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Memorial University of Newfoundland - General Surgery - St. John's

2022 R-1 Main Residency Match - first iteration
CMG Stream for CMG

Last approved on January 20, 2022

Summary of changes

Approximate Quota:

 4 

Accreditation status : Accredited

Provincial Criteria

Dr. Alex Mathieson
Discipline of Surgery 
H 1373, Health Sciences Centre  
300 Prince Philip Drive
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3V6
(709) 864-6634
(709) 777-6854
Discipline of Surgery

Program Contacts

Dr. Alex Mathieson
Program Director
alex.mathieson@med.mun.ca
(709) 864-6634
(709) 777-6755

Ms. Stacy Hicks
Program Administrator
surgical.education@med.mun.ca
(709) 864-6634

Important Information

All General Surgery residents are automatically enrolled in Surgical Foundations, which is a CBD-styled program. 

Please review Memorial University's Provincial Criteria and admission requirements for postgraduate medical education. 

 

COVID-19 VACCINES:

As of September 2021, Memorial University requires COVID-19 vaccines for all students, faculty and staff, and masks are required on all Memorial campuses in indoor spaces. Please refer to the University's COVID-19 website for up-to-date information.

Return of Service

CMG/USMG:

No return of service (RoS) is required for CMG seats.

 

General Instructions

Program application language: English

Supporting Documentation

Canadian citizenship
CaRMS partners with third-party organizations to verify your citizenship or permanent resident status. If your status is verified by one of these organizations, you will not need to provide citizenship documents in your application. If your citizenship status is not verified, you must provide one of the documents listed below.
Document must be notarized/certified
Required
Submit one of the following documents to verify your Canadian citizenship:
• Canadian Birth Certificate or Act of Birth
• Certificate of Canadian Citizenship
• Passport page showing Canadian Citizenship
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card (both sides of card)
• Canadian Citizenship Card (both sides of card)
Language proficiency
Required
Submit one of the following documents to verify your language proficiency:
• IELTS
• Occupational English Test (OET) - Medicine
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) - General

Exemption to English language proficiency testing

IMGs that are currently practicing in Canada as a family physician or Royal College specialist (must have CCFP, FRCPC or FRCSC designation), and are providing the majority of their patient care in English, may be exempt from providing up-to-date language proficiency testing. Any applicant in this situation should write to pgme@mun.ca in advance of the application deadline, to determine if you meet this criteria for exemption. Applicants currently in a clinical fellowship program are not exempted.

If you graduated from a medical school in Canada or the United States, where English is the language of instruction, you are exempt from providing proof of language proficiency.

Who is required to provide English Language Proficiency?

If you graduated from a medical school in Canada or the United States, where the language of instruction is not in English (e.g. French), PGME requires proof of proficiency in the English language. It is important to note that this requirement extends to all such applicants, regardless of whether other secondary/post-secondary education took place in English and regardless of citizenship.

If you graduated from a medical school in Canada or the United States, which provides training in multiple language streams, please self-identify which stream you graduated from (e.g. English-Stream, French-Stream, Spanish-Stream, etc.) by indicating your stream in the 'Degree Obtained' box in your CaRMS Online application under Medical Education (e.g. MD, University of Ottawa – French Stream).


Canadians who complete undergraduate medical education outside of Canada and the United States are considered IMGs; therefore, if you complete undergraduate medical education (in part or in full) in a country not recognized as having English as the first language, you must provide proof of proficiency in the English language. Note that elective rotations/experiences – regardless of length or location (including Canada) – will not satisfy the language proficiency requirements.

Requirements for educational registration with the CPSNL differ slightly in that PGME will only exempt IMGs from language proficiency testing if both their basic medical education and patient care experience was in one of the countries that is recognized as having English as a first language: 

  • Anguilla

  • Antigua and Barbuda

  • Australia

  • Bahamas

  • Barbados

  • Bermuda

  • Canada

  • Dominica

  • Grenada

  • Ireland

  • Jamaica

  • New Zealand

  • St. Kitts and Nevis

  • St. Lucia

  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines

  • Singapore

  • South Africa

  • Trinidad and Tobago

  • United Kingdom

  • United States of America

  • Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)

  • Virgin Islands (United States) 

All other applicants, including those who have completed any other non-medical schooling in English, must have taken one of the following:

  • International English Language Testing System - Academic (IELTS-Academic), within 24 months of the residency start date (July 1), with a minimum score of 7 in each of the components in the same sitting;
  • Occupational English Test - Medicine (OET-Medicine), with a minimum grade of B in each of the four subsets in the same sitting;
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program Test - General (CELPIP-General), with a minimum score of 9 in each of the four skills in the same sitting.

Results must be available by the CaRMS document review deadline.

Reference documents
Required
Number requested: 3

The three reference letters should be from referees who have had direct clinical contact with the applicant in a supervisory role within two years of application. Three letters of reference are required.

