Surgeon Scientist Training Program
!! Important Deadline Information !!
Candidates must meet with Vice Chair or Associate Vice Chair of Research no later than June 15 (to begin the program the following year) before submitting application.
Important Resources for your SSTP application process
Surgeon Scientist Training Program
The purpose of the Surgeon Scientist Training Program (SSTP) at the Department of Surgery is to provide excellent research training for surgical residents who wish to pursue a career in academic surgery.
Eligibility:
Candidates will be eligible if they have been accepted into the University of Toronto Postgraduate Training Program in Surgery in a THESIS-BASED graduate program. Candidates may enter the SSTP during their clinical training. All supervisors for the SSTP trainee must hold an appointment with the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) of the University of Toronto. Candidates from the following training programs will be eligible: Anatomy, Cardiac Surgery, General Surgery, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedics, Paediatric General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Urology and Vascular Surgery.
SSTP Application Process:
Potential candidates must meet with the Vice Chair Research (Dr. Michael G. Fehlings) or the Associate Vice Chair Research (Dr. Andras Kapus) no later than June 15 (to begin the program the following year) before submitting an application.
Full guidelines can be found here.
Candidates should discuss their intentions with their respective Division Chair of the surgical specialty, the Division Residency Program Director and with the proposed Supervisor of his/her research program.
1. Application Requirements
Each applicant must prepare the following documents:
- A cover letter including a summary of background, research plans (proposed supervisor, research topic, preferred graduate department), and indication of whether an MSc or PhD is intended.
- A one-page abstract of the proposed research project, including the proposed supervisor and graduate unit.
- A letter of support from the proposed supervisor, confirming that they are a member of the University of Toronto Graduate School.
- CV.
- Letters of Support from the Division Head and Program Director.
2. Meeting with the Vice Chair Research
The applicant schedules a meeting - typically by phone - with the Vice Chair Research to discuss the research project details. Please contact Renata Musa at renata.musa@utoronto.ca to schedule this meeting. In some cases, the applicant may need to revise aspects of the research plan and meet again to discuss the revised research project.
3. Formal Application Submission
Once all suggestions have been addressed, the applicant submits the formal application in writing via this link.
4. Final approval
After all of these steps are completed, Dr. Fehlings confirms that the applicants have met the requirements and are accepted.
The deadline for receipt of complete applications is July 15th (to begin the program the following year).
5. In addition to applying to the School of Graduate Studies, applicants must submit a separate application to the Clinician Investigator Program by January 15 for September enrolment via https://cip.utoronto.ca/how-do-i-apply.
For additional information, contact:
Renata Musa
Research Program Coordinator
Department of Surgery Research Office, University of Toronto
Stewart Building, 149 College Street, 5th Floor, Room 503J
Toronto, ON M5T 1P5
Tel: 416 978-8909 ; Email: renata.musa@utoronto.ca