Plastic Surgery | Education | Graduate Medical Education

Microsurgery Fellowship

The University of Calgary offers a one-year fellowship in microsurgery running September 1 to August 31 each year. Based at Foothills Medical Centre, Tom Baker Cancer Centre and Alberta Children’s Hospital, the fellowship offers a broad training in both oncologic and trauma microsurgical reconstruction. The Foothills Hospital is a busy Level I trauma Centre, with a catchment basin of approximately 1.5 million. Digital replants, peripheral nerve surgery and extremity coverage account for the majority of trauma cases. Oncology provides high volumes of both breast and head and neck microvascular reconstruction. Fellows are exposed to approximately 120 microsurgical cases annually.

Fellows work with several preceptors and are expected to be involved in the work-up, surgical planning, surgery and post-operative management of patients undergoing microsurgical reconstruction. Fellows take flap call but are not required to take general plastic surgery call. Fellows are expected to attend and present at Section of Plastic Surgery Rounds, Journal Club and local seminars. Teaching of residents makes up an important component of the fellowship. Funding is available for fellows to present research at national and international meetings.

Oncologic Plastic Surgery Fellowship

The University of Calgary offers a six to 12-month fellowship in oncologic plastic surgery, working with an integrated group of plastic and general surgeons who manage a variety of complex oncologic conditions, including melanoma, breast cancer, and a variety of soft tissue and skeletal tumours. Fellows gain exposure to both alloplastic and autologous methods of breast reconstruction, as well as reconstruction of complex defects of the thorax, abdomen, perineum, and extremity sites. Fellows also have the opportunity to gain experience in sentinel nodes biopsy and completion lymph node dissection.

Contact the program coordinator for questions regarding application to the plastic surgery fellowship program or visit the Office of Surgical Fellowship for more information.