Multisite – Primarily at Mount St. Joseph Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Program Overview
The University of British Columbia Division of General Surgery at Providence Health Care, Mount St. Joseph Hospital, will be offering a 1-year clinical fellowship in Breast Surgical Oncology through the Providence Breast Centre. Fellows will be under the direction of the program director as well as 7 breast surgical oncologists in a very busy multidisciplinary centre.
The Providence Breast Centre (PBC) is a high-volume multidisciplinary centre providing comprehensive breast surgical oncology and breast surgery care to patients throughout the province of British Columbia and beyond. The centre performs approximately 1100 breast surgery cases per year and about 900 breast cancer cases per year. Surgeons work in a collaborative multidisciplinary team with radiologists, pathologists, nurses, physiotherapists, plastic surgeons, genetic counsellors, medical and radiation oncologists at BC Cancer. PBC is a dedicated breast surgery program offering centralized triage and care to patients and serves as a provincial and regional referral centre for complex breast surgical oncology issues.
The primary goal of the fellowship is to provide comprehensive breast surgical oncology training in all aspects of breast surgery care, including benign and malignant conditions. Fellows will receive comprehensive training in complex breast surgical oncology, spanning the full patient journey—from initial consultation, diagnostic evaluation, and multidisciplinary treatment planning through operative management, postoperative care, coordination of adjuvant therapies, and long-term survivorship. Surgical treatment is evidence-based and incorporates breast-conserving surgery techniques, oncoplastics, localizations, mastectomy techniques (including skin and nipple sparing techniques in conjunction with plastic surgery), and axillary surgery (including high-volume axillary lymph node dissections and exposure to immediate lymphatic reconstruction). Surgical management of benign and proliferative breast lesions will be thoroughly covered as well. Fellows will be involved in tumour boards, as well as clinical and didactic teaching of medical students and residents at UBC. Fellows will rotate through off-service rotations in medical and radiation oncology, radiology, pathology and plastic surgery. Exposure to other aspects of breast cancer care is also available.
Fellows will be expected to complete a research project and plan for publication during the fellowship. PBC has a prospectively maintained database that is useful for answering many research questions, with the support of research assistants. Novel research ideas are welcome, but the fellow will be supported by supervisors as well.
Basic Program Information
Interaction with residents: Yes
Is there a General Surgery Residency Program at the Primary Institution: Yes
Is there a General Surgery Residency Program at the Secondary Institution: Yes
Will there be a curriculum with goals and objectives: Yes
Are there teaching conferences available to the fellow: Yes
Is there an evaluation tool for the fellow by faculty: Yes
Basic Eligibility
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have successfully passed the medical licensing examination in their home country.
- Have completed a General Surgery Residency program and be eligible for an independent medical license, restricted license, or educational license to practice medicine in British Columbia, Canada.
- Be able to obtain a work permit (and training visa) for Canada, if applicable.
- Meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by CPSBC.
Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Examinations and Certificates
1. Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certified in General Surgery
2. American Board of Surgery Eligible or Certified in General Surgery
3. Applicants who hold a General Surgery specialty certificate from a Board or College outside of Canada or the US.
Citizenship and Visa Requirements
1. Canadian Citizens OR
2. Canadian Permanent Residents OR
3. Ability to obtain a temporary work permit and Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) in a timely fashion.
Number of Positions
1
Duration
1 Year, Ideal Start Time: July 1, 2026 (negotiable)
Application Requirements
Please apply to:
Amy Bazzarelli, MD, MScHQ, FACS, FRCSC
Breast Surgical Oncologist, Providence Health Care
Please apply with:
- Updated Curriculum Vitae
- Letter of Statement of Interest
- 3 Letters of Reference
Application Deadline
April 15, 2026 with above information. Interviews to follow with decisions communicated in a timely fashion.