Colorectal Surgery Program

(Interim) Program Director: Dr. Mantaj Brar, M.D. M.Sc. F.R.C.S.C
Mount Sinai Hospital
600 University Ave, Suite 451, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5G 1X5
Tel: (416) 586-4800 - ext: 4702
Fax: (416) 712-4747
E-mail: mantaj.brar@sinaihealth.ca

Program Administrator: Irina Ochakovsky
E-mail: Irina.Ochakovsky2@sinaihealth.ca

Number of Residents (per year): 2
Number of Faculty: 10
University Affiliation: University of Toronto
Salary/Year: As per PARO Guidelines

Canadian Applicants:

Our program will be participating in the CaRMS match as a part of the pediatric subspecialty match.
See CaRMs website for application instructions: https://www.carms.ca/match/psm/applicants/psm-applicant-timeline/
Applications are due in January 2025 and Match day is March 26^th, 2025.

International Applicants:

Please download and complete the CRS FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION
Send your completed application forms and documentation to our Program Administrator.
Our application deadline is March 15 for the Program year following the next (For example: March 15, 2025 for July 2026-June 2027).

Note: Our Program does not participate in the NRMP.

Case mix: The colorectal resident will complete approximately 150 anorectal cases, 150 colonoscopic examinations and approximately 300 abdominal cases during the residency. The abdominal cases are approached either open, or using MIS techniques, including robotic approaches. The program emphasizes inflammatory bowel disease, oncology, especially rectal cancer and complicated anorectal work. The resident will therefore gain particular training in these areas.

Strengths of program: The program is a university based program with a strong academic commitment. Most of the faculty have research programs and all are involved in teaching of residents and medical students. The faculty members provide a broad mix of cases from more common anorectal problems to complicated reconstructive surgery in inflammatory bowel disease, and reoperative oncological surgery. The case complexity and volume are the major strength of the program. The faculty are eager to teach, and residents get a large volume of operating.

Training sites: Mount Sinai Hospital, University Health Network, and St. Michael’s Hospital.

Interaction with general surgery residents: There is a full compliment of general surgery residents and medical students. The colorectal resident teaches and interacts with them on a daily basis.

Conferences: Weekly multidisciplinary conferences are held in at each teaching site, including IBD case conferences, rectal cancer tumour board, and GI tumour boards. There is a journal club every 2 months in which critical appraisal skills are taught, and difficult or interesting clinical scenarios are discussed.

Anorectal physiology availability: One faculty member has a particular interest in anorectal physiology, constipation, and pelvic floor abnormalities.

Research year: Our Canadian trainees are required to complete one year of research in an area of their interest. If funding is made available, it may be possible for the international trainee to complete a research year. The possible areas of research are: clinical epidemiology, quality-improvement, or surgical education.

Requirement for paper: The resident is expected to publish at least one paper per year during their training.

Opportunity to attend meetings: Residents will be funded to attend the ASCRS Meeting and any other meetings at which they present a paper.