Pain Medicine/Chronic Pain 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.

Program / Curriculum

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is the largest trauma hospital in Canada and has a busy pain medicine practice spanning acute, transitional, and chronic pain services. Therefore, this fellowship has a focus on multidisciplinary transitional trauma pain. Under the supervision of a Pain Medicine Physician, fellows will become experienced in comprehensive pain assessments and interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary pain management. Fellows will develop expertise in a variety of ultrasound and fluoroscopic guided pain procedures, especially with peripheral nerve and musculoskeletal ultrasound guided interventions as they are frequently performed in the outpatient setting.

Fellows will also participate in the Acute Pain Service rotation, Regional Anesthesia, and Anesthetic Operating Room cases during the training year. The Acute Pain Service manages approximately 2,500 patients per year including referrals with challenging chronic and cancer pain.

Research

Pain Medicine fellows will spend up to 20% of time in research and educational activities. Under direct staff supervision, fellows are expected to initiate at least one research project during the training year.

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 18 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. Howard Meng (howard.meng@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. Howard Meng (howard.meng@sunnybrook.ca)
Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
2075 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M4N 3M5