Richard Reznick

F O R A L U M N I , F A C U L T Y , R E S I D E N T S & F R I E N D S

D E P A R T M E N T O F S U R G E R Y

i n s i d e

CHAIR’S COLUMN

EDITOR’S COLUMN

NAME THE NEWSLETTER CONTEST

REGENERATIVE TISSUE ENGINEERING:

ELIMINATING THE DONOR SITE

KERESTECI TRIBUTE

WORKING TOWARDS A NEW

TRAINING MODEL: A THINK TANK

ON RESIDENCY EDUCATION

INTO AFRICA

CAMPAIGN FOR BERNARD AND

RYNA LANGER CHAIR IN GENERAL

SURGERY

ROBIN HUMPHREYS LEAVES HSC

AFTER 33 YEARS OF SERVICE TO

NEUROSURGERY

NEW STAFF

THE POWER OF DATA

HONOURS/AWARDS/

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

surgerynewsletterc h a i r ’ s c o l u m n

U N I V E R S I T Y O F T O R O N T O F A L L 2 0 0 3

WWe have an amazing faculty. It’s hard tobelieve that it is quickly coming up to theend of my first year as Chair of thisDepartment. The most important lessonI have learned so far is the extraordinarydepth and talent of our faculty. As manyof you know, I have spent a fair bit oftime my first year meeting with facultymembers individually. I have done thisfor several reasons: to personally meetand get to know many who I knew onlyby name; to get a general consensus onareas of strength and weakness in ourdepartment; to garner an environmentalscan on political and economic issuesimportant to surgeons such as AFPs,access to hospital resources, relationshipswith hospital and university leadership;to discuss academic issues of promotion,scholarly productivity, and the relation-ship of the individual surgeon to the uni-versity; and significantly, to learn aboutour surgeons’ strategies to a balanced life,including the importance of family and

friends, time for non-work activities, and the importance for many of the ineffable concepts of spirituality, love and happiness.

What I have learned from thesemoments I have shared with our facultyis profound and magnifies my awe forthis position, intensifies my belief in ouracademic mission, and strengthens myresolve to work hard to keep our depart-ment strong and vibrant. Since space willnot permit me to recount the hundredsof examples that reinforce my premise ofjust how good our faculty is, I will giveyou a few examples of what I mean.

As I write this column, I have justreceived a touching letter from RobinHumphreys, who has retired from activeclinical practice and taken on the role ofProfessor Emeritus. Robin’s letter was anemotional thank you for events in andaround his retirement. He referred toMartin Friedland’s text The University ofToronto: A History, which David Naylorhas sent out as an appreciative gesture to faculty. Robin writes, “…then as if bydesign, the book in my hands fell open topage 555 (mysteriously, the UniversityAvenue address of the Hospital for SickChildren). A picture at the top taken in1972, shows the members of the univer-sity’s governing council. The person second from the right is Keith Hendrick,the younger brother of Bruce Hendrick,who was my mentor and largely respon-sible for my own success as a paediatric

Chair’s Column continued on page 2

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 3

neurosurgeon”. Robin found the book to be an “enviable finis tomy experiences at the University of Toronto, whose medicalschool accepted me in 1956, before my first choice, petroleumengineering at the University of Alberta”. Robin’s accomplish-ments serve for many as the consummate example of just howmagnificent a university career can be.

A few weeks ago, I met with Taufik Valiente, who is return-ing from a clinical fellowship in Seattle to take on a faculty position as a neurosurgeon at University Health Network. WhenI reviewed his CV, and the clinical training that he received inneurosurgery coupled with scientific training to the level of adoctorate in science, I was reminded as to just how spectacularour training program is to afford this opportunity, and just howfortunate our faculty is to have a large group of trainees who haveaccessed its treasures. What made my meeting with Taufik sospecial, however, was the look of excitement he had in his eyes ashe prepared to put into motion the beginnings of a career thatholds great promise.

Just yesterday, I received a small thank-you gift from RobinMcLeod, a good friend for almost two decades, for speaking atthe Central Surgical Society, which was held in Toronto thisspring and for which Robin was the Program Director. The gift,a beautiful glass Canadian paperweight, was typical Robin!Everything she has done, and continues to do for thisDepartment, is done with intelligence, thoughtfulness, and atouch of class. In addition to her scientific achievements and herclinical expertise – she is known throughout the world as one of the preeminent colorectal surgeons – Robin represents ourdepartment and indeed the country, as a Regent of TheAmerican College of Surgeons, that body’s highest honour.

One of the first surgeons I met formally after taking the jobas Chair, was Darius Bagli, a paediatric urologist. Darius is extra-ordinarily well trained. He graduated from medical school andtrained as a urologist at Harvard, he completed a fellowshiptraining at the University of Washington and research training atNIH. We talked about so many things during that hour, but Iremember two in particular. The first was Darius’ passion for thepiano and his dedication to music. It prompted me to ask him toplay at last year’s Gallie Day, and what a treat that was. His vir-tuosity was simply amazing. The second was Darius’ passion forhis family and his dedication to their well-being. I remember thatmeeting well.

Most of you do not know Cindi Morshead. Cindi is ananatomist who has just joined our faculty as a tenured professorin Mike Wiley’s division. Cindi’s work focuses on stem cell biol-ogy. Since joining our staff, she has received a CIHR grant, threeproject grants from the National Centres of Excellence-Stem Cell Network, and the Connaught Award. Cindi, I and others from the Division of Anatomy “closed the joint” at last year’sChristmas party. There I learned of Cindi’s excitement for hernew position and of how limitless her potential is to ride thewave of a fantastic academic start to future superstardom.

The only Sender Herschorn I really knew well, before lastOctober, was a lawyer who coached my son Gabe in soccer. Itturns out his cousin, also Sender Herschorn, is our Chair ofUrology. Indeed one of the pleasures of this past year has beengetting to know the “real Sender”. My meetings with his facultyhave been most revealing. To a man and woman, all think Senderis a terrific leader. He is supportive, encouraging, collegial and atrue academic. The most important lesson I have learned fromSender is that he is always positive about his faculty, and he isconstantly focused on optimizing their strengths and supportingtheir aspirations.

I have known Stan Hamstra for about six years now, since Iwas involved in hiring him to a joint position at the Centre forResearch in Education and our Department of Surgery. Thissurely has been the most difficult year in Stan’s life, with the trag-ic loss of his wife, Nancy, to a brain aneurysm. Stan’s ability copewith this tragedy, and more than that, to help others in celebrat-ing Nancy’s memory and career as a clinical psychologist, and tobring peace and comfort to all around him, has overwhelmedmany of us in this Department. He is truly one of my heroes.

Two years ago, I had the privilege of being a James IVTraveler. My first stop was the Royal College of Surgeons atLincoln’s Inn Field, London. As I sat down for breakfast Ireceived a tap on the back from one of our surgeons who was atthe College to teach a course. The surgeon was Dr. Robert Salter,University Professor in our Department. Dr. Salter spent the nexthalf hour giving me some of the highlights of his many visitingprofessorships over almost half a century. He gave me his point-er to use during my six-week fellowship. I used that pointeroften, taking pride each time that it was lent to me by one ofCanada’s most famous surgeons.

