Education

Undergraduate

Preclerkship Program

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre plays a active role in the University of Toronto Undergraduate Education Program. This includes:

• "Problem Based Learning" tutors for the "Structure and Function" course in the first year of Medical School.
• "Foundations of Medical Practice" - seminars on "Airway" and "Preoperative Assessment" that occur during the Trauma and General Surgery weeks for the program.

Clerkship Program

The Clinical Clerks come to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre regularly for a two week rotation in Anesthesia.  During their time here they receive a series of tutorials on pain management and obstetric anesthesia. In addition to our regular rotation of clerks, members of our department implemented and developed the "Clerkship Simulator Day".  All of the University of Toronto Clerks will spend a full day in the simulator center in this program.

Postgraduate

Resident Rotations

Anesthesia residents in the University of Toronto Anesthesia Program regularly rotate to the Sunnybrook and Orthopedic and Arthritic campuses and the obstetrical unit at Women's College Hospital. There are approximately six to seven residents every six months. 

The rotation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre offers intense high volume exposure to major trauma, vascular, cardiac and high risk: general, gynecological and urologic cancer surgery.

As adult learners, residents are encouraged to be proactive in meeting their learning needs. Block rotations are offered in Cardiac, Vascular, Eyes (peribulbar blocks), the Burn OR, as well in the Preassessment Clinic and on the Acute Pain Service.  Special efforts are made to include residents in all regional blocks that are performed. Feedback from previous groups of residents indicate that although this site is very busy when on call, some of the best cases and experience are seen after hours and this provides tremendous preparation for independent practice as a consultant.

Resident Rounds

We have a very extensive program of regular morning rounds that are facilitated by staff anesthetists. These include:

• Cardiac Rounds - once a week
• Trouble Rounds - twice a week
• Regional Rounds - once a week
• Trauma Rounds - once a week
• Grand Rounds - once a month
• Cardiovascular Anesthesia/TEE rounds - once a month

Resident Seminar Program
The University of Toronto Department of Anesthesia, offers an extensive seminar program for Anesthesia Residents. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre Anesthesia Staff are active participants in this program. Seminars given by our staff are predominantly in our areas of expertise including: obstetrics, trauma and cardiac.

In addition to this our department supports and facilitates one of three PGY-5 seminar groups, which run weekly for the entire year. This seminar focuses on the development of final year "consultant skills", which helps them identify and prioritize anesthetic considerations and conflicts in an organized manner. The series also facilitates a review of the knowledge base expected at the Royal College level.

Fellowship

We offer an extensive Fellowship Program. Specific Fellowships are offered in the following areas:

• Cardiovascular and TEE
• Obstetrical Anesthesia
• Chronic Pain
• General Anesthesia
• Regional Anesthesia
• Medical Simulation

We generally have between six to eight fellows in the department on a regular basis. Fellows are encouraged to avail themselves of our extensive regular weekly rounds program. In addition to this they are invited to take part in the "University of Toronto Fellowships Rounds" program offered downtown.

Fellows who come with a research interest will be given regular research time (one day per week). It is expected that they will team up with a staff working in their area of interest and present at the annual "Shield's Research Day" for the University of Toronto Anesthesia Department.

Continuing Medical Education Program (CME)

The Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre department members are highly conmmited to Continuing Medical Education. Members of this department are regularly participating in CME events at the local; provincial, national and international level. Each year upwards of 60 per cent of our members have prepared and given lectures, or facilitated seminars at established anesthesia meetings.

The true depth of dedication in this area is evident in the many unique and successful anesthesia meetings that have been developed and coordinated by our members:

• Annual "Regional Anesthesia and Pain meeting" - University of Toronto accredited. Largest meeting of its kind in Canada - Dr. J. Kay course founder and coordinator.
• Annual "Tremblant Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Update Meeting" - Canadian Anesthesiologist Society Accredited. Drs. C. Laflamme and J. Tarshis course coordinators.
• "Visiting Professorship in Pain Management" - University of Toronto, Program founder and coordinator Dr. J. Kay.
• "Crisis Management in the Simulator" - A one day course for family practice anesthetists, in conjunction with Simulator Group in Edmonton. Rural Physicians of Alberta, The Canadian Simulator Interest Group and Health Canada.  CCFP Accredited.  Course co-founder and coordinator Dr. J. Tarshis
• Annual "Weber Lecture"  - University of Toronto Anesthesia. Lecture Coordinator Dr. B. Morningstar.

Education Committees

The department's dedication to teaching extends beyond the classroom setting to course and circular development. This is accomplished by the many members of our department who sit on educational committees at the hospital, University, National and International levels.

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Sunnybrook Education Committee
Sunnybrook Clerkship Coordinators

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine
U of T Faculty of Medicine Clerkship Committee
U of T Medical Students Selection Comntittee
U of T Center for Research Committee
U of T Examination and Students Assessment Committee
Council of the Faculty of Medicine Appeals Committee

University of Toronto, Department of Anesthesia
Academic appointments and Promotions Committee
Clerkship Coordinator
Chair of the University of Toronto Anesthesia Undergraduate Education Committee
Memebers of the Undergraduate Education Committee
University of Toronto Anesthesia Postgraduate Committee

National/lnternational
Canadian Simulator Interest Group Chair
Canadian Simulation in Anesthesia