Université de Montréal General Surgical Oncology Fellowship

Montréal, Canada
Training Program Director: Mai-Kim Gervais, MD, FRCSC

About the Program

The Université de Montréal General Surgical Oncology Program offers a two-year training program in Complex General Surgical Oncology (CGSO). We accept 1 fellow per year. Applicants (nationals and internationals) are interviewed and ranked through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).

The program is fully approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) (2023). The ACGME recognizes the training in RCPSC approved CGSO programs and there is a reciprocity agreement between the two accrediting bodies.

The vision of the Université de Montréal Program is to create leaders in Surgical Oncology in academic centers and in large regional community centers.

Facilities

Fellows in this program benefit from exposure to faculty and facilities at two cancer centres with distinct yet complementary strengths: the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), located in downtown Montreal, and the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital (HMR), located in the East of the city. These two centres serve a vast population in the Greater Montreal Area (population 4.3 million) and are referral centres for complex cancer patients for the province of Quebec (population 9.1 million). Together, the institutions have some of the largest surgical cancer volumes in the country, with 1300 breast cancers, 650 Colorectal cancers, 825 HPB cancers, and 170 Soft Tissue Sarcomas/Melanomas amongst others. Both centres are actively involved in clinical trials.

Core and Elective CGSO Clinical Rotations

During the fellowship, all fellows rotate through Surgical Oncology services at both centres including core rotations in Colorectal, Upper GI, Peritoneal surface malignancies, Sarcoma, Melanoma, HPB and Breast. Fellows will also receive one-month rotations training in radiation oncology, medical oncology, and surgical pathology. There are about 5 to 6 months of electives which can include minimally invasive surgery, HPB, gastric cancer, sarcoma, peritoneal malignancy, oncoplastic breast surgery, head and neck surgery, or research and can take place in Montreal or in other international cancer centres. Other electives are possible if discussed and approved by the program director. All rotations involve and emphasize multidisciplinary interactions through clinics, operating rooms, multidisciplinary cancer conferences and rounds. Knowledge of spoken and written French language is required.

Research

Fellows have an identified clinical and research mentor during the fellowship.  It is expected that each fellow complete at least one research project during the fellowship and that this project be submitted to a national or international meeting and for publication.

Formal Education Program

The formal education program includes a weekly lecture and seminar series. The seminar series are complemented by institutional rounds, multidisciplinary cancer conferences, and conferences. The SSO Fellows Institute offers a ‘boot camp’ in surgical skills and lecture series in the US that our fellow may attend. This is especially encouraged in their second year of training.

Eligibility and Benefits

Successful applicants will have completed or anticipate completion of residency training in a recognized General Surgery training program. Fellows receive full salary support. In addition, all our fellows are provided with support to attend the SSO Annual Cancer Symposium as well as the annual Canadian Society of Surgical Oncology meeting. Knowledge of spoken and written French language is required, and interviews will be performed in French.

Contact Information: