related to Vascular Surgery

- Candidates should have a proven interest in surgery. This can be demonstrated by electives and references from staff in any of the surgical specialties

- If possible one or more references letters from a faculty member in vascular surgery is helpful but not required. Referees should be able to attest to interest and proficiency in the specialty as well as comments on interpersonal skills, motivation, work ethic, etc.

- Candidates with an interest in research, both in basic science, clinical research, education, etc. are encouraged to apply

- Special accomplishments either within medicine or outside of medicine are reviewed favourably

- All applications are screened by a subcommittee of the Residency Program Committee which will rank applicants after their interview

Program goals

The University of Toronto’s Vascular Surgery Residency Program aims to provide an excellent opportunity for Residents to develop the broad range of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for success as a vascular surgeon.  Residents will be exposed to common and uncommon vascular problems including adult and paediatric vascular trauma, as well as multidisciplinary vascular oncology cases, and complex aortic pathology. 

Residents must learn how to manage these problems in a comprehensive fashion and gain adequate experience and training in conservative management, endovascular, and open-surgical techniques.  All residents will be able to appropriately select and interpret non-invasive vascular imaging studies for the diagnosis and management of vascular problems.  With a relatively larger number of different training sites compared to other vascular training programs, a goal of the program is to teach residents multiple different, valid approaches to clinical problems. 

The University of Toronto’s Vascular Surgery Residency program aims to train leaders in Vascular Surgery who will support the academic endeavor through teaching and research, and advance knowledge in the field.  The program aims to graduate vascular specialists who can comprehensively manage our aging society’s increasing burden of vascular disease.   These specialists will be committed to multidisciplinary care of the vascular patient and be prepared for the lifelong-learning required to stay abreast of this rapidly advancing field.

Selection process goals

- High academic achievers, motivation to purse a surgical career in general with dedicated experience towards pursing a Vascular career specifically. 

- Interest in post graduate research preferred.

- Candidates that are considered to have a reasonable opportunity for acceptance are contacted for interview, which will be held according to the schedule set by the Vascular Surgery Specialty Committee of the Royal College and CaRMS.

File review process

Evaluation criteria :

Elective criteria

Interview process

Interview evaluation criteria :

Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

Specifically, we may consider:
Social interaction during program related events
Communication with program administration
Social media
Unsolicited reference letters
Unsolicited email references
Unsolicited verbal information on a candidate's prior performance
Unsolicited feedback from colleagues and co-workers

Ranking process

The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :
Unprofessional or inappropriate behavior   
Did not attend interview   
Interview performance was not competitive   

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Program Highlights

This program is carried out across six teaching sites including the Toronto General Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, Trillium Health Center, Scarborough General Hospital and Humber River Regional Hospital.  Open and endovascular training are provided at all sites.  We encourage a strong academic focus in our residents who are expected to complete a research project annually for presentation at the vascular surgery residency program annual research day. Residents who enter the Surgeon Scientist Training Program (SSTP) do so after their second year and on completion of their SSTP training re-enter the clinical stream for a final three years.  

 

Beginning PGY1 residents start their training with a central departmental skills boot camp and follow with a vascular surgery specific boot camp.  This three week experience allows our residents to make the most of their initial experiences in the operating room.  During the first two years residents complete off-service surgical and medical rotations and have an initial experience in the vascular laboratory.  Third year residents complete rotations in cardiac surgery as well as further vascular rotations.  During the final two years residents are expected to run a vascular service at one of our core sites and receive additional interventional radiology and vascular lab experience.  

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Program Curriculum

This residency program is for 5 years.

Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College or College of Family Physicians of Canada standard.

Please see program highlights. 

As of July 2021, the U of T Vascular Surgery Program implemented the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Competency by Design Curriculum.

In addition residents must complete the Surgical Foundation Curriculum during their PGY1 and 2 years. 

Since July1, 2008 all University of Toronto Residents entering PGY1 are required to complete the web based PGCorEd* core competency modules as part of their residency program certification.  These modules provide the foundation for non-clinical roles for the RCPSC and CFPC Programs.  These modules are focused for PGY1 & PGY2 trainees.  Failure to complete the modules will delay processing of Final In-Training Evaluation Reports (FITERs).

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Training Sites

 

University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital

St. Michael's Hospital

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Trillium Health Partners 

Humber River Hospital

Scarborough General Hospital

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Additional Information

1. Permanent Residents: Successful applicants who hold Permanent Resident status in Canada will be required to disclose their Country of Citizenship to the postgraduate medical education office in order to comply with current reporting requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities
2. Matched applicants: CaRMS will provide their electronic data file to the matched university’s postgraduate education office. The postgraduate office will share the information as needed, but not limited to, the Ontario Physician Human Resource Data Centre, Canadian Post-MD Education Registry, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario, teaching hospitals and other training sites, Touchstone Institute and the Ontario Ministry of Health.
3. Changes: The Ontario Faculties of Medicine and Ontario Ministry of Health reserve the right to make changes to the information published on the CaRMS website pertaining to Ontario postgraduate training without prior notice.
4. Failure to meet or provide proof of any of the stated requirements may result in the applicant file not being reviewed and removed.