Additional documents
Required
Custom Résumé / CV 

Personal Letter 
Word count
Minimum : None
Maximum : None

Ideally, the personal letter should give an idea of why you wish to be a surgeon, explain why you are interested in our program, and provide some indication that you have the necessary qualities including the ability to work hard, resilience, and good inter-personal skills. It should be approximately 500 words.

Memorial Declaration for Interruptions 

ALL applicants must submit the Declaration of Interruptions form with their application.

Consent for disclosure 

ALL applicants must submit the Consent to Disclose form with their application.  

Medical Student Performance Record 

Order from your Dean's Office, if available.

Medical School Transcript 

Order from your Registrar, if available.

Photo 
[Note: Photograph is used as memory aid only]

Conditionally required
Medical School Diploma 

(if available)

Optional - will be reviewed
MCCQE Part I - Statement of Results 

If applicable.

MCCQE Part I - Supplemental Information Report 

If applicable.

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


Applications are read by members of the program committee, and interviews are granted based upon the quality of the application. Following interviews, the applicants are ranked at a meeting of the program committee.  This ranked list is submitted to CaRMS.

Interviews

Dates:

  • March 18, 2022
  • March 19, 2022
General Surgery interviews will be held virtually on Friday and Saturday, March 18-19, 2022. All applications are reviewed and selected applicants will be offered an interview. Local applicants may be interviewed prior to our advertised interview dates.
Program will notify all applicants through CaRMS Online and will send email invitations directly to applicants selected for an interview.
Candidates will be interviewed twice. Interviews are semi-structured and conducted by faculty and residents. Each interview will be about 20-30 minutes in length, and will be scheduled on the same day, if possible. 

 

Selection Criteria

Candidates should have a demonstrated interest in surgery. The main selection criteria are evidence of personal attributes derived from the Medical Student Performance Record and from references which give an honest appraisal of stronger and weaker points. Personal interviews are also important.

Program goals

The goal of the General Surgery Residency program at Memorial University is to produce broadly-trained surgeons prepared to go to the community to practice. The rotations are designed to cover many different areas, and allow for extensive community training. 

Upon completion of training, a resident is expected to be a competent specialist in General Surgery capable of assuming a consultants role in General Surgery. The resident must acquire a thorough knowledge of the theoretical basis of General Surgery, including its foundations in the basic medical sciences and research.

Selection process goals

Successful applicants should be able to achieve the following by the end of their program:

  1. Knowledge and expertise in clinical and operative management of diseases of the alimentary tract, breast and endocrine systems, trauma and critical care, General Surgical Oncology and ambulatory patient care for General Surgery.
  2. Mastery of surgical skills of open cavitary surgery, endoscopy, minimal access surgery, endocrine surgery, breast surgery, trauma surgery and soft tissue surgery including abdominal wall surgery.
  3. Effective clinical judgement and decision making in dealing with general surgical problems based on sound surgical fundamentals.
  4. The requisite knowledge, skills, and attitudes for effective patient-centered care and service to a diverse population. In all aspects of specialist practice, the graduate must be able to address issues of gender, sexual orientation, age, culture, ethnicity and ethics in a professional manner.

File review process

Review team composition :
1. All members of the General Surgery Residency Committee
2. Surgeons who are not currently on the General Surgery Residency Committee.
3. Senior residents who are not currently on the General Surgery Residency Committee.

Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 51 - 200

Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 51 - 75 %

Evaluation criteria :
File component Criteria
CV Broad background - interest in general surgery, leadership skills, work/life balance
Electives Interest in general surgery
Examinations None outside MUN/Postgraduate requirements.
Extra-curricular Work/life balance
Leadership skills Ability to organize and work with a team
MSPRs Previous medical and surgical experience and achievement
Personal letters Interest in general surgery, especially in a community setting, and in our specific program and area
Reference documents Surgical skills, work ethic and interest in the field
Research/Publications Ability to understand research findings and their application in a clinical setting
Transcripts General academic ability

Elective criteria

We are looking for and rewarding applicants who have completed a broad range of electives including in our discipline.
We do not require applicants to have done onsite electives.

Interview process

Interview format :



We routinely accommodate requests to re-schedule interviews for applicants.

Interview evaluation criteria :
Interview components Criteria
Collaboration skills Ability to work well with other residents, surgeons and allied professionals.
Collegiality We do not evaluate this interview component
Communication skills Ability to communicate well with the interviewer
Health advocacy We do not evaluate this interview component
Interest in the discipline Why the applicant is interested, their awareness of challenges and plans to handle them
Interest in the program Interest in specific rotations, how the program fits with plans after completion
Leadership skills Expand on past experiences as in application
Professionalism Must present themselves in a professional manner at the interview - prompt, polite, respectful
Scholarly activities Ask about any research plans.
Other interview component(s) Interviews will be conducted virtually.

