Curriculum and Academics
Surgical Foundations
The Surgical Foundations Program integrates the Transition to Discipline and Foundations of Training stages, spanning the initial 1.5 years of your residency. This program runs concurrently with your primary residency program. Key components include:
Boot Camp: A mandatory session held during the first month of training.
Weekly Teaching Sessions: Regular mandatory sessions scheduled throughout your training.
Academics
Academic sessions are held every Tuesday afternoon via videoconference and in person, with protected time from clinical duties. Throughout the academic year, simulation sessions will be organized to practice skills under the guidance of experienced practitioners.
List of Topics
| Library Resources and Case Logging | Indigenous Health and Wellness |
| ATN/ARF – Fluid/Electrolytes | Wound Healing |
| Genetics of Neoplasia (Purpose/Basis of Staging) | Central Line Insertion Simulation |
| Radiology (CT Abdo) | Surgical Management of Obesity |
| Medical Ethics | Principles of Transplantation & Immunosuppression |
| Massive Transfusion Protocol (NOAC) | Blood-borne Pathogens and the Surgeon |
| General Anticoagulation Anticoagulant (DVT/PE) | Shock – Acids/Bases Part I (Hemorrhagic Shock and Coagulopathies) |
| Approaches to Bleeding & Trauma | Surgical Site infections and Antibiotic Management |
| Burns and Wound Healing | Anesthetic types, Assessment, Risks/complications for Anesthesia (local/GA) |
| Pain Management | Simulation Lab – Topic TBA |
| Sepsis | Shock – Acids/Bases Part II (Shock Tock) |
| General Surgical Anatomy -Head/Neck/ENT/Surgical Airway Mgmt. | Antimicrobial agents |
| Bleeding Disorders | Pre-Peri-op Management of Endocrine Disorders (DM/Thyroid/Adrenal) |
| CPSO Professionalism, Supervision of Learners and Social Media Policy | Abdominal Compartment Syndrome |
| Health Advocate and CanMeds | Adverse Events |
| MAID | Appropriate OR Comments |
| Pregnancy in the Surgical Patient | Cost Benefit Analysis |
| Cardiac Arrest/Cardiac Cath & Arrhythmias: ECG session, pre-op Assessment | Diagnosis and Clinical Prediction Tools, Cognitive Error |
| Surgical Nutrition | Diagnosis and Clinical Prediction Tools, Cognitive Error |
| Elentra Refresher/Competence Committee/RC Exam Registration | Intrinsic Roles |
| Literature Review | Microaggressions |
| Descriptive Stats | Oncology |
| Diagnostic Tests | Pain Management Preoperative |
| Dissemination | Pre-Peri-op Management of Endocrine Disorders (DM/Thyroid/Adrenal) |
| Ratios | Pre-Peri-op Management of Endocrine Disorders (DM/Thyroid/Adrenal) |
| The Normal Distribution | Review intro to EBM for surgeons and non-inferiority studies |
| End of Life Care/Substitute decision makers |
Exams
NOSM U SF Practice Exams – Summer/Winter (PGY1)
The NOSM University Surgical Foundations (SF) practice exams are designed and administered by the program. These multiple-choice questionnaires (MCQs) are conducted online, with faculty members contributing questions from their lectures to develop the exams. The purpose of these exams is to identify knowledge gaps and prepare residents for the Surgical Foundations National Practice Exam and the Royal College Surgical Foundations Exam. The SF practice exams are scheduled for summer and winter. Once the exams are graded, the program director will host a review session to discuss the exam results with all residents.
National Practice Exam – Spring (PGY1)
The National Practice Exam for Surgical Foundations is a standardized assessment that serves as a preparatory tool for surgical residents. The exam helps residents prepare for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) Surgical Foundations examination. It is administered for all Surgical Foundations residents across Canada. This exam, in the same multiple-choice question (MCQ) format as the formal Royal College Surgical Foundations Exam, is developed by the Canadian SF Programs to help residents assess their knowledge in preparation for the official exam.
Content includes, anatomy, pathophysiology, surgical techniques, patient care, preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management, ethics and Professionalism. It is a combination of multiple-choice questions and case-based questions. It is typically offered sometime during the last week of May and first week of June. It will be written in an in person-online format on NOSM U campus and proctored by the program coordinator or another program administrator.
Residents receive scores and detailed feedback which includes results from all over the country so they can understand their standing on a national level.
The creation and facilitation are a collaboration between the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and the Canadian Association of Surgical Foundations (CASF) and Surgical faculty. Surgeons and educators from various institutions contribute to the development of exam questions and case scenarios.
The RCPSC, in collaboration with CASF, handles the logistics of administering the exam. After the exam, the RCPSC and CASF oversee the scoring process. They ensure that results are accurate and provide detailed feedback to residents.
Ottawa Review Course – Fall (PGY2)
The Surgical Foundations PGY2 Ottawa Review course is a one-week held in person at the University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre at the Civic Campus. The format will be resident-led Q&A sessions based on the topics that are covered on the Royal College Surgical Foundations exam.
Royal College Exam (PGY2)
Royal College Exam Dates, Deadlines and Locations
There is no Applied Exam for Surgical Foundations, only written. The exam is held in the fall of the PGY2 year, only once per year. The pass mark is 70%.
Passing the SF exam is mandatory to be eligible for the final Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) exam. However, successful completion of the SF exam is not required to pass the Surgical Foundations or home program stages of training.