Overview
The role of the plastic surgeon is pivotal in the reconstruction and repair of injury, burn trauma and birth defect victims in our community. The dedicated surgeons in the division of plastic surgery at McMaster tirelessly endeavour to improve patient care, guided by evidence-based methodologies and innovations.
Based at two main teaching hospitals: Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), a four-site acute care teaching hospital that is Ontario’s largest comprehensive provider of health services, and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH), the division is an international leader and educator of evidence-based plastic surgery, spear-headed by our director of research, Dr. Achilles Thoma.
Our residency program continues to attract stellar applicants who diligently participate in weekly teaching rounds, monthly journal clubs and comprehensive didactic programs that stimulate learning. We will continue to recruit and to maintain a high quality residency program, and continue to provide excellent surgical care to our community and beyond. In these pages, I invite you to learn more about our services, research and education, and how they align with the values and best practices of the profession.
About Plastic Surgery
The division of plastic surgery consists of 12 full-time faculty members. Five plastic surgeons are based at St. Joseph’s Healthcare (Dr. Levis, Dr. Thoma, Dr. Hynes, Dr. Retrouvey, and Dr. Ghumman) and seven are based at the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation (Dr. Bain, Dr. Avram, Dr. Dalcin, Dr. Coroneos, Dr. Strumas, Dr. Choi and Dr. Dostaler). Dr. Rodger Shortt is an associate clinical faculty member and the director for the aesthetic surgery program for residents. There are many expert surgeons that provide education and clinical expertise to our resident trainees in the community.
The division provides tertiary care in plastic surgery for the Hamilton-Wentworth and central west region of Ontario. Although the full spectrum of plastic surgery procedures is undertaken in all institutions, the regionalization of plastic surgery services, which has been underway since the 1970’s, has led to specialized Plastic Surgery Units at each of the two main institutions.
The Hamilton General site of the Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation (HHSC) is designated as the Regional Trauma Centre for burn management, maxillofacial and extremity trauma. Also located at this site are the Regional Burn Unit and the Hyperbaric Oxygen Unit. The Burn Unit, which is the second busiest in the province, admits approximately 120 burn cases per year and runs an outpatient burn clinic daily. Plastic surgeons at the site provide support to the Trauma Program, as well as cardiac and general surgery services.
At the Juravinski Cancer Centre site, faculty members primarily support the oncology program though sentinel node dissections and reconstruction following removal of breast, cutaneous sarcoma and lower extremity and pelvic tumors. The McMaster University Medical Centre (MUMC) site of the HHSC provides care for cleft lip and palate, craniofacial deformities, congenital hand deformities and brachial plexus injuries. Although both pediatric and adult plastic surgery covering the spectrum of the specialty is undertaken, the main focus is pediatric surgery. St. Joseph’s Healthcare provides reconstructive plastic surgery covering the full spectrum, including skin cancer, extremity reconstruction, breast reconstruction and head and neck microsurgery. Elective and emergency hand cases are seen in this institution, with busy hand clinics located at the main hospital on Charlton Street and the satellite Ambulatory Facility located in East Hamilton.
The cosmetic component of training occurs at our local hospitals, as well as through local independent facilities.
History of the Division of Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery was introduced to the Hamilton area in the early days of the development of the specialty, shortly after World War II.
The first plastic surgeon in the area was Dr. Wallace McNichol, who completed his plastic surgical training at the Columbia-Presbyterian hospital in New York City. At the end of the second world war, he returned to Hamilton to commence practice in 1946 until he died in 1985.
The second plastic surgeon was Dr. Vaughn Renshaw, who served in the navy in WWII. He completed his surgical and plastic training in Toronto during the early days of our specialty and was intimately associated with the advancements made in the war in the care of the wounded.
