Launched by the Department of Surgery in 2012, SEAD (Surgical Exploration and Discovery) is a two-week long program for medical students interested in gaining multi-faceted exposure to surgical specialties at the University of Toronto. Under the guidance of volunteering second-year medical students, participants will experience a program that is the first of its kind in Canada, as SEAD forges together a unique combination of observerships across all surgical specialties, informal discussions on surgical lifestyle and career options, and hands-on surgical skills and simulation workshops.
Outlined below is a more detailed description of what participants can expect as part of SEAD:
Observerships: Every participant will rotate through a half-/full-day in each of the direct-entry divisions of the Department of Surgery (cardiac, general, neuro, orthopaedic, plastic, urology, and vascular) and in thoracic surgery, a surgical subspecialty also part of the Department of Surgery, and one evening of trauma at various hospitals in Toronto.
Discussions: Informal presentations from each division will touch on their respective practice scope, academic and clinical responsibilities, and challenges in managing work-life balance.
Workshops: Hands-on workshops at both surgical simulation centers in Toronto will introduce basic surgical techniques and provide exposure to common OR procedures through surgical emulation.
