General Surgery
The scope, practice, and expectations of general surgery are changing fast. From minimally invasive techniques to complex multidisciplinary trauma and cancer care, to the emergence of genomics and metabolomics in precision medicine, the trajectory of surgery is moving rapidly from individual excellence to team excellence, often faster than individual practices can adapt. The existing models of surgical care are not well equipped to navigate the exponential changes of modern surgery. The structure of surgical practice must be redesigned to capitalize on its unifying themes, identify strengths in diversity, and provide a framework for rapid progress and sustainability. The UBC Division of General Surgery is pursuing this agenda in 5 areas: Clinical Excellence, Education, Research & Innovation, Advocacy, and a Strong Network
Clinical Excellence
The Division has adopted a surgical systems redesign approach that builds on the concept of value-based healthcare (VBHC), as described by Michael Porter from Harvard Business School. This model reorganizes traditional specialty-based practices into small, agile, and multidisciplinary integrated practice units (IPUs) focusing on specific patient populations (e.g. breast oncology, gastric oncology). Our patient-centered organization enables the coordination of complex multidisciplinary inputs and measurement of the quality, costs, and value of surgical care. These units pursue a holistic and population-specific agenda to optimize value in several dimensions of quality (BC Health Quality Matrix). This work is gaining momentum, and we are excited to see the frontiers of surgical care to which our IPUs lead us.
Education
UBC General Surgery is home to 8 fellowship programs and one of Canada’s largest surgical residency programs, as well as to over 200 faculty members who continuously strive to learn, improve, and contribute to province-wide educational initiatives and movements. Surgical trainees and surgeons have the privilege of caring for a large population in high-volume and diverse case-mix settings. Despite the size of our Division, the educational network is well-connected and designed to share and scale the best ideas, from wherever they arise. Shared educational experiences such as the Surgical CRASH Course, Innovation Week, the RISE Curriculum, Expert Series, quarterly educational symposia, Divisional and Departmental research days, and social events are the lifeblood of our Division and the foundation of thought and action across the provincial academic division.
Residency Program
The education of our residents is the main goal of the UBC General Surgery Residency Training Program. Faculty throughout the province participates in teaching and research. Residents rotate through many various hospitals in the province and have elective rotations. Our Residents are given graduated responsibilities throughout their residency to reach the ultimate goal of becoming a competent Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada General Surgeon.
For more information, please visit the UBC General Surgery Residency Program Site.
Subspecialty Education and Fellowships
Reticulum Mentorship Grant Program
The Reticulum Mentorship Grant program financially supports mentorships and training exchanges between practicing surgeons for in-demand and advanced surgical techniques to promote a culture of collegiality and lifelong learning within the division.
For more information on the program and how to apply, click here.
Research & Innovation
The Division has a strong record of academic productivity in trauma surgery, breast oncology, endocrine surgery, colorectal surgery, global health, planetary health, and emerging research programs in a spectrum of other clinical areas. We are beginning to merge our research programs and academic agendas with innovation principles from business transformation, design thinking, and learning health systems to address complex, real-world, and systemic surgical challenges across BC and around the world.
Advocacy
Advocacy, for our patients and their families, for vulnerable populations, for our colleagues, and for our planet, is at the heart of everything we do. Our Division members have established potentially transformative initiatives in global surgery, and planetary health care, and are key contributors to Department-wide initiatives, such as the Branch for Global Surgical Care. Our General Surgery Cultural Safety Committee (CSC) has led efforts to address systemic biases in the way we deliver surgical care across our IPUs, and to reduce workplace inequities among our surgical trainees and staff surgeons.
A Strong Network
The UBC Division of General Surgery aspires to be a strong and diverse network of excellent surgeons, continuously learning and innovating, integrated with shared values and purpose, and greater than the sum of its parts. We are deeply committed to making a positive difference in the health of British Columbians and to the sustainability of excellent surgical systems around the world.
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