Clinical Education at the Ajmera Transplant Centre

Transplant Summer Program

Eligible undergraduate students and medical trainees within the Ajmera Transplant Centre at UHN, SickKids Transplant and Regenerative Medicine Centre, and St. Michael's transplant program can apply for the Transplant Summer Program offered by the University of Toronto Transplant Institute. The transplant summer program offers students an 8-week (June 3, 2023 – August 5, 2023) experience in a laboratory or clinical setting in the University of Toronto transplant institute community. This is a great platform for students to work with distinguished faculty members, develop sound research methodologies and gain excellent mentorship. The program will conclude with a Summer Research Day in August where students will be given the opportunity to showcase their research findings through oral presentations.

Students are required to secure their own supervisor/principal investigator by contacting supervisor(s) directly, before submitting their application. Students are expected to be present for the complete duration of the program and have been assigned a research project in the field of transplantation.

Awards available – see details below for further information.

• Summer program information and schedule (coming soon)
• Application form (coming soon)
  
  

Workshops & Courses

We offer tailored courses and workshop, such as the Principles in Immunology Course, and Regenerative Medicine Graduate Course.

New Transplant Fellow Orientation

The UHN Ajmera Transplant Centre holds an annual new fellow orientation day in July to welcome new fellows to the program and to provide a framework for our fellowships. This orientation includes administrative and educational components.

2023 Transplant Fellow Orientation
Date: Friday, July 7, 2023
Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
If you are a new fellow, please contact the Transplant Education office.

Principles in Immunology Course (PII)

This course is available for all transplant fellows. This annual CME accredited symposium has been developed for Ajmera Transplant Centre fellows in collaboration with the University of Toronto Department of Immunology to provide clinical-based knowledge of immunology as it relates to solid organ transplantation. Offered bi-annually, fellows are able to register to attend in person or online.

Fellows Seminar Series

This monthly workshop series is held specifically for Ajmera Transplant Centre fellows. Invited speakers address the specific needs of fellows and cover the range of topics related to transplantation. For example, in previous workshops, guest speakers have come from Dermatology, the HLA typing laboratory, History of Medicine and the Ajmera Transplant Centre. Presentations are followed by lively discussion.

Regenerative Medicine Graduate Course

Event Spotlight

The scope of this multidisciplinary course is unique in Canada. This course features lectures from prominent researchers from across Canada on topics ranging from organ failure, stem cells and regenerative medicine to the business of regenerative medicine and regenerative medicine ethics and society. Offered each year from September – April, the course involves more than 30 Canadian faculties and 4 keynote speakers, and includes the Annual Regenerative Medicine Symposium. Students participating in this course will have the opportunity to connect with some of the best transplant, stem cell, and regenerative medicine researchers in Canada.

The course covers 4 broad areas:

1. The Background of Organ Failure
2. Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Technologies
3. Clinical Applications of Regenerative Medicine
4. Ethics and Society

For more information and to register, visit www.regenmedcanada.com/course​

Education Tools

These educational tools provide valuable sources of information:

Surgical Teaching Video Atlas

This online resource is designed to instruct surgeons in the care of patients with complex problems in liver, pancreas and transplant surgery, and to highlight the advanced surgical techniques required for the management of these conditions.

The curriculum and cases have been targeted to surgeons who have completed their training in General Surgery and are enrolled in fellowship training in liver, pancreas and transplant surgery. Senior Residents in General Surgery and recently graduated liver, pancreas and transplant surgeons also may find the content valuable to their practice.

The curriculum has been divided into 3 main modules:

1. Procedures
2. Techniques
3. Complex Cases

Transplant Pearls

Transplant Pearls are a series of 20 questions that cover core concepts in transplantation, promote discussion and allow for self-directed learning by including links to other readings. They are written for a trainee, as opposed to a transplant fellow.​

Physician Assistant Elective

Our Multi-Organ Transplant Physician Assistant elective is designed to provide you with a comprehensive and immersive experience in this specialized field. Throughout the elective, you will work under the direction of the supervising Transplant Attending conducting patient interviews; taking medical histories; performing physical examinations; ordering and interpreting tests; diagnosing and treating illness; performing therapeutic or diagnostic procedures, providing medical orders and prescriptions; counseling on preventative health care. There is an opportunity to rotate through various organ transplant groups including transplant nephrology, transplant respirology and transplant infectious diseases.

Gain In-Depth Knowledge

There is an active fellowship program and trainees rotate through the program to learn from the various surgical and medical programs offered. There is a robust education program including grand rounds, didactic trainee rounds, educational workshops and seminars and journal clubs. Learn from our expert physicians about the transplant evaluation process, immunosuppressive therapies and post-transplant management.

Hands-On Experience

Participate in patient rounds, pre-operative assessments and post-operative care, working closely with our medical team to provide optimal patient outcomes.

Research Opportunities

Collaborate with our research team on ongoing studies and contribute to cutting-edge research in Multi-Organ Transplant.

Clinical Exposure

Observe transplant surgeries and other procedures to witness the intricacies of transplantation first-hand.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for enthusiastic and dedicated Physician Assistant students with a keen interest in general medicine, nephrology, respirology, infectious diseases, transplantation and patient care. The ideal candidate should:

• Be currently enrolled in an accredited Physician Assistant program.
• Have a strong academic record and a passion for learning.
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with patients and medical professionals.
• Demonstrate a commitment to patient advocacy and compassionate care.

Elective Duration

The Multi-Organ Transplant elective typically runs for 4 weeks and offers flexible options for sub-rotations in transplant nephrology, transplant respirology and transplant infectious diseases as per the student's interests.

To apply, send your updated resume to anna.cocco@uhn.ca.​