Welcome to the McMaster University’s Division of Plastic Surgery website. This website provides details of the program for medical students interested in applying, as well as for current residents. As Program Director, I am happy to answer any questions you may have and can be contacted through our Program Coordinator Jennifer Koch.
The McMaster Plastic Surgery Residency Program is a five-year program. The first two years are core surgery years including rotations in plastic surgery, general surgery, orthopedics, otolaryngology, anesthesia, emergency medicine, internal medicine, dermatology and intensive care. The final three years consist of plastic surgery rotations culminating in a final chief residency year. The rotations are located at St. Joseph’s Healthcare and the Hamilton Health Sciences Hospitals. This includes a rotation in Head and Neck surgery, Cosmetic surgery, an elective block and a community rotation.
Our program serves southwest Ontario with a population of 1.8 million. This allows exposure to all facets of plastic surgery. The teaching faculty staff includes 13 plastic surgeons with all areas of sub-specialty training, including hand surgery, microsurgery, pediatric plastic surgery, craniofacial surgery, aesthetic surgery, breast reconstruction and burns.
The educational component of the program includes mandatory protected teaching time on Wednesday mornings, with Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds every Wednesday at 7:30-8:30, and Senior Sessions from 9am-12. Program oral exams occur twice yearly every December and May, based on the Royal College format of oral exams. Written exams occur each year with both the American and Canadian in-service exams.
The Plastic Surgery Residency Program research productivity has been excellent over the last number of years. Residents present their research at the annual Plastic Surgery Research day. All faculty are very supportive of research projects with residents, with a high abstract acceptance rate at national and international meetings. All avenues of research are covered, however, there is particular interest in health outcome measures as we are fortunate to have a world-renowned faculty in Health Research Methodology at McMaster.
Graduates from our program have gone on to rewarding careers in Academia as well as Community practice, with Fellowship placements in national and international centres of excellence.
Education is the biggest strength of the McMaster Plastic Surgery training program. All of the faculty have a deep commitment toward resident education. This is borne out by the quality of surgeons that graduate from our program.
Thank you for your interest in our program and again welcome to McMaster.