I could go on. But as you can see, it’s not without justificationthat we can all say we are part of a truly great faculty. Each andevery division, in each and every one of our teaching hospitals, isrepresented by a gifted group of surgeons, research scientists,educators and leaders. We are privileged to be part of a teachingenterprise that educates and excites two hundred medical stu-dents each year, that trains aspiring surgeons in one of eight spe-cialties, that renders high level graduate education through ourSurgeon Scientist Program, and that has over 200 fellowsengaged in highly specialized surgical training. From a researchperspective, we are the most productive surgical department inCanada. And most important, as I have found out in the last 10months, we are blessed with a faculty who care deeply about theircolleagues, who give tirelessly of themselves to deliver the bestsurgical care for their patients, and who understand the primacyof family and friends and our need for meaning in our lives.

Richard K. ReznickR.S. McLaughlin Professor and Chair

Chair’s Column continued from page 1

2

W

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 3

Te d i t o r ’ s c o l u m n

This edition of the newsletterintroduces some innovations informat and content. We thinkthe newsletter could also use anew name, perhaps one thatreflects its goal to bring the com-munity of our department closertogether. We will announce the winner of the “name thenewsletter” contest in the nextedition. (see box)

This edition also brings newsof spectacular new funding for surgical research in tissue engi-neering and cancer genomics. John Semple and Steve Gallingerhave built strong teams of scientists who think in transdiscipli-nary terms about the largest problems we face as surgeons.

The Surgeon Scientist Program has expanded to includeresearch opportunities in International Surgery, personified inthe interesting story of Alex Mihailovic going to Africa. Thisresearch based pathway through the Department of HealthPolicy, Management and Education enables surgeons to developtheir skills in making and testing policies to improve surgicalcare. Another new pathway for surgeon scientists offers research-based training in Bioethics. Interested residents can participatein the Genomics and Biotechnology research, or Priority Settingresearch at the Joint Centre for Bioethics. Like the SurgicalEducator Program, these pathways expand the scope of theSurgeon Scientist Program to meet evolving needs in the surgi-cal community.

Rebecca Davies’ appointment to the Department willstrengthen our communication with surgical alumni. With herhelp we will consolidate the alumni news into the departmentalnewsletter. Starting with this issue, the newsletter will be pub-lished four times per year and all alumni will receive it regularly.(The blue “Surgery Bulletin Board” announcing various roundsand conferences will continue to be mailed out locally to resi-dents and staff six times per year.) Rebecca, a classically trainedmusician with a broad range of tastes, attended the RollingStones SARS benefit concert. She is currently working on thecampaign to establish the Bernard Langer Chair in GeneralSurgery, a fitting tribute to our former chairman, who estab-lished the Surgical Scientist Program, recognized during the pastyear by its selection for the Northrop Frye Award.

We look forward to your comments and suggestions aboutthe newsletter and to hearing about stories and events you feelwill be interesting to our community.

Martin McKneally

We invite readers to submit their suggestions

for naming the surgery newsletter. For

example, McGill’s newsletter is “The Square

Knot”; Minnesota’s is “The Cutting Edge”.

The winner will receive two tickets to the

Gallie Day dinner and a copy of Atul

Gwande’s Complications: A Surgeon’s Notes on

an Imperfect Science, written while he was a

surgical resident at Brigham and Women’s

Hospital in Boston. Here is an example of

his writing:

The successful M & M presentation inevitablyinvolves a certain elision of detail and a lot ofpassive verbs. No one screws up a cricothy-roidotomy. Instead, “a cricothyroidotomy wasattempted without success”. The message, howev-er, was not lost on anyone ... To the family’s greatrelief, and mine, she had woken up in the morn-ing a bit woozy but hungry, alert, and mentallyintact ... But not before someone was called toaccount. A front-row voice immediately thun-dered, “What do you mean, ‘a cricothyroidotomywas attempted without success’?” I sank into myseat, my face hot ... At no point during the M &M did anyone question why I had not called forhelp sooner or why I had not had the skill andknowledge that [the patient] needed. This is notto say that my actions were seen as acceptable.Rather, in the hierarchy, addressing my errorswas [the attending surgeon’s] role. The day afterthe disaster, [he] had caught me in the hall andtaken me aside. His voice was more woundedthan angry as he went through my specific failures. First, he explained ...

Atul Gawande

Submit your suggestions to: jean.defazio@utoronto.caby November 15, 2003

Martin McKneally

3

NAME THENEWSLETTERCONTEST

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 34

R

Regenerative TissueEngineering: EliminatingThe Donor SiteProblem

Repair and reconstruction,the most satisfying aspects of surgical treatment, willbecome more readily avail-able and practical when wecan take the donor tissue offthe shelf, rather than harvest-ing it from the patient.Covering burns and fillingdefects created by traumaticinjuries and extirpative can-cer surgery, are limited by thedonor site problem, despitecurrent imaginative and timeconsuming innovations in grafting techniques.

The Advanced Regenerative Tissue Engineering Centre(ARTEC) at Sunnybrook and Women’s College HealthSciences Centre and the University of Toronto will build on thedrive of surgeons and the biomaterials science expertise of engi-neers. ARTEC Director John Semple, Chief of Plastic Surgery,and Associate ARTEC Director Kim Woodhouse of theDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistryhave been notified that they and their colleagues have beenawarded $12 million over the next five years to craft and growthese tissues. The other team members include engineersMichael Sefton, Director of the Institute of Biomaterials andBioengineering, and Molly Schoichet who is well known forher spinal chord regeneration work. Dan Dumont is a basic sci-entist at Sunnybrook and Women’s and is an expert in angio-genesis. Surgeons Raj Midha, Neurosurgery, and Joel Fish,Director of the Ross Tilley Burn Centre, are PrincipalInvestigators on the team who will provide clinical and researchexpertise. One of the important aspects of this award is the provision for hiring two new scientists who will concentrate onwound healing and regenerative projects within ARTEC.

The program is an exciting interdisciplinary enterprise withengineers observing in the operating room and clinic, intense-ly motivated by their continuous exposure to clinical problems.(Their office is in the middle of the plastic surgery clinic.)Surgeons are stimulated and strengthened by the knowledgeand skills of their engineering colleagues. John says that the

most fun part of this project has been building the team, andparticipating in the development of ideas, as the team membersinteract using concept-generating techniques more typical ofthe business world. The funding for the program comesthrough the Ontario Research Development Challenge Fund,an industry initiative that requires matching investment fromthe institution, the government and the private sector. Thegovernment contribution comes from the Ministry ofTechnology, Industry and Innovation. Institutional funding isfrom the University and the Health Sciences Centre, and theprivate sector funding comes from Apotex Research Inc.,Elastin Specialties, matRegen and Rimon Therapeutics. Thesefunds will support the hiring of new scientists in engineeringand immunology, build new space for scientific research, estab-lish a clinical trials program, attract a prestigious research advi-sory committee and provide the facilities for training surgeonsand engineers in advanced biotechnology. The main focus ofthe program will be on skin substitutes, materials to promoteangiogenesis, build soft tissue scaffolds, and enhance nerveregeneration.

