Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Program

Clinical Excellence​​

​​Promoting a diverse and intense clinical experience is a central priority of the fellowship program. The fellowship provides a high volume operative experience in trauma and acute care surgery. Trauma/ACS fellows serve as clinical and administrative leads on dedicated Trauma and ACS services, and are responsible for directing patient management, teaching, participating in and leading surveillance and quality improvement initiatives. In addition to the trauma and acute care surgery blocks, fellows will rotate through highly relevant surgical subspecialties, including Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic and Transplant Surgery. There may also be an option of participating in a 6-8 week clinical and research exchange in a high-volume academic trauma center. Fellows will participate and teach in structured educational curricula, including the ATLS and ATLS Instructors’ Courses, ultrasound training, REBOA training, and the Definitive Surgical Trauma Care Course.​

Academic Excellence 

​The fellowship has a rigorous educational curriculum, with structured reading, journal article reviews, video sessions, and formal rounds, which promote both breadth and depth of knowledge. All fellows will also develop academic agendas in 1-2 areas based on their personal interest and career ambitions. These projects may span numerous disciplines but could include work in clinical research, quality improvement, innovation, health informatics, health policy, public and global health, surgical education, and leadership​.

Canadian General Surgery Residents in their third or fourth year who have an interest in Trauma and Acute Care Surgery to contact the academic program assistant at vghtrauma@vch.ca to arrange a Trauma elective. As a visiting resident you will receive a comprehensive orientation at the beginning of the academic block as well as opportunities to participate in various educational activities such as in-situ simulations and planned academic rounds. This would also be an opportunity to meet with our team of dynamic and engaged care providers who all have a passion for trauma care. We require one letter of endorsement from your academic supervisor and encourage you to seek this opportunity early in the academic year as space is limited. 

1-2 funded one-year position(s) are available for the August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027 term.  Applicants should have completed a full General Surgery residency. Non-Canadian applicant must be eligible for an Educational License with the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons. Canadian applicants must apply for a Full License with the BC College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Please submit”

• Your CV
• A personal statement that describes your motivations for pursing a career in Trauma Surgery, why you are interested in this program, and how you plan to use this fellowship in your future career
• 3 letters of reference describing your aptitudes as a surgeon in the following fields: professionalism, clinical judgement, technical skills and research aptitudes. Each letter should be dated and signed and must not date more than one year pre-application.

Applications are accepted until April 30, 2025 and sent to vghtrauma@vch.ca with a copy to the Program Directors.

Academic Program Assistant
Trauma Services – Vancouver General Hospital
Sandra Santander
Phone 604.875.5292
vghtrauma@vch.ca

Fellowship Program Director
Emilie Joos, MDCM, FRCSC
emilie.joos@vch.ca

Associate Fellowship Program Director
David Evans, AB, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS 
david.evans@vch.ca