AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FACIAL PLASTIC
AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
OF
PETER A. ADAMSON, MD, FRCSC, FACS

The particulars of our Fellowship Program are as follows:

A. PURPOSE

1) To provide Royal College Fellows and American Board eligible surgeons advanced training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
 
2) To enhance the fellow's exposure to research through the provision of clinical material for retrospective and prospective studies. To supervise the preparation of research papers for presentation at national and international meetings. To encourage and aid presentations at hospital and departmental rounds.

3) To stimulate the fellow's interest and provide experience in teaching medical students, residents and peers, such that fellows returning to academic appointments will have improved teaching skills.

4) To provide the fellow insight and experience in the management of a contemporary medical office to enhance his or her professional management skills.

5) To provide the fellow and his or her family exposure to a different professional, social and cultural milieu to enhance his or her professional and personal growth.

B. QUALIFICATIONS FOR FELLOWSHIP

 1) The candidate must have completed a recognized residency program in Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery or Plastic Surgery in the United States or Canada.

2) The candidate must meet the qualifications outlined by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) for acceptance into its fellowship programs.

3) The candidate must meet the qualifications of the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto to be accepted as a fellow.

4) The candidate must be a Canadian or U.S. graduate who can obtain an Ontario Educational licence through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). Graduates from other countries will have to meet the Educational and Licensing standards as determined by the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.

5) The candidate must obtain adequate medical malpractice insurance. This is obtainable through the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA), and will be covered financially by the Preceptor.

6) The candidate must accept the responsibilities stated in the Fellowship Program outline and as established by the Fellowship Director. (See enclosed "Fellow's Duties and Responsibilities")

7) The candidate must fulfill the requirements of the Fellowship Committee of the AAFPRS with regards to completion of the core curriculum, preparation of research paper, assessments of the program, sitting of the fellowship examination, and any other requirements as may be determined from time to time.

8) The candidate must fulfill the fellowship requirements of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto.

9) Candidates returning to academic appointments may be given preference in selection.

C. DESCRIPTION OF FELLOWSHIP

 1) The primary preceptor will be Peter A. Adamson, M.D., Professor and Head, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto. Staff appointments - The Toronto General Hospital (Active), North York General Hospital (Consultant) both of these being teaching hospitals associated with the University of Toronto.

2) Additional faculty members in Toronto who would be pleased to have the fellow visit with them include David A.F. Ellis, M.D. at the Toronto General Hospital, Krzysztof Conrad, M.D. at Mount Sinai Hospital, Jerry Chapnik, M.D. at Toronto General Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, Patrick Gullane, M.D. at Toronto General Hospital, and Jeremy Freeman, M.D. at Mount Sinai Hospital. The former three individuals have practices more inclined to cosmetic facial surgery whereas the latter two have practices in head and neck oncologic and reconstructive surgery. All are associated with the University of Toronto teaching program. Others who will host the fellows for observation are Dr. Paul Cotterill (hair transplantation) Dr. Sheldon Pollack (dermatologic surgery), Dr. Noel Solish (MOH’s surgery), Dr. Lisa Kellet (cosmetic dermatology), Dr. James Oestreicher (oculoplastic surgery), Dr. Mitchell Brown (plastic surgery) and Dr. Marietta Zorn (plastic surgery).

3) The University of Toronto, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery program encompasses 7 hospitals, 23 residents and 23 fellows. There is a very active academic program with core lectures being given to the residents for three hours each Friday morning and with city-wide Grand Rounds covering the entire spectrum of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery every Friday morning. There are also weekly rounds at the Toronto General Hospital. Residents and fellows are closely supervised but are given incremental responsibility during their training period. In any given year there are fellows from various parts of the world in our program. There is involvement in several core lectures per year for the residents in our program and usually one Grand Round presentation per year. Elective student, elective residents and visiting surgeons may spend time in the practice and clinic settings. The fellow is actively involved with these responsibilities.

4) The Toronto General Hospital of the University Health Network is my primary academic affiliation. There are 40 in-patient beds and 16,000 annual patient visits to the clinic. About 2500 surgical cases are performed annually.

