Paediatrics

The Hospital for Sick Children 

Number of Positions

5 per year

Duration

1 year

Site

The Hospital for Sick Children

Supervisors

The Fellowship

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery offers one year clinical fellowship training to surgeons who are interested in becoming a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Our program provides experience in a wide range of congenital and acquired orthopaedic conditions including spinal deformity, neuromuscular diseases, bone dysplasias, limb deficiencies, limb length discrepancy, major deformities, orthopaedic oncology, trauma and sports medicine.

About the Hospital & the Division

The Hospital for Sick Children is a public, teaching hospital specializing in leading-edge paediatric care, education and research. The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery is one of the busiest departments in the hospital caring for chronic and acute conditions to the most complex patients with musculoskeletal disease. We believe that interdisciplinary care, collaborative research and valuable teaching we will give fellows the skills required to undertake the most important questions in children’s musculoskeletal disease.

Training Program

Our fellowship program is structured to meet the individual needs of the fellow. Five fellows are recruited each year (two in February and three in August.) Fellows will undertake rotations with several surgeons. A typical weekly schedule include two operating days, two clinic days and one research day. The training program ensures that fellows gain experience in all of the major areas of paediatric orthopedics. Our goal is for fellows to develop highly competent skills and sound clinical judgment to be an excellent academic paediatric orthopaedic surgeon.

The areas of responsibility include operating time, fracture treatment, outpatient clinics and inpatient wards. The fellow will participate in emergency call with responsibilities close to that of a staff surgeon, but with a staff surgeon and resident also on call. In addition, the fellow may also participate in clinics held in affiliated institutions dedicated to the care of children (e.g. Bloorview Kids Rehab, Erinoak Kids, etc.)

Fellows are required to participate in clinical research projects. In most cases, fellows produce papers for presentation at major meetings and for publication in major peer reviewed journals. The Division has a dedicated research coordinator to assist the fellows in their research projects and obtaining research ethics approval.

The Division strongly encourages fellows to attend conferences and provides a stipend to cover the travel expense.

Paediatric orthopaedic fellowships in Canada are not accredited with the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada.

Program Highlights

  • SickKids Orthopaedic Surgery’s fellowship is recognized internationally for its clinical, educational and research excellence.
  • We have trained more fellows than any other paediatric orthopaedic program.
  • Fellows are eligible to participate in various education programs throughout the university such as access to the university’s libraries.
  • Academic and social activities are organized throughout the year between the hospital and the University of Toronto.

Eligibility

Applicants should have completed advanced training in orthopaedics and obtained specialization in the subject (i.e. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Orthopaedics or equivalent.)

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery prides itself in training fellows worldwide. Applicants from non-English speaking countries may be required to successfully complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Spoken English (TSE). Fellowship applicants whose medical school education was not in English do not need to take TOEFL or TSE until you have been accepted into the program.

Canadian or American medical exams (e.g. MCCEE, USMLE, etc.) are not mandatory to apply to our fellowship program.
Prospective clinical fellows must be eligible to obtain a Canadian work visa.

Training Period

Fellowship training are normally one year, however, the Division will consider shorter (minimum 6 months) or longer duration. Fellowship starts in February or August of each year. A later start date is permissible on exceptional circumstances.

Remuneration

A competitive financial remuneration is provided to offset living expenses.

Fellows are responsible for moving expenses and accommodation. There are a limited number of unfurnished suites available in the hospital apartment building.

Self-funded candidates are not given special consideration. All candidates are required to undergo the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery’s fellowship review process.

Application Process

Applicants from the following countries must apply directly through the University of Toronto Postgraduate Medical Education Office: Bahrain, Barbados, Grenada, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad & Tobago and the United Arab Emirates. For more information please visit the University of Toronto Postgraduate Medical Education website.

  1. Interested applicants who obtained their residency training from a North American institution must apply through the SF Match.

    All other applicants should visit the following link and have the following documents ready to be submitted electronically to the Division of Orthopaedics.

    Learn More and Apply Here: Division of Orthopaedics, Fellowship

    1. CV
    2. photo — used for memory aid
    3. personal statement — 500 word limit. Discuss how your background and experiences have led to an interest in paediatric orthopaedics. Also include a brief description of your goals 5 years from now.
    4. Three (3) letters of reference — you can email this along with your application or ask your referees to email their letter to the Division Administrator.

      The orthopaedic faculty will not review incomplete applications.

  2. All applications received are reviewed by an orthopaedic staff. This process takes several months to complete but all applicants are notified of the status of their application within one year of submission of all required documents.
  3. Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview which can be arranged by teleconference or face-to-face interview if the candidate prefers to visit the hospital.
  4. The orthopaedic faculty meets twice a year to adjudicate on all candidates interviewed.
  5. Unsuccessful applicants can request for their application to be forwarded to the next review cycle. However, a significant change in the applicant’s CV should be noted.

Selection Criteria

  • Successful candidates will have a strong clinical and academic background that demonstrates proficiency in orthopaedic surgery and related subjects.
  • Candidates will have a definite interest and a clear career path in pursuing a career in paediatric orthopaedics or paediatric spine, if applicable.
  • International Medical Graduates (IMG), who obtained their medical education and training from non-Canadian, American, British or Australian systems, are encouraged to obtain several years experience as a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon before applying to the program.

Deadline

There is no deadline for submission as positions are filled as suitable applicants are selected.

Research Fellowship

Applicants interested in a research fellowship should contact the individual surgeon directly.

Contact

Questions regarding the program can be directed to:

Dr. Simon Kelley
Fellowship Director
Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
Hospital for Sick Children
Email: simon.kelley@sickkids.ca

Lisa Abreu
Fellowship Coordinator
Phone: (416) 813-7654 #224897
Email: lisa.abreu@sickkids.ca