Yes! Our city-wide case volume is by far the highest in Canada, and among the highest in North America, ensuring our trainees get ample operative time. Residents rotate in 4 different, and clinically busy, hospitals. At every site, the operative and training experience of our residents is prioritized, with residents in their chief year performing more cases as the primary surgeon than almost any other program in North America.

No. Although we offer the most diverse range of research opportunities anywhere in North America, not all residents choose to pursue an advanced research degree, or any research training, during residency. Some residents have, for example, chosen to use their research time as a clinical elective in order to do an in-folded fellowship in Toronto or elsewhere.
The rich research environment in Toronto often does attract individuals who have an interest in research and provides them with the support and resources to pursue a degree in any number of different fields. This has included 1- or 2-year Master’s degree in clinical epidemiology or computer engineering, as well as PhD in molecular biology.

Despite being a large program, we pride ourselves on our ability to welcome residents into the Toronto family, as a tight-knit and supportive group. Our faculty place a strong emphasis on resident support, wellness, and feedback. This includes frequent meetings with the Program Director and site directors, regular mid- and end-of-rotation evaluations and feedback, regular ‘family meetings’ as a program, social events throughout the year, and informal meetings at every hospital and site. Our Residency Program Committee (RPC) includes both faculty and resident members, and we have established a formal mentorship program whereby all incoming residents are paired with a senior resident and faculty member in order to help transition into the program. Our faculty across all sites develop close connection with our residents by virtue of how much and how closely we work with them day-to-day. Our interactions and relationships are our strengths in Toronto, as we train the next generation of leaders in academic neurosurgery.

Our graduates are among the most highly sought-after applicants to positions across Canada and North America. The Toronto program has established, through our internationally-recognized faculty, a global network of connections to the premier neurosurgical centres of the world. This helps our graduates secure the most competitive fellowships and job opportunities across North America. Our graduates have obtained positions in among the most elite Canadian and American institutions.