Paediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery

Number of Positions	2
Duration	1 year
Site	The Hospital for Sick Children
Supervisor	Dr. Christopher Forrest

Paediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery Fellowship

The Craniofacial Program offers a one-year Clinical Fellowship appointment to surgeons who have a special interest in developing a career in Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery. The fellowship is under the supervision of the hospital’s Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

The Craniomaxillofacial Fellowship is a 12-month fellowship which starts in July of each year, structured to allow the individual to become familiar with all aspects of pediatric craniofacial pathology. The Chief of The Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery is Dr. John Phillips. The Fellowship program is currently managed by Dr. Christopher Forrest, with attendees including Dr. Phillips, Dr. Johanna Riesel, and Dr. Dale Podolsky. All aspects of pediatric craniomaxillofacial diseases are seen, including craniosynostosis, cleft, vascular anomalies, tumor related conditions, developmental malocclusion and trauma with post-traumatic deformities.

Each year, two Craniofacial Fellowships are offered. There are four operating days per week and two clinic days per week. Candidates who have completed their residency training, whether in North America or outside of North America, are invited to apply for our Craniofacial fellowship program through The SF Match. The Craniofacial Fellow is expected to participate in: on call, teaching responsibilities, participate fully in all surgeries and clinics. It is also expected that the fellow initiates and complete a research project for the 12- month period.

Our Craniofacial Fellowship is part of the SF Match (Residency & Fellowship matching services based in San Francisco) which coordinates the processing, distribution, and review of applicants for post graduate medical education training programs. The service administers applicant review and ranking processes for positions in fellowship specialties as well as several subspecialties. The SF Match program assists programs, private practice operations, teaching hospitals and the affiliated Universities with medical matching services. Every fellowship applicant/candidate has to first register with SF Match before they can apply to the program. After they have registered with SF Match applicants have access to a list of profiles (open programs) that has contact information and application requirements.

Please note that we will not be accepting applications from those who are certified solely in OMFS. Candidates must have completed a sub speciality in Plastic Surgery. Preference is given to applicants who have their National Board (USA) or Canadian Licensing Examination (LMCC). To obtain an education license, which is mandatory for a clinical fellowship, graduates of medical schools outside North America must have successfully passed the evaluating examination of the Medical Council of Canada or have been exempted from the examination. Prospective clinical fellows must also be eligible for a work visa in Canada.

A salary of $85,564.01 Canadian and health insurance are provided to offset living expenses, but the fellow is responsible for moving expenses and accommodation. There are a limited number of unfurnished suites available in an apartment building adjacent to the hospital.

Clinical Fellows come to the Craniofacial Program from all parts of the world and greatly enrich our program. The participation of Fellows is welcomed in the work of the Craniofacial Program and The Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Along with the wide academic and clinical experience offered at SickKids, the fellowship also provides excellent training for a career in Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery.

Educational Objectives

At the end of this fellowship, the Fellow will acquire the following skills:

Cognitive

• Gain experience in the emergency management of common injuries in children.
• Gain an understanding of the classification, assessment and complete management of the child with a cleft lip and/or palate.
• Review literature, prepare and present rounds, teach at resident and undergraduate level and understand the clinical research process including randomized trials.
• Understand the principles and management of subspecialty paediatric plastic surgery areas which may include craniomaxillofacial, brachial plexus injuries, facial paralysis, vascular malformations, congenital hand anomalies, microtia etc.

Attitudinal

• Gain experience in approaching and attending to the child with a physical injury or deformity.
• Gain experience in the approach toward parents and family of the injured or deformed child.
• Gain experience in working with a group of other physicians, nurses and paramedical personnel.
• Learn the value of working in a cohesive, multidisciplinary team setting and appreciate the contributions of each group.

Technical

• Become proficient in the surgical repair of paediatric soft tissues.
• Acquire technical expertise in the surgical management of the child with cleft lip and/or palate.
• Acquire technical expertise in subspecialty areas that may include craniomaxillofacial microsurgery or anomalies of the upper extremity.

Job Description

Clinical

• Attend Plastic Surgery Outpatient Clinics including that of the primary supervisor and others that may be determined by the Head of Plastic Surgery, HSC.
• Assist in the preoperative assessment, surgery, and postoperative care of the supervisor’s and other consultants’ patients.
• Assist in the evaluation of consults referred to the supervisor and other consultants.
• Assist in the clinical teaching responsibility of the Division.
• Work with other house-staff members attending patients in the Emergency Department.

It is clearly understood that none of the above responsibilities will in anyway interfere with the Residency Training Program but will complement the continuous teaching of residents. Fellows will often add an international outlook on teaching.

Research

Complete a minimum of one clinical or basic science research project and prepare it for presentation and publication.

Contact

Program Contact

Michael Perrino
Education Administrative Assistant
Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Rm. 5432, Hill Wing

Email: michael.perrino@sickkids.ca
Phone: (416) 813-6448
Fax: (416) 813-6446