John started out in the Medical Illustrating Program (Art asApplied to Medicine) here at the University of Toronto. Oneday, while working with sports injury specialist DavidMcIntosh to illustrate a novel cruciate ligament repair, he wascalled into service to hold retractors because the team was shorta resident. The future suddenly became clear; he enteredMcMaster Medical School, then studied plastic surgery at theUniversity of Toronto under Dr. W.K. Lindsay. During his resident training he completed a MSc in the Department ofExperimental Pathology where his research focused on micro-circulation in the skin.

The ARTEC Program is an exciting synthesis of a talentedgroup of clinicians and researchers and a credit to John’s leadership and vision.

Martin McKneally

John Semple

FKERESTECITributeFormer residents and colleagues of Dr. AraKeresteci gathered recently for dinner at theRosedale Golf Club to recognize his morethan thirty years of postgraduate teachingand other contributions to the Departmentof Surgery, Division of Urology.

Known to his students as Dr. K, Ara graduated from Istanbul University MedicalSchool forty-nine years ago. The son of aurologist, after internship in New York City he became one of Bill Kerr’s ResearchFellows in a forerunner of what we now know as the Surgeon Scientist Program. FollowingUrology residency at the University ofToronto, he became a Fellow of the RoyalCollege in 1962. After a McLaughlinTraveling Fellowship, he joined the staff atthe Wellesley Hospital as the first head ofUrology in 1964 and built an outstandingdivision. Many of his residents and fellowssent letters of tribute that were presented tohim at the dinner, along with a silver tray,engraved with the names of all of his resi-dents and presented by his first residents FredMeade and John Hambly, both recentlyretired from practice in Peterborough andAngelo Ioacca, one of his last residents, now practicing in Barrie. The highlight of the evening were the many happy memoriesrecalled in tributes and vignettes shared bythe men and women who clearly regardedhim as their principal mentor. Practice pat-terns were deeply influenced by the habitsand values of their warm, interested coun-selor and role model. His eldest son Garo’sreminiscences about life as the son of a surgeon touched cords with the surgeon parents in attendance.

Michael JewettDivision of Urology

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 35

Michael Jewett, Ara Keresteci & John Rankin(left to right)

Ara Keresteci, Fred Meade, Angelo Iocca & John Hambly (left to right)

W

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 36

Working Towards a New Training Model A Think Tank onResidency EducationJune 12-13, 2003When Richard Reznick assumed the Chairof Surgery he proposed a retreat for facul-ty members, university staff and residentsto consider new ways of delivering post-graduate surgical education, for Torontoand surgical programs everywhere. Thatretreat took place at the Old Mill on June12 and 13, 2003. About 80 people attend-ed including division chairs and heads,program directors, education researchersand a cohort of residents from each divi-sion and year, selected by program direc-tors for their creative ideas and willingnessto speak in public. Guests included Assoc.Dean Urowitz; program directors fromAnesthesia, Pediatrics, Psychiatry andRadiation Oncology; Nadia Mikhael,Director, Royal College of Physicians andSurgeons of Canada; and Gary Dunnington, Chair of Surgery,Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

The objectives of the retreat were to analyze impediments toeffective residency education, reach consensus about current resident activities, and initiate a framework for arriving at a newmodel for training in Surgery. The stage was set with a generaldiscussion among the entire audience on educational challengesfor residency training. Stan Hamstra presented the views residents expressed in their written evaluations of staff and rota-tions, and David Backstein enlightened us with how residenciesfunction elsewhere in the world. Nadia Mikhael presented the Royal College’s view on what residency training shouldaccomplish. It appeared that the College was open to someexperimentation if we choose that route.

In the next session, moderated by Doug Hedden, residentsSarah Woodrow, Tony Finelli, Sanj Dutta and Ravi Sidhu heldthe audience in rapt attention with their views on what worksand what doesn’t in surgical training. This was followed by GaryDunnington’s vision for residency training – “how they do it”and how it should be done. Dr. Dunnington’s contributionsrelated closely to issues brought up at other stages of the retreat.Many described his talk as brilliant and transforming.

Next came the obverse of the residents’ panel, in which BryceTaylor moderated a panel of diverse and excellent surgical edu-cators: Mark Bernstein, William Cole, Joel Fish, Gail Darlingand Jim Waddell, who gave their views on how surgeons shouldtrain. This was followed by Richard Reznick’s discussion ofwhere we are and where we might go with surgical training if wedare – a challenge to consider new models and throw away oldideas. We then heard our guest program directors’ opinions onthe proceedings: Susan Tallet (Paeds), David Mcknight(Anesthesia) and Allan Kaplan (Psychiatry).

After an overnight break, participants broke into subgroupsto discuss five topics which group leadersRon Levine, Tom Lindsay, DavidBackstein, Bob Mustard and HelenMacRae presented to the entire gathering:

1) Cast of 100s or select few – whoshould teach Surgery trainees?

2) When should trainees learn to oper-ate – 3rd year undergrad or 7th year residency?

3) A scutless work week? 4) Clinical teaching units or learning

modules? 5) Surgical education: broad based or

tightly focused? Richard Reznick then wrapped up the

meeting.Key themes emerged. The status quo

must change, but good elements should beretained. We can do better with the model

we have by eliminating educational “dead space.” Educationalexperiences are inhibited by service work and teaching that isnot consistently high in quality. We should consider new models of education delivery and not be bound to the clinicalteaching unit with its service needs, unpredictable clinical mate-rial and disadvantaging of junior residents’ clinical educations.Expansion of the role of the Surgical Skills Centre, apprentice-ships and targeted learning modules could be incorporated intotraining. Learning to operate must not be deferred to senior res-idency; juniors must get into the operating rooms sooner, moreoften, and more effectively from an educational perspective.Resource limitations, legal and ethical constraints must be fac-tored into any change we propose.

The retreat met its objectives and was tremendous fun. Everyparticipant put suggestions forward, and most took home newideas and consumed good food. The proceedings were tapedand transcribed. Richard Reznick and I will put our headstogether to develop a green paper for broad dissemination anddiscussion before taking the next step towards innovation.

John M.A. BohnenDirector, Postgraduate Education

John Bohnen

A

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 37

IntoAfrica

Alex Mihailovic began her Surgeon Scientist Program thissummer with a trip to Africa to develop her thesis plan for aMasters degree in Health Policy Management and Evaluation.Alex will study the social and economic benefits, and the costof effective and timely surgical treatment of traumatic injuriesin children. Her advisors are HSC paediatric orthopaedic sur-geon Andrew Howard and Massey Beveridge, Director of theUniversity of Toronto’s International Surgery Program.

