Curriculum & map; Academics
Clinical Curriculum
A Sample Rotation Plan can be found below. Please note that rotations will take place in Thunder Bay unless noted otherwise and placement of blocks is flexible in order to meet Royal College standards combined with scheduling capacity. Blocks/rotations are four (4) weeks in length.
PGY1 – Junior Resident
7 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery (1 is orientation/bootcamp; 2 are jnr trauma T Bay; 4 are lower limb)
2 rotations – Emergency Medicine / Research
1 rotation – Internal Medicine (CTU)
1 rotation – Plastics or Vascular
1 rotation – General Surgery
1 rotation – ICU
PGY2 – Junior Resident
1 rotation – Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
2 rotation – Orthopedic Surgery – Jnr Spine
2 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Upper Extremity
2 rotations – Trauma – Junior (Toronto)
2 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Sports
2 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Foot and Ankle
2 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Pediatric Junior (Toronto)
PGY3
1 rotation – Orthopedic Surgery – Pediatric Junior (Toronto)
3 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Foot and Ankle
3 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Upper Limb
6 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Elective (Thunder Bay or Northern Ontario if possible)
Resident must have passed Surgical Foundations exam prior to progressing on to PGY4.
PGY4
3 rotations – Senior Trauma (Toronto)
3 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Hip & Knee – Competency Based
3 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Sports Medicine
4 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Elective (Thunder Bay or Northern Ontario if possible)
PGY5 – Senior Resident
3 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Pediatric Senior (Toronto)
3 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Spine
3 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Oncology (Toronto)
4 rotations – Orthopedic Surgery – Community Expert
Academics
Academic half day sessions occur twice monthly, via videoconference from the University of Toronto, during protected time from clinical duties. Residents will also have the opportunity to participate in educational rounds, presentations, journal clubs and rounds on site and through the Ontario Telemedicine Network.
Surgical Foundations
Residents in the first two years of training will attend the Surgical Foundations Program. Teaching sessions will occur on a weekly basis. In the fall of PGY2, there is a Surgical Foundations final exam set by the Royal College.
Research
Residents in their PGY1 will complete an eight week combined research/emergency medicine rotation.
Residents are expected to complete, at minimum, one research project and present their research at the annual Resident Research Event. Expert guidance and funding is available to provide high quality research experiences.
In consultation with the Program Director and Research Coordinator, elective time in PGY2-5 may also be arranged for research.
Mandatory External Core Courses
Residents will be supported to attend, at minimum, one mandatory orthopedic course per academic year, to supplement regular academic content, usually as follows:
- PGY1 – Basic Principles and Techniques of Operative Fracture Management Course
- PGY1 – Principles and Practice of Clinical Research
- PGY2 – Advanced Trauma techniques Course for Residents
- PGY2 – Principles and Treatment of Spinal Disorders
- PGY3 – Foot and Ankle Course
- PGY3 – Current Concepts in Total Joint Arthroplasty
- PGY4 – COA Annual Basic Science Course
- PGY4 – St. Justine Pediatric Orthopedic Review Course
- PGY5 – Sub-Specialty Course: Upper Extremity or Sports
- PGY5 – Calgary Review Course