sterile surgical instruments on the operation table amid the surgeons

Plastic Surgery

Our division provides clinical services that cover the spectrum of Plastic Surgery, both adult and pediatric. We have members offering services out of the three Ottawa Hospital (TOH) campuses; the Civic, General and Riverside, as well as the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) as well as the Queensway Carleton Hospital. We also have several members who participate from the community.

  • The Division of Plastic Surgery has nine members at TOH and four full-time members at CHEO.

  • We have 5 full time members at the Queensway Carleton Hospital and two members who practice in the community.

  • At the Civic we have five members (Drs. Murray Allen, Kirsty Boyd, Danny Peters, Sarah Shiga and Jing Zhang), while at the General we have four members (Drs. Mario Jarmuske, Simon Frank, Moein Momtazi and Gloria Rockwell).

  • CHEO has Drs. Yvonne Ying, Claudia Malic, Kevin Cheung and Mary Jean Duncan.

The Civic Campus is designated as the adult Regional Trauma Center, including upper extremity and craniomaxillofacial trauma. Our Rapid Access Plastic Surgery Clinic, has three procedure rooms and has on-site hand therapists, allowing for prompt patient-focused care. In cooperation with the Division of Neurosurgery, Oral Surgery and Ophthalmology we provide comprehensive management for craniomaxillofacial issues. We have an upper extremity/peripheral nerve service in tandem with the Divisions of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics. Our plastic surgeons also support the Cardiac program.

The General Campus operates the centre for reconstructive surgery and microsurgery.  In partnership with the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT), our Division provides all regional head and neck reconstructions at the General. This campus serves the needs of complex reconstruction including orthopedic oncology, thoracic reconstruction and pelvic reconstruction. Furthermore, this is the centre for Breast Reconstruction. This campus has an Oncoplastic breast program.

The Riverside Campus offers out-patient care, both in the OR and in the out-patient clinics. This campus has developed a program for Prophylactic Mastectomy and Reconstruction for high risk patients. In addition, it provides comprehensive care for upper extremity injuries and reconstruction.

CHEO, which provides services to the Champlain LIHN and Western Quebec, provides care for cleft lip and palate (with ENT and Oral Surgery), Cranio-facial deformities (with Neurosurgery) and congenital hand deformities and brachial plexus injuries (with Orthopaedics).

Plastic surgery is also conducted at the Queensway Carleton Hospital and through other regional health institutions. These centres serve the primary and secondary needs of our community in oncology, reconstruction and esthetic surgery. They form an important component of our training program.

Members of our division partake in teaching activities, including undergraduate, post-graduate, off-service rotations and elective, as well as fellows. We are also engaged in research, with focuses on clinical science research and medical education.

Undergraduate Education

Pediatric Plastic Surgery

  • We have undergraduate medical students and electives students who rotate through our division

  • Residents from plastic surgery rotate through, as well as dermatology and pediatrics residents who do ambulatory care clinic electives.

  • We have pediatric emergency fellows who rotate through as well, but do not have a fellowship program.

Postgraduate Education

  • The University of Ottawa Plastic Surgery Residency Program accepts two trainees per year.

  • Residents are selected on the basis of their academic records, electives, letters of reference and CV.

  • They must have demonstrated an interest in plastic surgery and have at least one reference from a plastic surgeon.

  • Preference is given to students who have rotated on the service.

The program is based on two foundation years followed by three Plastic Surgery years.

In the foundations years, rotations are selected from plastic surgery, pediatric and adult general surgery, vascular, neurosurgery, pediatric and adult orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology, emergency medicine, anaesthesia, ICU, internal medicine, dermatology, rheumatology and infectious diseases.

The Surgical Foundations course (PGY1 and 2) is coordinated through the Office of Surgical Education. Its goal is to prepare residents for the Surgical Foundations exam, which is achieved via a series of lectures and labs utilizing the new Surgical Skills Simulation Lab.

The final three Plastic Surgery years include a burn rotation at Sunnybrook in Toronto, community rotations at Queensway Carleton Hospital, exposure to oculoplastic and oral surgery, as well as a two-month elective block. There are also opportunities to participate in overseas work in the PGY 4 year.

The predominant teaching hospitals are The Ottawa Hospital (Civic, General and Riverside campuses), the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), the Queensway Carleton Hospital, and in community hospitals and clinics. There are 22 core teaching faculty.

There are weekly seminars/journal clubs and teaching rounds in plastic surgery. As well there are weekly Hand Rounds on Tuesday afternoons in conjunction with orthopaedics. There is a new Microsurgery Lab in the Surgical Skills lab, which runs monthly sessions to teach and maintain skills. Anatomy dissections and fracture workshops are run in conjunction with orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, oral surgery and otolaryngology, speaking to the interdisciplinary collaboration that is one of the strengths of this city.

Research is supported and encouraged. Residents are expected to submit annually to Collins Day and/or Paediatric Research Day. As well, they are encouraged to present at the national meeting and to submit work for publication. Dre Claudia Malic is the Research Coordinator.

We also have an active and unique National Capital Society of Plastic Surgeons with monthly dinner meetings, including community and academic surgeons from Ottawa, Kingston and Hull-Gatineau (Outaouais). This body has warmly welcomed the residents.

The Division of Plastic Surgery coordinates the Chief Residents' Review course which has been active since 2009. This has gone on to be a valued annual Ottawa based event, allowing faculty and residents to experience winter in the Nation's Capital, while at the same time preparing for the upcoming exams.