During her summer rotation in Africa, Alex will also facil-itate the two-year-old Ptolemy Project to increase electronicaccess of east African surgeons to the University of Toronto’slibrary. Her longer term plan is to specialize in paediatricsurgery and to become proficient and effective in teaching andmanaging programs of treatment of traumatic injuries byAfrican surgeons in underserved areas, enabling them to dealwith common neglected problems like post-partum vesico-vaginal fistulas and other obstetrical trauma that is endemic.Trauma is an expensive and under treated epidemic thatreceives far less public recognition than epidemics like AIDSand malaria. Alex says: “AIDS and malaria are brilliant dis-eases, but we can outsmart femoral fractures.”

Her research will emphasize sustainability of health care bytraining local surgeons. Alex visited surgeons in Zimbabwe,Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Ugandathis summer, and she attended the Association of East AfricanSurgeons meeting in mid-August in order to develop her network of contacts for the initial clinical epidemiologicalphase of her research.

Alex grew up in North Bay, where her father is a foresterand her mother a midwife. Her interest in surgery began whenshe worked in Honduras with a plastic surgeon repairing birthdefects. She then went on to attend medical school atMcMaster. She has traveled to India, Nepal and worked inSouth Africa, where her interest in international surgery wasstrengthened. She ran a kayaking company in Honduras andworked for Jimmy Carter’s Habitat for Humanity in earlierversions of her life. Her musical interests include piano, gui-tar and singing. Lucille Teasdale, the great Canadian surgeonfrom Montreal is one of her role models and heroes. Teasdalefounded a hospital in Uganda where she dedicated her life totreating people with diseases like AIDS and malaria and even-tually contracted AIDS herself during an operation. She wasrecognized with many awards, including the Saskawa Prize,the WHO’s most prestigious distinction. Alex illustrates thelarger scope of the Surgeon Scientist Program discussed else-where in this issue of the newsletter. She will keep readersinformed about her progress from Africa.

Correspondence“While I have always enjoyed reading the Surgery Newsletter, I amtremendously impressed now by the fullness of content. I actuallylook forward to receiving it even more now than earlier.Congratulations. This certainly is an important communicationvehicle within the Department.”

Bernard Goldman

Letters to the editor are welcome to keep the communityinformed of opinions, events and the activities of our surgeons,friends and alumni.

Alexandra Mihailovic and Kadeem(GenSurg Resident)

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 38

AAs an inspiring rolemodel for academicsurgeons, the Divisionof General Surgeryhas chosen to honourhim through the cre-ation of the Dr.Bernard and RynaLanger Chair inGeneral Surgery. TheChair’s name alsohonours Dr. Langer’swife Ryna for herquiet, unwaveringsupport of his careerand the Division.

Our goal is to raiseat least $2 millionthis academic year forThe Dr. Bernard andRyna Langer Chair inGeneral Surgery.

The Chair will be held by the Chairperson of the Divisionof General Surgery, and the annual income will be distributedat his or her discretion to support the Division’s mission incare, research and education.

Permanently endowed with $2 million and held at theUniversity, the Chair will produce a reliable annual incomethat can be used to: recruit and retain outstanding facultymembers, fund the Surgeon Scientist Program founded by Dr. Langer, provide funding for post-doctoral fellows or mid-career scientists, and protect the time of busy clinicians,so that they can pursue research.

The first chair holder will be Zane Cohen, Chair, of theDivision of General Surgery. Zane completed his MD at theUniversity of Toronto in 1969, his residency training inToronto, and research training in Edinburgh, Scotland, andLondon, England. Since 1990, he has been Surgeon-in-Chiefat Mount Sinai Hospital. A prolific researcher, Zane has published nearly 200 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

“Bernie Langertaught me surgicalskills, but he alsotaught me how tothink,” says Dr.Cohen. “He was awonderful modeland mentor for ayoung physician – anexceptionally giftedsurgeon, a commit-ted researcher and an administrator ofenergy and vision. I owe him a greatdeal: we all do.”

Please join us inpaying tribute to an exceptionalsurgeon

Leadership is critical to the development of the Division ofGeneral Surgery at University of Toronto. As Dr. Langerproved, a leader with vision and commitment can provide theimpetus for major advances in research and education. Thattranslates into improved patient care — in Toronto teachinghospitals, and around the world. The Langer Chair will ensurethat general surgery in Toronto can attract and retain out-standing leaders.

Dr. Langer’s colleagues in the Division of General Surgeryat the University of Toronto and the Langer family havealready donated generously to the fund. Surgical alumni andcolleagues from around the world are invited to honour Dr. Langer by making a meaningful gift to the Langer Chairin General Surgery. All donations will be acknowledged in the next newsletter.

Please make your donation by sending back the enclosed pledge form. Call 416-946-0019 or e-mailrebecca.davies@utoronto.ca for more information.

Campaign For Bernard and Ryna Langer Chair in General SurgeryThe Department of Surgery and the Division of General Surgery propose the creation of a chair to honour the contributions ofBernard Langer, former Chairman of the Division of General Surgery and Chairman of the Department of Surgery. One of NorthAmerica’s leading academic surgeons, Bernie Langer’s superb surgical skills have saved and improved the lives of thousands of patients.He trained a generation of excellent surgeons who have gone on to successful careers.

Bernard and Ryna Langer

D

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 3

ROBIN HUMPHREYSLeaves HSC after 33Years of Service toNeurosurgeryRobin Humphreys

Dr. Robin Humphreys is retiring after thirty-three years ofdevoted service to the Pediatric Neurosurgery Program at theHospital for Sick Children. Robin began his internship at St. Michael's Hospital in orthopaedics, but was captivated by arotation in neurosurgery. After much soul searching he madethe decision to switch programs. He became a Fellow of theRoyal College of Surgeons in Neurosurgery in 1970, and a staffsurgeon at The Hospital for Sick Children on the recommenda-tion of the Neurosurgeon-in-Chief, Bruce Hendrick.

In the years that followed, Robin’s addition to the neurosurgi-cal staff, the case volume accelerated exponentially until therewere more than 100 patients on the neurosurgical service. He ini-tiated the Craniofacial Program at HSC along with Ian Monroe,and became an expert in the care of children with spina bifida andvascular malformations. He established a structured teaching pro-gram to help residents and fellows learn the nuances of pediatricneurosurgery. Robin has held leadership positions in theInternational Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons, the AmericanSociety of Pediatric Neurosurgeons, and served as an editor forPediatric Neurosurgery, and Neurosurgery. He was awarded theDonald Matson Lectureship by the AANS/CNS Section onPediatrics in 2003, and The Hospital for Sick Children

Foundation Claus Wirsig Humanitarian Award 2003. He was theNeurosurgeon-in-Chief at The Hospital for Sick Children from1996 to 2003, and the inaugural appointee to the Shoppers DrugMart/Harold Hoffman Chair in pediatric neurosurgery.

Most notable among Dr. Humphreys’ special attributes is hisdevotion to The Hospital for Sick Children, for which he hasbeen a prominent statesmen and diplomat. His retirement endsa chapter that began with The Three H's: E. Bruce Hendrick,Harold J. Hoffman and Robin Humphreys, an outstanding erain the history of pediatric neurosurgery at The Hospital for SickChildren. By virtue of his constant support of his junior col-leagues, James Drake, James Rutka and Peter Dirks, it is clearthat Dr. Humphreys has co-authored the history of the nextchapter. We wish our colleague, teacher and friend a happy andhealthy retirement. James RutkaDivision Chair, Neurosurgery

New StaffThe Department of Surgery warmly welcomes the followingindividuals who have joined our Department.

