An initiative of
Dr. Ahmer Karimuddin & Dr. Tracy Scott
Program Director
Luiza Shamkulova
The five-year General Surgery Residency Program at UBC is designed to produce surgeons with broadly based academic and clinical expertise. The caliber and spirit of our residents and faculty, diversity of academic and community rotations, and exceptional simulation and research opportunities are some of the strengths of the program. Every aspect of the program is run with resident input and leadership, and we are proud of the contributions that our diverse, motivated, collegial (and fun!) residents have made.
Our program strives to maximize resident involvement and optimize leadership potential at all levels including Town Hall meetings, Annual Resident Retreat and Resident Research Day and involvement in various committees such as Residency Program Committee, Competence by Design Committee, Selection Committee and Social Committee.
For more information about the program, please visit our website.
At UBC, we have broad exposure to multiple environments at over 35 training sites across the province, from rural community sites to quaternary academic centres. The surgeons are committed to teaching and training residents to achieve clinical excellence in the inpatient and outpatient setting. Residents are provided with graduated surgical experiences as they advance through the program and build on their skills with high volumes of cases and useful feedback that prepare them for independent practice or further specialized training.
Despite having one of the largest general surgery programs in the country, we have cultivated a strong sense of community. Residents and surgeons come together at different times of the year to develop a bond that far outlasts the program itself. Whether it’s coffees with staff and peer mentors, a training session in the Simulation Lab, participating in provincial meetings and conferences, attending the family-friendly events planned by the resident-led SWell (Social and Wellness) Committee, we all participate in co-creating a vibrant atmosphere for learning and working.
Each resident must complete and present a scholarly research activity at the annual Resident Research Day at least once during their residency.
However, most of the residents far exceed these expectations. Our residents work with engaged clinicians to conduct and publish high-quality research in almost every domain of general surgery. They also present their work annually at national and international meetings. Several residents even choose to pursue further education through graduate degrees (MSc, MPH, PhD) either independently or within the Clinical Investigator Program.
