Access to CaRMS Program description here. The match takes place with the Medicine Specialty Match, in the Fall (CaRMS portal opens in July, with interviews usually expected in September, and Match in October).
Important Information
This program is designed for surgeons who are in their final (PGY5) year of General Surgery postgraduate residency training and who are American Board or Royal College Examination eligible.
This is a 2-year General Thoracic Surgical Training experience leading to eligibility for accreditation in General Thoracic Surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
Electives are available to PGY3-5 General Surgery residents who are considering application to our program.
Received full Accreditation by the Royal College in 2019 (Next Regular Survey planned for 2027).
Thoracic Surgery will start Competency by Design training framework on July 2025.
Strengths of the program
- High clinical volume and wide catchment area (service a catchment area of 2.5 million people as a referral base for Thoracic Surgery).
- All aspects of Thoracic Surgery (except for lung transplantation) are well covered
- Good balance of advanced endoscopy vs minimally invasive (including robotic) vs open surgical procedures conducted
- Uncommon procedures are covered in our Cadavers Lab
- Dedicated faculty with high faculty to resident ratio (5:2-4)
- Well organized educational system including academic half-days, faculty-led rounds including guest speakers, in situ simulation, cadavers lab curriculum, a robust academic curriculum, regular practice written and oral exams, non-medical expertise seminars, and many more learning events outside of clinical work.
- Unique to our program is the ability for the resident to develop surgical autonomy, critical thinking in the outpatient clinic and control of patients flow in endoscopy early on during their residency.
- Cancer centre in the same physical site (Victoria Hospital - London Health Sciences Centre)
- Very close relationships with other disciplines, and allied health
- Dedicated faculty, Program Director and Program Assistant who are committed to resident wellness and success.
- Robust research program with dedicated research time available, a Research Director and funding to present work at meetings.
- Close and collegial relationship of faculty and residents.
- Cost of living is low in London, Ontario allowing more disposable income for trainees
- London has access to several amenities of the bigger cities, while being more convenient to commute in and has access to a plethora of activities
- All faculty have a strong interest in teaching (most of them are Clinician-Teachers)
- All faculty have strong ties and occupy positions within important national organizations (Canadian Association of Thoracic Surgeons, and the Thoracic Surgery Specialty Committee at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada)
- Emphasis is made to maintain a collegial and positive learning environment where wellness is prioritized
- We have dedicated Physician Extenders (Physician Assistant, Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioners) assisting the resident in their workload, including for the more menial tasks
- Our faculty are at different career stages, making them very complementary
- We graduate Thoracic Surgeons into both Academic and Community careers
- Our Program Administrator has a breadth of experience and has been with the program for over 20 years
- Annual Resident Focus Group/Retreat to discuss the program
- Plethora of free social activities (Thoracic Surgery Summer BBQ, Senior Resident BBQ, Department of Surgery Faculty and Wellness Event, Graduation Dinner, Christmas Dinner)
- Possibility to do a 1-year MSc in Surgery (usually following completion of the 2-year Thoracic Surgery residency program)
Postgraduate Medical Education in conjunction with London Health Sciences Centre will hold an Orientation Day to be determined at a later date close to the beginning of the residency.
Program Curriculum
This residency program is for 2 years.
Program length of training does not exceed the Royal College standard.
We are transitioning out of a Time-based curriculum, where 26 blocks (4 weeks each) of training were required as follows:
- 20 Blocks of Thoracic Surgery Training
- 3 Blocks Cardiac Surgery
- 3 Blocks Elective
With the newer Competency by Design Curriculum starting in July 2025, the program as designed will provide residents with exceptional training in thoracic surgery with flexibility to obtain career goals based on independent needs.
Transition to Discipline (4-8 weeks)
Foundations to Discipline (approximately 3-6 months)
Core of Discipline (approximately 18 months)
Transition to Practice (up to 3 months)
Unique to our program is the ability for the resident to develop surgical autonomy, critical thinking in the outpatient clinic and control of patients flow in endoscopy early on during their residency.
Research
Most faculty conduct research. The trainee will meet with the Research Director in the first 2 months of residency to select a research project and discuss research objectives. Funding is provided for residents to conduct research (grants application), and to attend conferences where their research has been accepted for presentation. It is expected for the research to be at least presented in a National or International conference.