Rebecca Davies

Rebecca Davies, a U of T alumna,joined the department this summer bringing excellent creden-tials and expertise in fundraisingfrom her prior appointment at theUniversity of Toronto’s Faculty ofMusic and the Women’s CollegeHospital Foundation. She will help the department campaign to

strengthen funding of the Surgeon Scientist Program and develop endowed chairs and other top priorities in all clinicaldivisions. Active in the community, Rebecca is a director on several arts boards where her portfolios include fundraising,publicity and finance, and she also volunteers at Sunnybrookand Women’s College Health Sciences Centre. In her sparetime, Rebecca enjoys performing with orchestras and chambergroups, golfing, and hiking and canoeing in the Canadianwilderness. Martin McKneally

9

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 3

Alexandra Easson

The Division of General Surgeryand the Department of Surgerywelcome Alexandra Easson.Alexandra obtained her MD atQueen’s University and completedGeneral Surgery residency at theUniversity of Ottawa. From 1996-1998 she was a Research Fellow in

General Surgical Oncology at the Massachusetts GeneralHospital in Boston. She went on to do a Clinical Fellowship atthe University of Toronto under the direction of Carol Swallow.Alexandra has also completed the diploma program in ClinicalEpidemiology in the Department of Health Policy Managementand Evaluation at the University of Toronto and is presentlyenrolled in the Masters Program in Clinical Epidemiology.

Alexandra has a keen interest in Surgical Oncology and Palliative Care related to End of Life Programs. She haswritten several book chapters on topics such as Selection and Preparation of Candidates for Surgical Palliation,Understanding and Managing Cancer Cachexia, and Surgeryand Palliative Care: A New Prespective and EthicalConsiderations and Barriers to Research and Surgical PalliativeCare. She has become well-known for this work in the U.S andhas presented it throughout the world. This particular domainof Surgical Oncology is an important one to be highlighted bothin the clinical and in the research arenas.Zane CohenDivision Chair, General Surgery

Linda Dvali

Linda Dvali has been appointed tothe University of Toronto HandProgram at the Toronto WesternHospital in the Division of PlasticSurgery.

Dr. Dvali completed her under-graduate degree at the University of Western Ontario and also contin-

ued her medical school training there. She entered the PlasticSurgery Residency Training Program at the University of Torontoin 1996 and graduated in 2001. Following this, she spent a one-year clinical fellowship under the supervision of Dr. SusanMackinnon at Washington University in St. Louis and subse-quently completed an MSc in clinical epidemiology at theHarvard School of Public Health in Boston.

Linda’s area of clinical practice will be in hand surgery andspecifically in the field of peripheral nerve surgery. Her research

interests will focus on outcome studies in hand trauma. We arevery excited to have Linda back on staff in the Division ofPlastic Surgery.Peter NeliganDivision Chair, Plastic Surgery

Abhaya Kulkarni

Abhaya Kulkarni completed his res-idency in the NeurosurgeryTraining Program at the Universityof Toronto in 2002, and has justreturned from his fellowship atL'hopital Enfants Malades in pediatric neurosurgery. There, hecompleted a project on the con-servative management of children

with lipomyelomeningocele, and learned the nuances of pediatric neurosurgical procedures on the clinical service. Abhayawill be bringing his expertise on evidence based medicine andclinical epidemiology to the neurosurgical staff at the Hospitalfor Sick Children. He has successfully completed his graduatestudies and has received his PhD in Clinical Epidemiology fromMcMaster University. At Sick Kids, he will be continuing his rolein organizing and conducting clinical trials in neurosurgery.James RutkaDivision Chair, Neurosurgery

Wey Liang Leong

The Division of General Surgeryand the Department of Surgerywelcome Wey Liang Leong. Weyobtained his BSc and MD fromDalhousie University, where healso completed his general surgicalresidency training, and theClinician-Investigator Program,

receiving an MSc in Pathology. From 2000-2001, he complet-ed a Breast Surgical Fellowship and also carried out multi-disciplinary approaches to breast cancer and melanomapatients. This was followed by a Surgical-Assistantship at the Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Science Centre,and an Associate Staff position at Princess MargaretHospital/Mount Sinai Hospital.

Wey’s academic role at the University of Toronto will be thatof a Surgeon-Investigator. His special expertise and interest inbreast surgical oncology will be part of his clinical program; hismajor academic focus will involve translational breast cancer

10

11S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 3

research and he will work closely with Dr. Jim Woodgett of theOCI/PMH Research Institute. Wey will be developing a breastcancer surgical database in collaboration with the tumour bankat the Princess Margaret Hospital. He will function in a multi-disciplinary program involving the breast units at both thePrincess Margaret Hospital and the Koffler Breast Centre atMount Sinai Hospital.Zane CohenDivision Chair, General Surgery

Ian McGilvray

The Division of General Surgery and the Department ofSurgery welcome Surgeon-Scientist Ian McGilvray. Ian receivedhis MD from McGill University and his Ph.D. from theUniversity of Toronto. In 2001-02, he was a Surgical TransplantFellow at the University Health Network; he began his appoint-ment at UHN and Mount Sinai hospital July 1, 2003.

Ian has won numerous awards including the Gallie-Bateman Award in 1999, and Medical Research Council ofCanada Research Fellowships in 1997–8. He has alreadyreceived peer-reviewed research funding from the PhysicianServices Incorporated to study molecular mechanisms of organinjury after liver transplantation-potential strategies for pre-vention. Ian’s clinical practice will employ his special interestand expertise in transplantation, with a lesser emphasis onbenign and malignant diseases within the hepatobiliary system. His research will be in the area of pathogenesis of liverinjury following transplantation, to which he has already madesubstantial contributions. Zane CohenDivision Chair, General Surgery

Joao Pippi Salle

Joao Pippi Salle joined the staff in pediatric urology at theHospital for Sick Children. Dr. Pippi Salle is originally fromBrazil where he became a pediatric urologist and worked in SaoPaulo. He continued his pediatric urology training with a fellow-ship at HSC and then had a locum staff position for a few years.He moved to Montreal where he was appointed Chief of Urologyat the Montreal Children’s Hospital for a number of years.

Dr. Pippi Salle is well known as a surgical innovator in recon-structive urology. The "Pippi Salle’ procedure which involvesreconstruction of the incompetent bladder neck is named afterhim. He will be conducting clinical research and has a specialinterest in resident education.Sender HerschornDivision Chair, Urology

Michael Reedijk

The Division of General Surgeryand the Department of Surgery wel-come Surgeon- Scientist MichaelReedijk. Michael obtained his BScand MSc from the Department ofMicrobiology and Immunology atMcGill University, and his Ph.D.from the Department of Molecularand Medical Genetics at the

University of Toronto under the supervision of Tony Pawson.He also completed his MD, residencies in both GeneralPediatrics and General Surgery, and a General SurgicalOncology Fellowship at the University of Toronto.