The third plastic surgeon in Hamilton was Dr. Orville Mirehouse, who graduated from the University of Western Ontario medical school. Following that he did his internship and surgical residency at the Hamilton General Hospital for three years. He did one year of anatomy demonstration at the University of Toronto. On the advice of Dr. McNichol, he completed his plastic surgical training at the Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City under the leadership of Dr. Jerome Webster, one of the fathers of American plastic surgery. There was a close relationship between Hamilton and the Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital with three surgeons in our early history that trained there. The third was Dr. Stewart Heddle.
In 1966 the McMaster Medical School was built and with it ushered the modern era of specialization under the guidance of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. Various surgical programs commenced at McMaster under the leadership of Dr. Barber Mueller, the first chairman of the Department of Surgery. The first plastic surgical resident to commence training under the Royal College program was Dr. John Cohen-Shohet, in 1976.
The first program director of the newly formed plastic surgery training program was Dr. Orville Mirehouse, who served until 1988. The second resident was Dr. A.J. Puri, who practiced in Burlington. The third resident to graduate from the program is Dr. Achilles Thoma. Dr. Thoma pursued fellowships in hand surgery and microsurgery at the University of Louisville under the leadership of Dr. Harold Kleinert. He returned to Hamilton to introduce microsurgery in head and neck reconstruction at St. Joseph’s hospital and became the division of plastic surgery head. Dr. Thoma, Dr. Bain, Dr. Strumas and Dr. Avram have served as program directors.
Our current McMaster division of plastic surgery chief is Dr. James Bain and the current program director is Dr. Arianna Dal Cin. The plastic surgery service chief at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton is Dr. Carolyn Levis. The plastic surgery service chief at Hamilton Health Sciences Center is Dr. Ronen Avram.
Education
Welcome from the Program Director
Welcome to the McMaster University’s division of plastic surgery website. This website provides details of the program for medical students interested in applying, as well as for current residents. As program director, I am happy to answer any questions you may have and can be contacted through our program coordinator Jennifer Koch.
The McMaster plastic surgery residency program is a five-year program. The first two years are core surgery years, including rotations in plastic surgery, general surgery, orthopedics, otolaryngology, anesthesia, emergency medicine, internal medicine, dermatology and intensive care. The final three years consist of plastic surgery rotations, culminating in a final chief residency year. The rotations are located at St. Joseph’s Healthcare and the Hamilton Health Sciences Hospitals. This includes a rotation in head and neck surgery, cosmetic surgery, an elective block and a community rotation.
Our program serves southwest Ontario with a population of 1.8 million. This allows exposure to all facets of plastic surgery. The teaching faculty staff includes 12 plastic surgeons with all areas of sub-specialty training, including hand surgery, microsurgery, pediatric plastic surgery, craniofacial surgery, aesthetic surgery, breast reconstruction and burns.
The educational component of the program includes mandatory protected teaching time on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, with Senior Sessions every Tuesday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m and Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds every Wednesday from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Program oral exams occur twice yearly every November and March, based on the Royal College format of oral exams. Written exams occur each year with both the American and Canadian in-service exams.
The plastic surgery residency program research productivity has been excellent over the last number of years. Residents present their research at the annual Plastic Surgery Research day. All faculty are very supportive of research projects with residents, with a high abstract acceptance rate at national and international meetings. All avenues of research are covered, however, there is particular interest in health outcome measures, as we are fortunate to have a world-renowned faculty in Health Research Methodology at McMaster.
Graduates from our program have gone on to rewarding careers in academia as well as community practice, with fellowship placements in national and international centres of excellence.
Education is the biggest strength of the McMaster plastic surgery training program. All of the faculty have a deep commitment toward resident education. This is borne out by the quality of surgeons that graduate from our program.
Thank you for your interest in our program and again welcome to McMaster.
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Clerkship Program - Learn More
Information for Medical Students
The division of plastic surgery at McMaster University welcomes medical students to apply to the electives program at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Participation in the program will afford McMaster students, and visiting students from accredited schools, an opportunity to experience a wide range of self-directed activities before graduation. Students also have the opportunity to observe and experience the activities of a day-to-day clinical practice and interact with a practitioner to learn about the rewards and challenges of that practice, clinically, administratively and personally.