Seminars
A series of seminars by Thoracic Surgery Faculty, Guest Speakers, and sometimes resident-led are held on Wednesday morning (0700 - 0900 am), with additional teaching provided during the weekly QA/QI discussion of current and recently discharged patients on service.
In addition, an academic half-day per week is built in the weekly schedule. This weekly schedule is made by one of the Faculty to ensure fair distribution of clinical activities through the 2 years.
In Situ Thoracic Surgery Crisis Simulations are held 4 times a year, either in the OR, on the inpatient ward, in the ICU, or in the trauma bay.
Cadavers lab are held at the Anatomy Department at Western University at least once a year. A curriculum was developed to cover rare procedures or difficult surgical exposure.
Regular practice written and oral exams are done. The written exams are marked and discussed with the residents. It helps benchmarking the residents to previous trainees at the same stage of training.
Selection Criteria
Selection and ranking is based on a compilation of standardized scoring of both the application and interview. The Resident Selection Committee suggests a rank order list which is ratified by the entire Program. No preference is given to internal candidates or candidates who have completed electives at Western University.
Program goals
The aim of the Thoracic Surgery Training Program at Western University is to train safe and excellent surgeons whose clinical skills are based on a strong foundation of basic Thoracic Surgery knowledge, important surgical/procedural volume and wide breadth of pathologies that covers all the main aspects of Thoracic Surgery. The wealth of experience gained during this 2-year residency matures this knowledge base and develops into good technical skills and autonomy. The Thoracic Surgery resident will have the knowledge and skills to supervise all elements of care of the surgical patient from initial consultation until correction of the problem. A lifelong attitude of learning and adaptation to the changes of surgical practice will be obtained. We train fully competent and excellent general thoracic surgeons comfortable in managing anything a Thoracic Surgeon in Canada currently does. Unique to this program is the fact that we manage aspects of thoracic surgery including upper gastrointestinal area, mediastinal and airway disease, advanced endoscopic procedures, robotic surgery, trauma in addition to pulmonary disease with our very dedicated faculty and high faculty to resident ratio.
Selection process goals
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- Commitment of Thoracic Surgery as a career
- Strong interpersonal skills and leadership potential
- Aptitude to engage in research
- Honesty and integrity
- Ability to communicate clearly with colleagues
- Ability to work as a team player and is collegial
- Ability to be flexible and calm under pressure
- Display good work ethic, professionalism, empathy, health advocate
- Ability to progress technically
- Promotes wellness
File review process
Review team composition : Resident Selection Committee consists of the Program Director, all faculty & current trainees.
Average number of applications received by our program in the last five years : 0 - 50
Average percentage of applicants offered interviews : 76 - 100 %
Training Sites
London Health Sciences Centre - Victoria Hospital (Main site, 90% of the time is spent in this hospital)
London Health Sciences Centre - University Hospital
Additional Information
Resident evaluations are conducted monthly based on a CBD Block ITER as well as regular EPA completion. An extensive series of practice oral exams is conducted during both years to help residents prepare for their Royal College Fellowship Exams. Rotations can usually be designed to meet the student's needs and goals as there is a wide variety of clinical material and a high yearly case load. Flexibility is a popular feature and strength of the Western program.
The unique combination of the small size of the program with a very large clinical volume allows constant clinical interaction between staff and residents, and there are many benefits from the consultants and residents coming to know each other well.
The strength of Western's Thoracic Surgical Program is the educational experience provided during our teaching rounds and protected academic half-days. Broad clinical experience in all subspecialty areas of thoracic surgery provide the necessary exposure to train excellent surgeons.
Western graduates have an extremely high rate of pass on Royal College examinations.
Call Requirements:
We abide by PARO rules (maximum of 9 home call per 28 days, maximum of 2 non-consecutive weekends per 28 days, post-call days off are allowed), and Thoracic Surgery residents often have a junior resident on call with them (General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, ENT, Nuclear Medicine, Respirology, Critical Care Medicine, Radiation Oncology, Emergency Medicine).
Team approach:
We usually use a team system so the thoracic residents on service cover 2-3 faculty. Hence, it is easier for them to know who to talk to, and to prepare for clinical activities. The team changes every 6-8 weeks in general.
