The Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery at the University of Toronto is one of the largest plastic surgery training program in North America. Our division has over 60 full-time faculty at 13 University-affiliated teaching hospitals.
Teaching Hospitals
Clinical fellowships are provided at five teaching hospitals (St. Michael’s Hospital, University Health Network (Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, Princess Margaret Hospital), Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Women’s College Hospital, and The Hospital for Sick Children).
Prerequisites
Clinical fellows are surgeons from Canada, or abroad who have attained plastic surgery specialist status from their country of origin. For individuals interested in subspecialty specific training in hand surgery, either plastic surgery, orthopaedic or general surgical certification is required. Clinical fellowships in plastic surgery provide additional advanced level training at tertiary and quaternary teaching hospitals.
Applicants must be a certified plastic surgeon in Canada or their country of origin, or have successfully passed MCQEE (www.mcc.ca). All International Medical Graduate fellows must undergo a period of observation of clinical performance lasting 4-12 weeks at University of Toronto hospitals. This period of observation, called PEAP (Pre-Entry Assessment Period), is done in the initial 4-12 weeks of the clinical fellowship. Successful completion of the PEAP is mandatory in order to continue in the clinical fellowship.
Fellowship appointments are contingent upon being appropriately licensed to engage in clinical activities in the Province of Ontario and include being granted membership to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) and malpractice insurance under the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) and obtaining an OHIP billing number. The requirements for Ontario provincial licensure and the registration package for non-North American and North American graduates are available from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, 80 College Street, Toronto, Canada M5G 2E2 (Tel: 416 961-1711 Fax: 416 961-3330), or you can download the package from their website at www.cpso.on.ca
International Medical Graduates
International Medical Graduates who graduated from a medical school where the language of instruction was NOT in English must pass The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and The Test of Spoken English (TSE) OR the new TOEFL-Ibt (http://web1.toefl.org/tstgprog01.cfm).
TOEFL: Minimum score 237, or minimum score 580 for paper based test
TOEFL-Ibt: Minimum score of 93 including a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section
If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (landed immigrant), your fellowship is contingent upon your “Letter of Clinical Fellowship Job Offer” (see below) and subsequent satisfaction of Canada’s immigration laws and other requirements respecting your obtaining a “Work Permit” which you are required under Canadian Law. The University of Toronto’s Postgraduate Medical Education Office will assist you in obtaining your work permit. In accordance with the Employment Insurance Act, you will be required to provide a copy of your Social Insurance Number (SIN). You will obtain this upon arrival in Canada. This should be forwarded to Human Resources. Failure to submit your SIN may result in a delay in your pay.
Work Permit, Visitor Visa, and Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
Work Permit, Visitor Visa, eTA (Apr 2017)
Health Insurance
The University Health Insurance Plan (UHIP) is available for all trainees and family members not insured under the Ontario government plan. The UHIP membership fee is typically the responsibility of the trainee. The government plan (Ontario Health Insurance Plan or OHIP) is available to trainees at no additional cost once the three month waiting period has been fulfilled. Family members are not eligible for OHIP.
The University of Toronto’s Postgraduate Medical Education Office will assist in the process of registering as a fellow with the Department of Surgery. Contact:
Ms. Tess Weber
The Stewart Building, Department of Surgery,
149 College Street, Room 503
Toronto, Ontario,
Canada M5T 1P5
Tel.: 416-978-8945
Fax: 416-978-3928
Email: tess.weber@utoronto.ca
Issues and Responsibilities
Work-related issues will be outlined in a “Letter of Clinical Fellowship Job Offer” that the applicant and his or her supervisor both sign. Educational issues and responsibilities are clarified in the “Letter of Job Offer” and the “Goals and Objectives” documents before starting the fellowship. All clinical fellows receive evaluations every 6 months. In turn, the Fellow will also be asked to complete an evaluation of their supervisors and the fellowship program upon completion of the fellowship.
Compensation
Salaries for clinical fellows are varied. Some fellows are self-funded such as Canadian fellows with an Ontario license to practice medicine, some are sponsored by their country of origin or other external agency, and some are funded by the hospital division itself. Once again this is clarified in the “Letter of Job Offer”.
Further information on Clinical Fellowships at The University of Toronto can be found in the Task Force on Clinical Fellows report accessible at: https://surgery.utoronto.ca/fellowship-program.
Visit the pages listed on the right for specific clinical fellowships available at the University of Toronto, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