Attention McMaster University students! Electives and Student Affairs information and forms for McMaster University students have been moved to Medportal.
The Michael G. Degroote School of Medicine allows a limited number of students enrolled in accredited medical schools from around the world to undertake electives at McMaster. Visit the Postgraduate Medical Education website to learn more.
Plastic Surgery Orientation Documents
If you have successfully secured an elective with plastic surgery at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), please review these helpful documents to ensure success during your elective time.
- Clinical Orientation 2018 (PDF)
- Junior Off Service Residents Orientation (PDF)
- Writing notes and dictation (PDF)
- Cutaneous ulcer (PDF)
- Facial trauma (PDF)
- Acute flame burns (PDF)
- Skin lesions (PDF)
- Hand x-ray (PDF)
- Splinting (PDF)
Please note: All elective inquiries must be directed to the visiting undergraduate electives coordinator at macmdelectives.ca. All elective inquires for McMaster Students go through Medsis.
Microsurgery & Oncologic Reconstruction Fellowship - Learn More
The division of plastic surgery aims to attract top clinical and research-oriented fellows and provide them with the skills and knowledge required to function as academic reconstructive surgeons.
The division will support the fellowship program by streaming procedures and engaging our fellows in evidence-based practices, educational leadership and research.
Dr. Ronen Avram— Fellowship Director
Email: avramr@mcmaster.ca
The division of plastic surgery at McMaster University offers a 12-month fellowship beginning July 1.
This fellowship is suited for a plastic surgeon with an interest in microsurgery, including trauma, as well as oncologic reconstruction and is multi-sited at both St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Hamilton Health Sciences (and Juravinski Cancer Centre).
The case mix includes oncology reconstruction in breast (60-70), head and neck (45-60), extremity (10-15), and pelvic cancer patients. The trauma cases include those from the regional Level I trauma centre, such as replants, peripheral nerve injuries and general reconstruction.
The number of microvascular cases would be approximately 130 flaps per year plus 30 pedicled flaps. The fellow will also participate in approximately 60-70 implant-based breast reconstruction procedures.
The fellow works with a group of reconstructive surgeons in the division of plastic surgery in Hamilton, as well as associate staff from Oakville, Ontario.
Salary level is equivalent to a PGY-6 level in the province of Ontario and applicants must be able to obtain a license from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) (education or independent). Applicants must confirm with the CPSO that they have the qualifications for a license in Ontario before submitting an application.
Applications should be sent by email including a letter of interest and curriculum vitae. Letters of reference will be requested upon review of the application. Please forward your application to the program coordinator.
Questions about the fellowship should be forwarded by email to the Fellowship Director, Dr. Ronen Avram.
Mandatory Content of Training - Learn More
Description | Duration | Hospitals or other institutions in which this training may be taken |
---|---|---|
Basic techniques: trauma and burns, hand surgery and microsurgery, broad spectrum of plastic surgery, craniofacial trauma | Nine months (PGY-3) | Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (HHSC), Hamilton General Hospital (HGH) |
Microsurgery course | One week | Microsurgery Lab (St. Joseph’s Hospital) |
Oculoplastic surgery, genitourinary ambiguities (hypospadias), pediatric plastic surgery | Three months | HHSC, McMaster University Medical Centre (MUMC) |
Maxillofacial deformities (LeForte osteotomies, sagittal splits), head and neck extirpative surgery, community training, election rotations, trauma | One year (PGY-4) | Hamilton General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Community Hospital |
Chief residency year: pediatric plastic surgery, oncology, head and neck reconstructive, microsurgery, hand surgery, pediatric surgery, trauma and esthetic surgery | One year | Split between MUMC and St. Joseph’s Hospital |
Research project | Ongoing | In either of the three teaching hospitals or the Microsurgery Laboratory or affiliated laboratories; molecular biology; anatomy, kinesiology |
Cosmetic surgery | Two months | Dr. Roger Shortt 406 North Service Road East, Oakville Ontario, L6H 5R2 |
Research
Faculty Research
Members of the division of plastic surgery are involved in clinical science research and pure basic science research. The focus of clinical science research is in systematic reviews and randomized controlled trials. Patient-related clinical science research is conducted at all sites. The focus of basic science research is in peripheral nerve regeneration. Our division is recognized as a leader in Evidence-Based plastic surgery.
