Resident Support

Resident Wellness

Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) at McMaster University provides a multitude of resources, available to all surgical foundations residents. Residents are encouraged to seek out support and can find additional information on the PGME website. Learn about the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario (PARO).

Surgical Foundations Ombudsperson

An ombudsperson has been appointed for Surgical Foundations (SF) so that the residents might have a neutral person to whom they can turn to for advice or help in case there are any concerns (e.g., with the evaluation process).

Using an alternative dispute resolution sensibility, an ombudsperson can provide options to residents and provide mediation for conflicts while maintaining confidentiality. They may also track problem areas and make recommendations for changes to policies or procedures in support of orderly systems change.

The following policy with the respect to an ombudsperson has been drafted for Surgical Foundations:

• The ombudsperson will be suggested by the Surgical Foundations director and appointed after review by the Surgical Foundations Committee
• The ombudsperson will serve for five years, renewable upon request and review
• The ombudsperson may at any time give notice of resignation
• The ombudsperson appointment will be reviewed yearly by the Surgical Foundations Committee
• The ombudsperson appointment may be withdrawn by the Surgical Foundations Committee if it is felt that the ombudsperson’s position/responsibilities have changed so that they are no longer in a position of neutrality with respect to the residents in Surgical Foundations.

Resident Representatives

Surgical Foundations (SF) resident representatives increase communication between residents and the SF program director and coordinator. Suggestions, questions, comments and concerns from residents are brought forward to their home-discipline resident representative who then communicates with the resident representative president, vice-president and SF program director and coordinator, accordingly. A resident representative from each surgical discipline creates the Resident Representative Group (RRG).

Additionally, resident representatives are responsible for gathering topic prompts for Academic Half-Day Lectures, providing specific topics or questions from residents to the SF program coordinator in advance. A resident representative from each surgical discipline creates the Resident Representative Group (RRG).

Once all home-disciplines have selected their resident representative, voting will take place among representatives to fill the following positions: president, vice-president, and PGY-1 Representative*, which then sit on the SF Resident Program Committee.

*Voting for the PGY-1 resident representative will take place in September to allow for incoming residents to familiarize themselves with colleagues and cast a knowledgeable vote. All PGY-1s are eligible for the position.

Resident Representative Group (RRG) 2021 – 22