Rhinology & Skull Base Surgery

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Sinai Health and St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, sees a wide variety of complex Rhinology and Skull Base pathology. The fellowship experience includes Advanced Rhinology and Endoscopic Sinus Skull Base Surgery. Additionally, there will be opportunities to participate in open anterior skull base cases, endocrine surgery, as well as minimally invasive rhinologic procedures. The majority of the surgical experience will be at Sinai Hospital (part of Sinai Health System) and St. Michael's Hospital (part of Unity Health). Endoscopic and open skull base surgeries take place at Toronto Western Hospital (part of the University Health Network), St. Michael's Hospital & Sick Kids Hospital. 

A broad range of open and endoscopic sinus operations are performed including significant exposure to  Revision Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis, benign tumours (e.g. inverted papilloma, angiofibroma) and CSF leak/meningoencephalocele repairs. Experience in endoscopic resection of skull base benign and malignant neoplasms is gained (e.g., esthesioneuroblastoma, meningioma, chordoma). The fellow has exposure to endocrine and salivary gland surgery.

80% Clinical, 20% Research

Dr. Allan Vescan
Dr. John Lee

• Dr. Allan Vescan
• Dr. John Lee

Fellows will have the opportunity to work with all participating faculty equally during their training. 

1. To gain advanced training and expertise in the diagnosis and management of:

• common and rare nasal and sinus diseases.
• anterior skull base neoplasms.
• Endocrine and Salivary Gland disease and management. 

2. To learn and conduct advanced endoscopic and open sinus surgeries.

3. To gain experience in endoscopic and open anterior skull base resections.

4. To gain experience in endocrine and salivary gland surgery. 

5. To complete 1 or 2 clinical research projects to be agreed upon at the start of the fellowship and presented at a national or international scientific meeting.

6. To be actively involved in the teaching and academic development of medical students and residents.

1999

1. Sinai Health
2. St. Michael's Hospital/Unity Health
3. University Health Network

The clinical fellowship is typically for a period of one-year preferably starting on July 1st unless appropriate licensing cannot be obtained prior to that time. The fellowship ends on June 30th of the following year regardless of when the fellow started (unless special arrangements are made). Consideration will be given to requests for a two-year fellowship experience based on interest and goals of the fellow.

One

Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery

Yes

All clinical fellows require licensure by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the body which regulates the practice of medicine in Ontario. A key requirement for the licensure of clinical fellows by the CPSO is that the candidate must be recognized as a medical specialist in the jurisdiction where the candidate has been practicing medicine prior to the clinical fellowship.

Detailed information about basic application requirements for clinical fellows is accessible through the Post MD Education Office website at http://pg.postmd.utoronto.ca/

At the University of Toronto, compensation for clinical fellows is equal to or greater than the salary of a PGY3 resident.

Support to attend academic meetings and courses as arranged with the faculty.

Fellows will help with on call responsibilities backed up by faculty.

Approximately 250 endoscopic sinus surgery procedures/year plus significant endoscopic and open skull base resections for benign and malignant neoplasms. 

April 15th of the preceding year.

The decision regarding the July 1st fellowship is usually made by May/June of the preceding year (i.e. 12-14 months in advance).

Fellows attend monthly Head & Neck Fellow’s Rounds, monthly Skull Base Rounds, monthly Thyroid Tumour Boards, weekly Head & Neck Tumour Boards, weekly Sinai Health Resident Rounds and weekly University of Toronto Grand Rounds.

Fellows have many opportunities to teach medical students and residents in clinics and the operating room. Fellows also help teach in an annual resident sinus dissection course and have the opportunity to teach in other hands-on courses. The University Department has numerous visiting professor lectures and continuing professional development courses each year that fellows are encouraged to participate in.

In special circumstances, a purely research fellow has been accepted with no hands-on clinical component.

As a condition of their medical educational licensure, clinical fellows must register with the University’s Post MD Education Office. Orientation resources including an Orientation Handbook are available at https://pgme.utoronto.ca/current-trainees/before-starting-a-new-training-session/resources-for-new-trainees/. The Handbook contains useful information for new fellows, including a timeline for the registration process.

Send a letter of interest, updated curriculum vitae and the names and contact information including email addresses of three references to Drs. Vescan and Lee at the email addresses below. Personal interviews are recommended as this is a highly competitive fellowship.

Postgraduate training agreements are currently in place between the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and sponsoring agencies from a number of countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Applications for fellowship training from citizens of these countries must reach the Post MD Education Office directly from the sponsoring agency. For details, please consult the Post MD Education Office website at http://pg.postmd.utoronto.ca/applicants/apply-for-fellowship-training/

To All Applicants:                                                                                   If you have also applied to the U.S match through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), please be advised that the University of Toronto is a participating institution and adheres to the match policy. The policy states that "Applicants who have matched to a program or have accepted a position during the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), shall not apply for, discuss, interview for, or accept a concurrent year position in another program prior to the NRMP granting the requested waiver." More information is accessible at https://www.nrmp.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-MPA-Institutions-1.pdf.

Dr. Al Vescan | allan.vescan@sinaihealth.ca 

Dr. John Lee | john.lee@unityhealth.to  

• 2025-26 Dr. Noemie Villemure-Poliquin (Canada)

• 2024-25 Dr. Daniel Wong (Canada)
• 2023-24 Dr. Alexander Dickie (Canada) and Dr. Maru Gete (Israel)
• 2022-23 Dr. Maru Gete (Israel)
• 2021-22 Drs. Neil Arnstead (Canada), Maru Gete (Israel)
• 2020-21 Dr. Eran Glikson (Israel)
• 2019-20 Dr. Vikram Padhye (Australia)
• 2018-19 Dr. Peter Tomazic (Austria)
• 2017-18 Dr. Jay Wong (Canada)
• 2016-17 Dr. Ben McArdle (Australia)
• 2015-16 Drs. Christopher Chin (Canada), Elhamy Samak (Egypt) (Research Fellow)
• 2014-15 Drs. Eric Monteiro (Canada), Yazeed Alghonaim (Saudi Arabia)
• 2013-14 Dr. Cassiana Burtet Abreu (Brazil) (Research Fellow)
• 2012-13 Dr. Rataphol Chris Dhepnorrarat (Australia)
• 2011-12 Dr. Kristian Macdonald (Canada)
• 2010-12 Dr. Marcela Fandino (Columbia) (Clinical and Research Fellow)
• 2010-11 Dr. Victor Manuel Orostegui (Columbia) (Research Fellow)
• 2009-10 Drs. Eng Ooi (Australia), Majid Baniata (Jordan)
• 2008-09 Dr. Iman Naseri (United States).
• 2007-08 Dr. Arif Janjua (Canada)
• 2006-07 Dr. Ali Moshaver (Canada)
• 2005-06 Dr. Denny Lin (Canada)
• 2004-05 Dr. Luis Velázquez-Villaseñor (Mexico)
• 2003-04 Dr. Raanan Cohen-Kerem (Israel)
• 2002-03 Dr. Miguel Bravo (Philippines)
• 2001-02 Dr. Jack Kolenda (Canada)
• 2001-02 Dr. Tariq Tatwani (Saudi Arabia)
• 2000-01 Dr. Vinita Bindlish (Canada)
• 1999-00 Dr. Richard Gall (Canada)