Michael joined the active staff at the Princess MargaretHospital and Mount Sinai Hospital as of July 2003. His clinicalwork will focus on breast and gastrointestinal surgery. Michael’smajor academic focus will involve the molecular genetics andself-signaling pathways related to the pathogenesis of breast can-cer. In addition, a specific task of his will be the development ofthe Breast Cancer Tumour Bank at Princess Margaret Hospital.Zane CohenDivision Chair, General Surgery

Taufik Valiante

Taufik Valiante completed his residency in the NeurosurgeryTraining Program at the Universityof Toronto in 2002, and has justfinished an epilepsy neurosurgeryfellowship at the University ofWashington, Seattle, under thementorship of Dr George Ojemann.There, he learned Dr Ojemann's

technique of language mapping for patient's undergoingepilepsy surgery. Taufik is the recipient of a CIHR Clinician-Scientist Award which will provide funds for his research inthe field of electrophysiology. His neurosurgical staff appoint-ment is at the Toronto Western Hospital where he will be building his practice in adult epilepsy surgery.James RutkaDivision Chair, Neurosurgery

[Continued on next page]

Ontario Pancreas Cancer Study Team

S

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 312

Vasundara Venkateswaran

The Department of Surgery wel-comes Vasundara Venkateswaran.Vasundara obtained her PhD from the Cancer Institute at theUniversity of Madras, India, was apost-doctoral fellow at WashingtonState University and a ResearchAssociate at the University ofKansas Medical Centre. She

returned to Madras for 4 years, where she was Head of the Dept.of Biochemistry, before immigrating to Canada in 1999. Shewas recruited to run the Prostate Cancer Research Laboratoryunder the supervision of Neil Fleshner and myself, where shehas been a huge success. She has established a major initiative inthe study of the cellular effects of micronutrients in prostatecancer prevention, which has resulted in a burgeoning researchprogram.

Vasundara has established productive collaborations withinvestigators in Toronto and throughout North America. Thecurrent focus of her work is based on a transgenic model ofprostate cancer prevention. In particular, she is analysing themolecular and genetic events which are induced by micronutri-ents in this model.Laurence KlotzDivision of Urology

THE POWER OF DATA

Steve Gallinger’s research group at the Samuel LunenfeldResearch Institute has recently received a $8 million award anda $0.5 million award from the United States’ NationalInstitutes of Health to continue their productive research oncolorectal and pancreatic cancer. Steve relates this remarkablesuccess to “the power of data” and particularly to the Canadianapproach to data and the Ontario Cancer Registry.

Facilitated by a single payer system and the cooperative culture of Canadian medicine, the pancreas study will track pan-creatic cancer patients using e-path, an electronic reporting system developed by Artificial Intelligence in Medicine whichenables ultra-rapid transmission of pathology reports to theOntario Cancer Registry. This will facilitate earlier identificationand contact with pancreatic cancer patients. Research questionswill include an inquiry into why so few enter pancreatic cancerchemotherapy trials, despite recent advances in treating the dis-ease with gemcitabine.

Data powered the recent successes of Steve’s research groupin the molecular genetic characterization of colon cancers andthe clinical implications of genotyping them in his laboratory.Last year, lead author Rob Gryfe published a convincingdemonstration in the New England Journal of Medicine thatone readily identifiable genotype of colon cancer has a distinct-ly better prognosis. Rob is now a member of the general surgerystaff at Mt. Sinai Hospital. This summer Steve’s group pub-lished an important follow-up in the same journal showing thatthe same subtype of colon cancer derives no benefit from adju-vant treatment with 5- FU based chemotherapy that is wellproven to be helpful in the majority of colon cancer patients.This finding will spare an identifiable subgroup of patientsfrom potentially harmful side effects of chemotherapy.

In addition to the power of data, the success and interna-tional recognition of this unit also demonstrates the power of awell-developed, patiently constructed infrastructure of laborato-ry science and personnel linked to clinical practice throughinformed and committed clinician-scientists.

Martin McKneally

13S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 3

Honours/Awards/Accomplishments

Ben Alman (OrthSurg) is one of the recipients of the PremiersResearch Excellence Award (PREA), awarded to some of thebest and brightest researchers in Ontario.

Mark Bernstein (NeurSurg) won the Anderson Award for longstanding contributions to teaching (UHN).

Leslie Carr (UrolSurg) organized the first meeting of CanadianWomen in Urology at the Canadian Urologic AssociationAnnual Meeting in June.

Dr. Carr has been elected first President of the new Society forCanadian Pelvic Health Care Professionals.

Walid Farhat (UrolSurg) has been awarded a CanadianUrological Association Scholarship in recognition of theresearch performance and in support of academic work in thecoming year. Dr. Farhat will continue his work in tissue engi-neering and repopulation of acellular matrices for the purposeof bladder reconstruction.

Michael Fehlings (NeurSurg) won the Anderson Post-gradu-ate Award (UHN).

Geoffrey Fernie (Research) has been appointed to the positionof Vice-President of Research at Toronto RehabilitationInstitute.

Fred Gentili (NeurSurg) has won the J.F. Ross Fleming Awardat the University Health Network.

Robert Ginsberg (ThorSurg) who demonstrated remarkableskill and dedication to teaching despite his declining health inthe past year has been awarded posthumously The Robert J.Ginsberg Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Teaching.

Paul Greig (GenSurg) has been awarded the Frank MillsAward for Excellence in Teaching by a Faculty Member, and iswell known for his remarkable patience and teaching skills.

Sender Herschorn (UrolSurg) became the first holder of theMartin Barkin Chair in Urological Research. This was createdto fund research and education in urology at the University ofToronto and its affiliated teaching hospitals. The Chair wasestablished in conjunction with the Faculty of Medicine

Development Department. It was named in honour of MartinBarkin, a former member of the Division of Urology and retiring Board Chair at Sunnybrook and Women’s in honour of his life long contribution to health care. The Sunnybrook andWomen’s Foundation has also committed to raising funds for the Chair.

Dr. Herschorn was appointed Chair of the GuidelinesCommittee of the Canadian Urological Association at theAnnual Meeting in Montreal, June 2003.

Dr. Herschorn was elected National Canadian Delegate to theSociete Internaional d’Urologie at the Canadian SectionMeeting during the CUA.

Robin Humphreys (NeurSurg) received this year’s 2003Donald D. Matson Award given by the Pediatric Section on theoccasion of the 2003 annual meeting of the AmericanAssociation of Neurological Surgeons in San Diego.

Michael Jewett (UrolSurg) was elected Vice-President of theCanadian Urological Association at the Annual Meeting inMontreal in June, 2003.

Andras Kapus (Research) is one of the recipients of thePremiers Research Excellence Award (PREA), awarded to someof the best and brightest researchers in Ontario.

Ron Kodama (UrolSurg) won the A.W. Bruce FacultyUndergraduate Teaching Award for 2002-2003 for outstandingteaching to medical students.

