Neurotrauma and Neuroanesthesia Fellowship (SHSC)

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto and is one of four major teaching hospitals in the city. There are three hospital sites: Bayview Campus, Holland Centre and St. John's Rehab. Fellows will be expected to work at Bayview Campus and the Holland Centre depending on their subspecialty interest. Sunnybrook is a major tertiary referral centre for cardiac (700 cases/year), major trauma (800+/year), oncology, and burns.  A full complement of surgical specialties except for pediatrics are on site. In total the hospital carries out approximately 18,000 surgical procedures per year and provides obstetrical services for over 4,000 deliveries per year. The Department of Anaesthesia also runs a Clinical Simulation Centre, providing training for multiple medical specialties.

The Neuroanesthesia Fellowship is a one-year fellowship based at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, a fully affiliated hospital with the University of Toronto. The fellowship focuses on gaining skills and competencies in the perioperative management of patients undergoing complex neurosurgical procedures. Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center is the largest trauma center in Canada, a regional center in stroke management and a major referral center for oncologic surgery. The Division of Neurosurgery performs over 1600 procedures each year including complex tumor resection, spinal cord decompression, complex neurovascular procedures and functional neurosurgery. In addition, there is also a large volume of endovascular aneurysm repairs, complex vascular malformations, and carotid artery stenting procedures done at Sunnybrook each year.

Program / Curriculum

The clinical focus will be on developing specialized knowledge and skills required for the perioperative care of patients undergoing neurosurgical and neuro-interventional procedures. This includes advanced neuropharmacology, cerebral physiology, and neuroprotection strategies, the management of patients with intracranial pathology, spine disorders, and neurovascular conditions and perioperative neuromonitoring and neurocritical care. During the fellowship, candidates will spend most of their clinical time doing neurosurgical and neurointerventional procedures. In addition to medical expertise, the fellow will learn to lead and manage a multidisciplinary team in various clinical settings.

Fellows are also expected to lead a research or QI initiative during their fellowship. Areas of focus can include post-operative cognitive delirium, regional anesthesia for functional neurosurgery or the use of volatile anesthetic agents in the ICU. Fellows will have opportunities to participate and contribute to city-wide rounds in neuroanesthesia as well as attend national and international conferences to present their work. From an education perspective, the fellow will be expected to teach residents and medical students in the operating room as well as in the classroom.

With the remainder of their clinical time, the fellow will be independently providing perioperative anesthesia care in our main operating rooms in a junior attending capacity. Fellows are also expected to provide evening and weekend on-call operating room coverage. Fellows will also participate in running the Acute Pain Service on a rotational basis. As Sunnybrook is a tertiary care trauma centre, particular experience in managing blunt and penetrating trauma will be gained during this fellowship.

Duration and Positions

This fellowship is 12 months. Fellowships that are shorter or longer may be pursued under certain circumstances.

There is one (1) position per year.

Licensing

Once accepted, a temporary license is issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO). This enables the fellow to practice under direct supervision in a teaching hospital. After successful completion of a 1 to 3 month assessment period, the CPSO issues an educational license and the fellow may continue the fellowship. This assessment period is mandated by the CPSO and failure of this assessment will preclude licensure and the fellowship will be immediately terminated.

Medical Malpractice insurance must be procured by the fellow.

Application Process

Please follow the application instructions and note that the application links provided will close after the application cut-off date. You may, under special circumstances, be considered for a late application. Please contact the Fellowship Director if you are applying outside the normal timeline.

The fellowship committee will review and rank all candidates and only those highest ranked will be contacted. Fluency in English is mandatory. Applicants whose first language is not English must pass the TOEFL/TSE or IETLS.

The application process is outlined below:

• Applications should be made at least 15 months in advance
• To apply please use the following links below.  Each link corresponds to a specific intake period.  Please choose only one intake period for your application (if you are flexible in your start time please make this clear in your letter of intent).
• In addition to using the links below please send a CV and letter of intent to Dr. Roland Xu (shuzhengrong.xu@sunnybrook.ca)
• The letter of intent should stipulate the fellowship position you are applying for and indicate the dates you wish to work, your educational goals, research aims (if any) and future plans
• Reference letters need to be signed by the referee and sent independently to our office.
• Please note that when applying, electronic correspondence (i.e. email) is preferred for all documents (including reference letters).

Begin Your Application

Applicants can apply using the online platform: 

• The January 2027 application session has now closed.
• If you are interested in applying for July 2027, please complete this online application form HERE
• If you are interested in applying for January 2028, please complete this online application form HERE

General Inquiries and Reference Letters should be directed to:

Dr. Roland Xu (shuzhengrong.xu@sunnybrook.ca)
Fellowship Director, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
2075 Bayview Avenue, Room M3-200
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4N 3M5