5) The practice is essentially a private practice with a strong university affiliation. Usually 2 full days per week are spent in the private office. Operating time currently consists of two full days for adult cosmetic procedures performed in a private, fully accredited ambulatory surgical facility. Minor procedures are performed in the office or in the surgical center. Elective students, residents and fellows and visiting surgeons intermittently spend time in the office. The fellow is responsible to assist in the office with patient care. He or she is responsible to assist in the operating room, obtaining increasing "hands-on" responsibilities as deemed appropriate for the level of skill exhibited and the specifics of the case.

6) The fellow is on-call for after-hours and weekend call, with some visits required to the office on weekends for suture removal, etc. During the Fellowship Director’s absence from the practice for meetings etc., (this currently is about 8 weeks per year) the fellow is able to visit other cosmetic and reconstructive facial surgeons in Toronto, prepare for examinations, and make headway on research projects.

7) Clinical research receives an emphasis in the fellowship program. The fellow is expected to suggest research protocols and carry these out under the tutelage of the fellowship director. A minimum of three papers suitable for presentation at national level meetings and for publication is expected to be prepared in a given year. The fellow has his own networked computer designated for such research activities. Library and medical research facilities are readily available.

8) The fellow is given three weeks leave during the year, this to be arranged as closely as possible with absences of the Fellowship Director from the practice. One week is given to attend a meeting at which no presentation is being made. Further time is allowed for presentation of papers at meetings as deemed appropriate. All time away from the practice must be cleared in advance with the Fellowship Director.

9) The emphasis in the practice is on cosmetic facial surgery, with aesthetic and reconstructive rhinoplasty (mostly open approach), blepharoplasty and rhytidectomy being the most common procedures performed. Other procedures performed include forehead lift (endoscopic and open approaches), liposuction, otoplasty, scar revision, laser resurfacing, excision of facial lesions, flaps and grafts about the face. The fellow is provided a well-rounded exposure to facial plastic surgery. Facial peels, collagen treatment, Botox injection and management of minor skin lesions are performed in the office. An in-house aesthetician performs peels, facials, etc.

10) The length of the fellowship is 12 months, beginning July 1st of each year. The fellow for the following year is chosen in the match in early June of the preceding year. Applicants are encouraged to arrange for a visit to Toronto to become acquainted with the program prior to May 15, the year before their fellowship.

11) The stipend for the fellow is $42,000.00 per annum in Canadian dollars for 2009-10. Additional funds are available for presentation and publication of papers. Malpractice insurance is arranged through the Canadian Medical Protective Association in Ottawa by the fellow on the basis of an educational licence. This should be effected prior to arrival. This cost is covered by the Fellowship Director. Health insurance for the fellow is obtainable through the university and is paid by the Fellowship Director. Comprehensive, relatively low cost health insurance is available for dependents.

12) The fellow is recognized as a Fellow within the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto, and by the Canadian Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, as well as the AAFPRS.

13) Costs pertaining to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) licensing  fee will be reimbursed.

14) American fellows must obtain a working visa for a period of one year at their own cost.

15) A teaching program for the fellow is effected in conjunction with the Fellowship Director's responsibilities at the teaching hospitals.

16) Additional information about the fellowship includes the provision of the fellow's own consultation office for clinical research and study purposes. This includes access to computer facilities. The fellow will be expected to acquire computer skills in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. A full videotape library and major journals and textbooks are available in the office. Toronto is a cosmopolitan city of 2.5 million people, the greater Toronto area 5.3 million people, situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario. It is about 500 miles from New York and Boston, 365 miles from Montreal, 100 miles from Buffalo and 250 miles from Detroit. The fellow has every opportunity to enjoy the cultural amenities of a large international city. The United Nations has recognized Toronto as the most multicultural city in the world, and it consistently ranks in the top 10 of the best cities in the world in which to live. Toronto has several professional sports teams, hundreds of art galleries and museums, and the third largest theatre scene in the world after London and New York. There are extensive park and trail networks for strolling, running and cycling. There are also many parks and waterfront activities in Toronto for summertime activities. Beautiful lakes and wooded country are within one to two hours driving from the city, and alpine skiing in the wintertime is within two hours driving. A wide variety of accommodation is available downtown or on the subway system. The public school system is generally considered one of the best in North America. The University has many academic, cultural and social activities. The city is noted for its safety, cleanliness, public transportation and cosmopolitan nature. If you have any questions or require any further details, please do not hesitate to contact me, or my office staff. We have also enclosed a list of former fellows who would be pleased to speak with you about our program.