Jacob Langer (GenSurg) has been awarded the 2002-2003Award for the best Principles of Surgery Lecturer from theDepartment of Surgery.

Calvin Law (GenSurg) has been awarded the 2003 Peters-Boyd Academy Teaching Award for Clinical Teaching,Undergraduate Education.

Andres Lozano (NeurSurg) has been awarded this year’sPenfield Lectureship Award by the Canadian NeurosurgicalSociety at the Canadian Congress of Neurological Sciencesmeeting in Quebec City.

Robert Nam (UrolSurg) has been awarded the Division ofUrology Postgraduate Teaching Award for Surgical Teaching2002-2003.

Dr. Nam has been awarded a Canadian Urological AssociationScholarship in recognition of research performance and in sup-port of academic work. Dr. Nam will continue his researchinto the genetics of prostate cancer.

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 314

Kenneth Pace (UrolSurg) has been awarded a CanadianUrological Association Scholarship in recognition of researchperformance and in support of academic work. Dr. Pace willcontinue his research in minimally invasive surgical procedures,epidemiology and treatment of stone diseases.

Eric Poulin (GenSurg) has accepted the position as Chair ofthe Department of Surgery at the University of Ottawa, Chiefof Surgery and Head of Surgical Services at the OttawaHospital in Ottawa, Ontario. With Dr. Poulin’s departure, JimMahoney (PlasSurg) will serve as interim Chief of Surgery.

Vivek Rao (CardSurg) has been awarded the New InvestigatorAward from the CIHR Research Personnel Award Competitionfor his project: “Transplant Vasculopathy: The Role of theEndothelium”.

Andrew Smith (GenSurg) has been awarded the 2003 Peters-Boyd Academy Teaching Award for Excellence in Innovation inContinuing Education.

Robert Stewart (UrolSurg) won the Division of UrologyPostgraduate Teaching Award for Clinical Teaching 2002-2003.

Charles Tator (NeurSurg) was awarded a lifetime achievementaward at this year’s Canadian Spine Society Meeting held inMarch, 2003 in Corner Brook, Newfoundland.

John Trachtenberg (UrolSurg) was recognized for his clinicaland research expertise at a Gala Dinner on Thursday, June 19,2003 at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto. The CanadianSociety for the Weizmann Institute and the Princess MargaretHospital teamed up to honour Dr. Trachtenberg, Director ofthe Prostate Centre at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Tom Waddell (ThorSurg) has been awarded the NewInvestigator Award from the CIHR Research Personnel AwardCompetition for his project: “L-selectin Modulation ofChemokine Receptor Expression and Function: Mechanismsand Significance”.

Christopher Wallace (NeurSurg) won the AndersonUndergraduate Teaching Award (UHN).

Yaron Shargall (Clinical Fellow, T/S, Supervisors: G.Darling/S. Keshavjee) is this year’s recipient of the F. Griffith Pearson Award for Best Resident/Fellow Teacher.Dr. Shargall has been a Fellow at Toronto General Hospitalsince July 2001 and has shown outstanding leadership andenthusiasm in teaching our junior residents and medical students.

Mark Walsh (Clinical Fellow, HPB, Supervisor: P. Greig) has been awarded the Paddy Lewis Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Clinical Fellow. Mark continues to be commended for the consistently excellent teaching experiencehe provides to his colleagues and to the junior members of his surgical team.

Brett Beber (PlasSurg Resident) has been awarded the SopmanHumanitarian Award, presented at the home of Michael andJudy Sopman on Thursday, June 19, 2003.

Aaron Blumenfeld (UrolSurg Resident) has been awarded theHarrison Award for Clinical Clerk Teaching ate Sunnybrookand Women’s College Health Sciences Centre and the Divisionof Urology Best Resident Teacher Award.

Sevan Hopyan (OrthSurg Resident, Supervisors: J.Wunder/B. Alman) is the recipient of this year’s Royal CollegeResident Research Award.

Kouros Latifpour Moozar (GenSurg Resident, Supervisor: S. Gallinger) has been awarded the Joseph M. Family WestMemorial Fund by the Postgraduate Medicine AwardsCommittee.

Todd Mainprize (NeurSurg Resident, Supervisor: J. Rutka)has won the 2003 Warren Ho Humanitarian ScholarshipAward.

Karim Mukhida (NeurSurg Resident) is the winner of theSopman Humanitarian Award at the University HealthNetwork. This award recognizes the human side of practiceendeavours.

Mark Peterson (CardSurg Resident, Supervisors: T.Waddell/S. Keshavjee) has been awarded the Joseph M. FamilyWest Memorial Fund and the Edie Steinberg Scholarship Fundby the Postgraduate Medicine Awards Committee.

Sheila Singh (NeurSurg Resident, Supervisor: P. Dirks) is therecipient of the Josie Walthers Memorial Award for laboratoryresearch, at the Hospital for Sick Children, Surgical ServicesResearch Competition in May, 2003.

Peter Stotland (GenSurg Resident) has won the Paddy LewisAward for Excellence in Teaching by a Junior General SurgeryResident. Peter is known by faculty, residents and students forthis outstanding dedication to patient care and teaching.

Eve Tsai (NeurSurg Resident) has been awarded the K.G.McKenzie Award for Basic Science Research at the CanadianCongress of Neurological Sciences Meeting, June 20, 2003 for

15S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 3

her project titled: “Novel Synthetic Grafts Promote AxonalRegeneration and Functional Recovery After Spinal CordTransaction”.

Sudobh Verma (CardSurg Resident) has been awarded the2003 Bigelow Research Award at the Annual Terrence DonnelyCardiac Surgery Resident Competition held on May 30, 2003.

Gelareh Zadeh (NeuSurg Resident) has been awarded theK.G. McKenzie Award for Basic Science Research at theCanadian Congress of Neurological Sciences Meeting, June 20,2003 for her presentation: “Role of Angiopoietins inAstrocytoma Angiogenesis “.

Dr. Zadeh has also been awarded the Henry A. BeattyScholarship and is the highest ranked Postgraduate MedicalEducation Awardee this year.

Grants & FellowshipsMichael Fehlings (NeurSurg) has been awarded a three-yearCIHR Operating Grant for his project titled: “Investigationand Treatment of Traumatic Axonal Dysfunction after SpinalCord Injury”.

Geoffrey Fernie (Research) has been awarded a three-yearCIHR Operating Grant for his project titled: “Design andEfficacy of Novel Interface Sling Systems for Lifting Patients”.

Neil Fleshner (UrolSurg) has been awarded a Canadian ProstateCancer Research Initiative (CPCRI) Idea Grant for his project:“Incidence and Characteristics of Prostate Cancers Detected inMen with Prostate Specific Antigen Values <2.5ng/ml”.

Shaf Keshavjee (ThorSurg) has been awarded a five-yearCIHR Operating Grant for his project titled: “GeneTherapeutic Strategies for Transplant Related Lung Injury”.

Calvin Law (GenSurg) has been awarded a two-year CanadianCancer Society Research Grant for his project: “A PopulationBased Study of the Outcomes of Transanal Resection for RectalCancer”.