For additional information please visit:
- Surgical Outcomes and Resource Centre (below)
- MacHANd
Resident Research
Resident research productivity has been excellent over the last number of years. Residents present their research at the Annual Plastic Surgery Research day. For additional information, please email Jennifer Koch. All avenues of research are supported by faculty, however, there is particular interest in health outcome measures as we are fortunate to have a world-renowned faculty in Health Research Methodology at McMaster.
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Faculty
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Ronen Avram
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Juravinski Hospital
711 Concession Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 1C3
Administrative Support Staff
Cindy Karman (Clinical Assistant)
Email: karmanc@mcmaster.ca
James Bain
Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Linda McLean
Email: mcleanlin@hhsc.ca
Matthew Choi
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Renee Welsh
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 73550
Email: (905) 540-5834
Christopher Coroneos
MD, MSc, FRCSC
Assistant Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Juravinski Hospital & Cancer Centre
711 Concession Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 1C3
Administrative Support Staff
Jessica Paterson
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 44369
Fax: (905) 389-7942
Email: paterj4@mcmaster.ca
Christopher Coroneos
MD, MSc, FRCSC
Assistant Professor
Plastic Surgery
Arianna Dal Cin
Associate Clinical Professor, Program Director
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
504-304 Victoria Ave North
Hamilton, Ontario
L8L 5G4
Nicolas Hynes
Assistant Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Lotus Cosmetic Surgery Centre & Medispa
199 MacNab Street South
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 3C8
Nicolas Hynes
Assistant Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Carolyn Levis
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
St. Joseph’s Healthcare
50 Charlton Avenue East
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 4A6
Administrative Support Staff
Samantha Duerksen
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 34969
Fax: (905) 525-6424
Shahriar Shahrokhi
Associate Professor,
Plastic Surgery
Shahriar Shahrokhi
Associate Professor,
Plastic Surgery
Rodger Shortt
Assistant Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
1-406 North Service Road East
Oakville, Ontario
L6H 5R2
Nick Strumas
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
McMaster University
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Violet Szlachetka
Email: szlach@mcmaster.ca
Achilleas Thoma
Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
101-206 James Street South
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 3A9
Administrative Support Staff
Angela Barbas
Phone: (905) 523-0019
Fax: (905) 523-0229
Ronen Avram
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Juravinski Hospital
711 Concession Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 1C3
Administrative Support Staff
Cindy Karman (Clinical Assistant)
Email: karmanc@mcmaster.ca
Ronen Avram
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Juravinski Hospital
711 Concession Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 1C3
Administrative Support Staff
Cindy Karman (Clinical Assistant)
Email: karmanc@mcmaster.ca
James Bain
Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Linda McLean
Email: mcleanlin@hhsc.ca
James Bain
Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Linda McLean
Email: mcleanlin@hhsc.ca
Matthew Choi
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Renee Welsh
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 73550
Email: (905) 540-5834
Matthew Choi
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Renee Welsh
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 73550
Email: (905) 540-5834
Christopher Coroneos
MD, MSc, FRCSC
Assistant Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Juravinski Hospital & Cancer Centre
711 Concession Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 1C3
Administrative Support Staff
Jessica Paterson
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 44369
Fax: (905) 389-7942
Email: paterj4@mcmaster.ca
Christopher Coroneos
MD, MSc, FRCSC
Assistant Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Juravinski Hospital & Cancer Centre
711 Concession Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 1C3
Administrative Support Staff
Jessica Paterson
