Thoracic Surgery Education in Vancouver

In Pursuit of Knowledge

We also offer a one-year advanced fellowship in minimally invasive thoracic surgery. The Division of Thoracic Surgery is located at VGH in association with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, a tertiary care referral center for the entire province of BC.

The Thoracic Surgery Resident MOH Resident Training Program covers the full spectrum Thoracic Surgical diseases, including: lung transplantation, benign and malignant foregut and esophageal surgery, mediastinal and chest wall surgery, as well as minimally invasive thoracic surgery techniques. Our close geographic proximity with the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA Vancouver Site) has allowed opportunity to develop special expertise in complex thoracic oncological problems.

There are also elective rotation opportunities for medical students and residents wishing to obtain a general knowledge and approach to common thoracic health conditions such as: lung and esophageal cancer, pneumothorax and hiatus hernia.

Please see below regarding application details for these various learning opportunities.

Royal College of Canada Thoracic Surgery 2-year Residency Program

The University of British Columbia Thoracic Surgery training is comprised of clinical exposure in Thoracic Surgery, and four months in Cardiac Surgery. The next available position is July 1, 2023 for the two year program. The program is available for a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant who has successfully completed their General Surgery Residency Training, and is eligible to take the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Fellowship in General Surgery Exams.

Objectives are available on the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada website.

Application details are available on the Canadian Thoracic Surgeons website.

Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Fellowship

The Division of Thoracic Surgery at Vancouver Coastal Health offers a 12 month program of advanced training in minimally invasive thoracic surgery.

The next available position is July 1, 2022 for this 1 year program. The program is available for International or Canadian applicants, who have successfully completed their Thoracic Surgery or Cardiac Surgery Residency Training and are eligible for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).

We invite you to email submissions to anna.mcguire@vch.ca

Please include:

A letter of interest (why do you want to train in Vancouver? What are your career goals? etcetera)
Current CV
If English is not your language of medical education proof of English language proficiency by IELTS exam is required by the CPSBC (https://www.cpsbc.ca/files/pdf/REG-ELP.pdf)
Two letters of reference

Formal application process will be initiated with successful candidate only.

Elective Rotations for Medical Students and Residents

Postgraduate training elective rotations for residents (medical and surgical) of one to three months will be considered. Please address your request to as above
Undergraduate training electives for medical students of two weeks or more are also available for third and fourth year medical students. Applications are available from the UBC Faculty of Medicine, Undergraduate Dean’s Office.