Gary Levy (GenSurg) with Myron Cybulsku, Grey Downey,Reginald Gorczynski, Andras Kapus, David Kelvin, PhilipMarsden, Ori Rotstein, Li Zhang have been awarded a CIHRGrant (group grant) for their project: “Cellular and MolecularMechanisms of Organ Injury”.

Mingyao Liu (Research) has been awarded a five-year CIHROperating Grant for his project titled: “Signaling Cross-talk inAcute Lung Injury”.

James Rutka (NeurSurg) received a three-year grant from theOntario Cancer Research Network (OCRN) for his proposalentitled Gli2 as a target for the treatment of Medulloblastoma.

Andrew Smith (GenSurg) and his team have been awarded atwo-year grant in the amount of $250,000 by the OntarioCancer Research Network (OCRN) in support of their project“Improving Colon Cancer Staging Through a MultimodalKnowledge Translation Program Aimed at Surgeons andPathologists”.

John Trachtenberg (UrolSurg) has been awarded a CanadianProstate Cancer Research Initiative (CPCRI) Idea Grant for hisproject: “Fluorescence-guided Radical Prostatectomy”.

Dr. Trachtenberg, with Brian Wilson and Michael Sherarreceived a grant for $1,000,000 from Ontario Consortium forImage Guided Surgery and Therapy to Develop Novel Meansof Image Guided Surgery in GU Tumors.

Dr. Trachtenberg received a $50,000 grant from NationalCancer Institute of Canada to study Fluorescent GuidedProstate Surgery.

Nancy L. Young et al John Wedge (OrthSurg) have beenawarded a three-year CIHR Operating Grant for project titled:“What is the Health and Quality of Life for ‘Graduates’ fromChildren’s Rehabilitation Centres? Are There CharacteristicPatterns or Predictors?”.

Cari Whyne (Research) has been awarded a three-yearCanadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative (CBCRI) Research Grant for her project: “A Prospective Study of Bio-mechanically-based Guidelines in Metastatic Burst FractureRisk Prediction”.

Shafie Fazel (CardSurg Resident, Supervisors: R. Li/R.Weisel) has been awarded a 2003 CIHR Operating Grant forproject titled: “Gene-enhanced Cell Transplantation to ReverseRemodel the Failing Heart”.

Anand Ghanekar (GenSurg Resident, Supervisors: G. Levy/D. Grant) has been awarded the Chisholm MemorialFellowship and the William Cron and Jean Harris MemorialFellowship by the Postgraduate Medicine Awards Committee.

[Continued on back page]

Cory Goldberg (PlasSurg Resident) has been awarded the 2002 Fresh Start Fellowship Award by the Plastic SurgeryEducational Foundation for his project titled: “Strain PatternDirected Engineered Bone for Craniofacial Reconstruction”.

Rachel Khadaroo (GenSurg Resident, Supervisor: O. Rotstein)has been awarded the Chisholm Memorial Fellowship, EdwardChristie Stevens Fellowship and the Timeposters Award by thePostgraduate Medicine Awards Committee.

Dr. Khadaroo has been successful in obtaining a 2003 CIHROperating Grant for her project titled: “The Cellular andMolecular Mechanisms Regulating Stress-induced Priming ofthe Macrophage”.

Kinga Powers (GenSurg Resident, Supervisor: O. Rotstein)has been awarded the William S. Fenwick Fellowship by thePostgraduate Medicine Awards Committee.

Gelareh Zadeh (NeurSurg Resident) has been awarded theEdward Christie Stevens Fellowship by the PostgraduateMedicine Awards Committee.

Dr. Zadeh is recipient of one of the two NCIC Fellowshipawards awarded this year.

S U R G E R Y N E W S L E T T E R F A L L 2 0 0 316

The deadline for the Winter 2003 Surgery Newsletter is November 15, 2003.

All members of the Department are invited to submit news

items, articles, pictures, ideas or announcements.

You may reach us:

voice mail: 416-978-8177, fax: 416-978-3928 or

e-mail: jean.defazio@utoronto.ca

Please provide your name and telephone number so that we may contact you if we have any questions.

The Department of SurgeryBanting Institute100 College StreetRoom 311Toronto, Ontario, CanadaLM5G 1L5

Editor: Martin McKneallyPhone: 416-8084Pager: 416-360-9308Fax: 416-978-1911E-Mail: martin.mckneally@utoronto.ca

Assistant Editor: Jean DeFazioPhone: 416-978-8177Fax: 416-978-3928E-Mail: jean.defazio@utoronto.ca

GIFT COMMITMENT FORM

FULL NAME (WITH TITLE)

COMPANY/ORGANIZATION NAME (IF APPLICABLE)

ADDRESS

( )

PHONE NUMBER

I would like to contribute a total of $ to:

THE DR. BERNARD AND RYNA LANGER CHAIR IN GENERAL SURGERY (PROJECT #0560007847).

PAYMENT OPTIONS (PLEASE SELECT ONE)

OPTION #1Cheque enclosed (made payable to the University of Toronto) in the amount of $

with the balance of my/our contribution to be paid as follows:

$ on/before , 200

and $ on/before , 200

OPTION #2Credit card payment in the amount of $ Circle one: VISA MasterCard AMEX

Card # Expiration Date: Name on Card:

For your convenience, a reminder will be issued by the University to your attention at the address above in advance of your installment due date. Should your prefer alternate arrangements, please specify those require-ments in writing so that we may oblige.

Please reply by mail or fax to:Office of Advancement, Faculty of Medicine1 King’s College Circle, Room 2306 Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8 Fax: 416-946-7722 CONTINUED . . .

The Dr. Bernard and Ryna LangerChair in General Surgery

C E L E B R AT I N G

A G R E AT

S U R G E O N

RECOGNITION

For general recognition purposes I/we prefer to be listed as follows:

PREFERRED RECOGNITION NAME

I/we prefer that my name not be included in listings of donors.

DONOR’S SIGNATURE

A RECEIPT FOR INCOME TAX PURPOSES WILL BE ISSUED FOR ALL DONATIONS.FUND #304606 SOLICITATION #0570031217 CHARITABLE REG. BN 108162330-RR0001

F O R O U R A M E R I C A N F R I E N D S

U OF T ALUMNI:U of T alumni and their families may make donations directly to U of T and use the University of Toronto charitable receipt for their U.S. income tax returns under the Canada-United States Income Tax Convention.See www.donations.utoronto.ca.

AMERICAN CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS:American citizens (or residents) who are not alumni or related to alumni of U of T, as well as corporationsand foundations requiring a U.S. tax receipt, can contribute to the University through The Associates of theUniversity of Toronto, Inc. U.S. Internal Revenue Code, Section 501(c)(3).

Donations may be sent to:Mr. Gary KaufmanTreasurerThe Associates of the University of Toronto, Inc.810 Seventh Ave., 10th FloorNew York, New York 10019

For more information on giving to U of T through The Associates, please call toll free 1-800-699-1736 or e-mail associates.ut@utoronto.ca.