University of Toronto Affiliated Hospitals
Program Director: Marcus Burnstein, MD
Mount Sinai Hospital, Suite 440
600 University Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X5
Phone: (416) 586-8359 Fax: (416) 586-8494
Number of Residents (per year): 2
Number of Faculty (ABCRS Certified): 8
University Affiliation: University of Toronto
Salary/Year: Approximately $75,000 Canadian
Case mix/number of cases: The colorectal resident will complete approximately 150 anorectal cases, 150 colonoscopic examinations and approximately 250 abdominal colon cases during the residency. Approximately 10% of the abdominal operations are now done as Minimally Invasive Surgery cases, and the percentage of MIS cases is increasing. The program emphasizes inflammatory bowel disease, oncology and complex anal disease.
Strengths of program: The program is a university based program with a strong academic commitment. Most of the faculty have research programs and all are involved in teaching of residents and medical students. The nine faculty members provide a broad mix of cases, from more common anorectal problems to complicated reconstructive surgery in inflammatory bowel disease, and reoperative oncologic surgery. The faculty are young and eager to teach, and residents get a large volume of supervised as well as independent operative experience. There is a one month elective at St. Mark's Hospital, London, UK for residents who are interested in this unique experience.
Clinic or office experience: The resident spends approximately one half day per week in an anorectal clinic and approximately 1/2-1 day per week in the office/clinic of one of the faculty members. Arrangements are also made for experience in radiation oncology, anal "physiologic" assessment, and endorectal ultrasound. The on-call demands are limited, never more than one call day (24 hours) per week, and usually much less than this. This is generally not "in-house" call.
Interaction with general surgery residents: There is a full compliment of general surgery residents, interns and medical students. The colorectal resident teaches and interacts with them on a daily basis.
Conferences: Weekly conferences are held in general surgery, GI Tumor Board, and G.I. general surgery. There is a monthly general surgery journal club in which critical appraisal skills are taught. The monthly colorectal conference includes an academic presentation (given either by the resident or a visiting professor), a journal club plus discussion of complications and interesting cases.
Anorectal physiology availability: One faculty member has a particular interest in anorectal physiology, constipation, and pelvic floor abnormalities.
Outside rotations: Each year the resident may spend one month at St. Mark's Hospital in London participating in an exchange program.
Research year available: One or more years of research are encouraged but are not mandatory. The possible areas of research are: colon carcinogenesis, immunology, clinical epidemiology or surgical education.
Requirement for paper: The resident is expected to publish at least one paper during his/her research experience and hopefully another during the clinical year.
Opportunity to attend meetings: Residents will be supported to attend the ASCRS Meeting and any other meetings at which they present a paper.