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 44369
Fax: (905) 389-7942
Email: paterj4@mcmaster.ca
Arianna Dal Cin
Associate Clinical Professor, Program Director
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
504-304 Victoria Ave North
Hamilton, Ontario
L8L 5G4
Arianna Dal Cin
Associate Clinical Professor, Program Director
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
504-304 Victoria Ave North
Hamilton, Ontario
L8L 5G4
Nicolas Hynes
Assistant Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Lotus Cosmetic Surgery Centre & Medispa
199 MacNab Street South
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 3C8
Nicolas Hynes
Assistant Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
Lotus Cosmetic Surgery Centre & Medispa
199 MacNab Street South
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 3C8
Carolyn Levis
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
St. Joseph’s Healthcare
50 Charlton Avenue East
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 4A6
Administrative Support Staff
Samantha Duerksen
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 34969
Fax: (905) 525-6424
Carolyn Levis
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
St. Joseph’s Healthcare
50 Charlton Avenue East
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 4A6
Administrative Support Staff
Samantha Duerksen
Phone: (905) 521-2100 ext. 34969
Fax: (905) 525-6424
Shahriar Shahrokhi
Associate Professor,
Plastic Surgery
Shahriar Shahrokhi
Associate Professor,
Plastic Surgery
Rodger Shortt
Assistant Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
1-406 North Service Road East
Oakville, Ontario
L6H 5R2
Rodger Shortt
Assistant Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
1-406 North Service Road East
Oakville, Ontario
L6H 5R2
Nick Strumas
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
McMaster University
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Violet Szlachetka
Email: szlach@mcmaster.ca
Nick Strumas
Associate Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
McMaster Children’s Hospital
McMaster University
1200 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z5
Administrative Support Staff
Violet Szlachetka
Email: szlach@mcmaster.ca
Achilleas Thoma
Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
101-206 James Street South
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 3A9
Administrative Support Staff
Angela Barbas
Phone: (905) 523-0019
Fax: (905) 523-0229
Achilleas Thoma
Clinical Professor
Plastic Surgery
Office Location
101-206 James Street South
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 3A9
Administrative Support Staff
Angela Barbas
Phone: (905) 523-0019
Fax: (905) 523-0229
Quick Links
Research Support and Funding
Associations
- American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Operation Rainbow
- Operation Smile
- Professional Association of Residents of Ontario
Journals
Education
Research
Announcements
Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons Lifetime Achievement Award
Congratulations Dr. Achilleas Thoma. The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons announced that its 2016 CSPS Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Dr. Achilleas Thoma.
This award honors members of the CSPS who have made outstanding contributions to the profession and to the society.
Plastic Surgery: Annual Resident Research Day Winners!
Congratulations to Alexandra Hatchell for her award for Best Epidemiology Presentation! Congratulations Alex!
Congratulations to Christopher Coroneos for his award for Best Clinical Presentation! Congratulations Chris!
Visiting Professor: Dr. Michael Neumeister
We would like to thank Dr. Neumeister, professor and chairman of the Department of Surgery and the Elvin G. Zook Endowed Chair in Plastic Surgery at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, for taking the time to join us McMaster University Plastic Surgery’s Resident Research Day.
2nd Annual Plastic Surgery Olympiad
Congratulations to Serge Goekjian who was awarded the prestigious award Most Awesomest Resident 2016-17.
Department of Surgery – Surgical Foundations: Awards 2015-16
Congratulations to Alexandra Hatchell for her award for vice-president and plastics representative, as well as First Place for Research! Congratulations Alex!
Contact
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Jennifer Koch
Residency Program Coordinator
Plastic Surgery
Jennifer Koch
Residency Program Coordinator
Plastic Surgery
Jennifer Koch
Residency Program Coordinator
Plastic Surgery
Jennifer Koch
Residency Program Coordinator
Plastic Surgery