Information gathered outside of CaRMS application

Specifically, we may consider:







Ranking process

The behavior(s) exhibited below during the interview process may prevent an applicant from being ranked by our program :
   
   
   

Program Highlights

There are opportunities for interprovincial and international electives while training in our program.

There are two Community Surgery rotations, one each in the PGY 4 and 5 years.  They are usually carried out in Carbonear, Clarenville, or Grand Falls-Windsor, NL; or Charlottetown, PEI. Other sites may be arranged.

The program is designed to optimize early operating.

The average patient load per resident by location is 5-20 patients.

There is access to electronic medical resources.

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.

PGY 1

Rotation

Duration

(4-week blocks)

Location / Notes

Emergency

1

HSC or SCM

General Surgery

3

HSC (ACS)

General Surgery

3

SCM (Team A)

ICU

1

SCM

Medicine

1

SCM

Pediatric Surgery

1

Janeway

Thoracic Surgery

1

SCM

Vascular Surgery

2

SCM

 

PGY 2

Rotation

Duration (4-week blocks)

Location / Notes

Clinics/Oncology

 1

St. John's

General Surgery

3

SCM (Team B)

ICU

2

HSC or SCM

Plastic Surgery

2

HSC

Research

1

St. John's

Trauma

1

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON

General Surgery

3

HSC

 

PGY 3

Rotation

Duration (4-week blocks)

Location / Notes

Endoscopy

3

SCM

Pediatric Surgery

3

JCH

General Surgery

3

HSC (Elective Surgery)

General Surgery

3

SCM (Team A)

Elective

1

Residents' Choice

 

PGY 4

Rotation

Duration (4-week blocks)

Location / Notes

Community Surgery

3

Carbonear, Clarenville, or Grand Falls-Windsor, NL; Charlottetown, PEI. Other sites may be arranged.

Elective

3

Residents' Choice

Endoscopy

1

St. John's

General Surgery

3

HSC (Acute Care Surgery)

Head and Neck

2

SCM

Research

 1 St. John's

 Endoscopy, general surgery, and community surgery rotations are compulsory during the fourth year.

PGY 5

Rotation

Duration (4-week blocks)

Location / Notes

Community Surgery

3

 Carbonear, Clarenville, or Grand Falls-Windsor, NL; Charlottetown, PEI. Other sites may be arranged.

General Surgery

10

HSC/SCM

The fifth and final year offers Chief Resident rotations in St. John’s and at community hospitals. As part of these, all Chief Residents should complete 50 scopes in their chief year and should attend one half day clinic per week; ideally, but not necessarily, seeing new patients.

HSC - General Hospital, Health Sciences Centre, St. John's, NL

JCH - Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre, St. John's, NL

SCM - St. Clare's Mercy Hospital, St. John's, NL

Training Sites

Training Sites

Newfoundland and Labrador

Health Sciences Centre - General Hospital
300 Prince Philip Drive
St. John's, NL  A1B 3V6
 
Health Sciences Centre - Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre
300 Prince Philip Drive
St. John's, NL  A1B 3V6
 
St. Clare's Mercy Hospital
154 LeMarchant Road
St. John’s, NL
A1C 5B8

New Brunswick

Some rotations may take place in New Brunswick, usually at the Saint John Regional Hospital, Saint John, NB.

Resources

All of the compulsory rotations except trauma and community surgery are in one of the two adult hospitals and the pediatric hospital in St. John's. Community rotations can be arranged in Carbonear, Clarenville, and Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, and Charlottetown, PEI. Other sites, including out-of-province sites, may be used as requested and approved. The trauma rotation is at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Ont.

Housing is provided for core rotations in Newfoundland and Labrador, should rotations take place outside St. John's. Housing arrangements are overseen by the Faculty of Medicine's Rural Medical Education Network (RMEN)/Medical Distributed Education (DME) office.  For residents attending core community surgery rotations in Prince Edward Island and the required trauma rotation in Toronto, it is recommended that residents contact the RMEN/DME office to obtain further information about accommodations and/or the accommodations reimbursement process.  

The trauma rotation is in the PGY 2 year, and there are senior resident rotations in a community hospital in both the PGY 4 and PGY 5 years. 

Additional Information

Overview

The overall philosophy of the program is to provide exceptional training in clinical surgery for potential community surgeons while having enough flexibility to allow the development of a surgical scientist. This is a five-year CBD program fully accredited for training by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.  The current enrolment is 20 residents. Residents are supervised by a total of 22 full-time and part-time faculty members during their adult and pediatric general surgical tertiary care and community centre core rotations, generally with one resident per surgical service (2-3 faculty members).

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the program director and administrative residents will be offering and hosting a virtual Question and Answer session, via webex, per the link below, for candidates interested in our training program.  This session will take place on:

Date: Thursday, January 27, 2022

Time: 7:30PM (Newfoundland Time)

https://mun.webex.com/meet/pgsurgery

 

 

Summary of changes

SUMMARY ID Section Summary of changes Updated on NOTIFY APPLICANTS SECTION NAME Actions