Surgical Foundations Program Director
Darren de SA, Surgical Foundations Program Director
Darren de SA is an orthopedic surgeon from Hamilton, Ontario whose clinical scope includes adult and pediatric sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery and trauma. He has a special interest in complex knee reconstruction.
Dr. de SA completed both his medical and orthopedic surgical residency training at McMaster University. He subsequently completed a sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, where he acquired extensive experience as an assistant team physician for the Pittsburgh Penguins
(NHL) and worked collaboratively with the medical teams for the Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL) and the University of Pittsburgh collegiate athletics. Dr. de SA returned to Canada to complete additional subspecialty training at Western University and McMaster University in paediatric/adolescent and young adult musculoskeletal trauma, respectively.
Currently, Dr. de SA is the associate head orthopaedic surgeon for the Hamilton Forge FC (Canadian Premier League) and an assistant team physician with the Hamilton Tiger Cats. In March 2021, it was announced that Dr. de SA would be the new program director of surgical foundations at McMaster University.
Dr. de SA has contributed to a productive research program focused on outcomes research in adult/paediatric trauma and athletic injuries/non-arthritic conditions of the knee, shoulder and hip. He has published over 80 peer-reviewed manuscripts, numerous book chapters and has delivered several podium and poster presentations on the national and international stage. More recently, he serves on the Editorial Boards for Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy (KSSTA) and Arthroscopy and is a peer-reviewer for several additional leading orthopaedic journals. Dr. de SA has a passion for medical education and has been recognized at the institutional and national level for his contributions in this realm. He remains an active member of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, Canadian Paediatric Orthopaedic Group, International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery, and Orthopaedic Sport Medicine, International Quadriceps Tendon Interest Group and the Arthroscopy Association of Canada. Learn more about Dr. de SA.
Surgical Foundations Associate Program Director
Laura Nguyen, Surgical Foundations Associate Program Director
Laura Nguyen is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at McMaster University. She is a urologist at Hamilton Health Sciences and is fellowship-trained in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. She is passionate about surgical education and is the Hamilton Health Sciences clinical teaching unit (CTU) director for the McMaster urology residency program.
Dr. Nguyen is excited to be joining the Surgical Foundations (SF) team and particularly is focused on enhancing the SF curriculum to suit the clinical and academic needs of our junior residents. Involvement in Surgical Foundations is a unique opportunity to contribute to building a strong and well-rounded framework for our future surgical colleagues in all surgical disciplines and she is looking forward to getting started! Learn more about Dr. Laura Nguyen.
Mission Statement
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Surgical Foundations will provide formal basic teaching for the surgical residents in their first two years of their programs.
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All residents will receive training over a broad range of subjects using interactive lecture sessions, workshops and technical skills sessions.
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The format will take advantage of principles of adult education and will adhere to the CanMEDS guidelines.
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The curriculum will include Surgical Foundations topics to help prepare all surgical residents for their Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons – Surgical Foundations exam in September of their second year.