Toronto - Neurosurgery
University of TorontoToronto, Ontario
At a glance
- Approx. quota
- 42
- Length
- 6
- Applications per year
- 0–50
- Offered interviews
- 76–100%
CMG stream · open to Canadian medical graduates
IMG stream · open to international medical graduates
Info session
details info sessions of this programFri 29 Jan 2027,time not stated
Interviews
2 dates, 29–30 Jan 2027
Toronto, 5 teaching sites
What stands out about this program
Graduate research degree (M.Sc./Ph.D.) pathway through the Surgeon Scientist Program for academic-career residents.
From “Training sites” on the CaRMS page
Three- to six-month elective possible, usually in PGY-4 to 5, including international or outreach experiences.
From “Program highlights” on the CaRMS page
Large program with 36 residents across five sites.
From “Program highlights” on the CaRMS page
- The University of Toronto neurosurgery residency is a 6-year program delivered at five clinical sites.
- Training includes 42 months of clinical neurosurgery, with 6 blocks of pediatric neurosurgery and 13 blocks as Chief resident.
- Residents can pursue M.Sc. or Ph.D. research through the Surgeon Scientist Program, and there are no mandatory rural rotations.
What training looks like
- Setting
- Academic / tertiary hospital
- Rural exposure
- Not stated on CaRMS page
- Research
- Offered · research project · protected time
By year
- PGY-1
- adult neurosurgery (includes neurotrauma/neurocritical care)8 blocks
- pediatric neurosurgery2 blocks
- surgical elective (selected from neurosurgery-spine, orthopedic-spine, vascular, thoracic, plastics or ENT)2 blocks
- Surgery and Neurosurgery Prep Camp Orientation4 weeks
- emergency medicine1 block
- PGY-2
- neurosurgery9 blocks
- neurocritical care2 blocks
- Neurology2 blocks
- PGY-5
- neuropathology1 block
Other rotations
- pediatric neurosurgery (PGY-3 to 6 · 6 blocks)
- Chief neurosurgical resident (PGY-3 to 6 · 13 blocks (12 months))
Where you train
Toronto, Ontario: 5 teaching sites.
- Toronto Western Hospital
- St. Michael’s Hospital
- Sunnybrook Hospital
- Trillium Health Partners
- SickKids Hospital
Record systems at the listed sites: Epic at 4 of 5, Oracle Health (Cerner) at 1.
Moving to a new system: Sunnybrook Hospital (scheduled 2027).
Hospital facts
What official sources say for hospitals named above, each with its source and the date we read it. They describe the hospital, not the program. We match names to the sources by name, so check each source before you rely on it.
Toronto Western Hospital
- Clinical record
- Epic, system named (how far it goes is not stated)
St. Michael’s Hospital
- Clinical record
- Epic, fully electronic record since Nov 2024
Sunnybrook Hospital
- Clinical record
- Oracle Health, moving to a new system, scheduled 2027
Show facts for 2 more sitesShow fewer
Trillium Health Partners
- Clinical record
- Epic, system named (how far it goes is not stated)
SickKids Hospital
- Clinical record
- Epic, system named (how far it goes is not stated)
Hospital size and activity: Ontario doesn't publish this as open data.
About Toronto
People
2,794,356residents, 2021 Census
Housing
3.0%rental vacancy rate
Winter and summer
−3.5 °CJanuary mean22.5 °CJuly mean
Job outlook
Goodfor the specialty here, 2025–2027
How they choose
- Application file components
- CV
- Electives
- Examinations
- Extra-curricular
- Leadership skills
- MSPRs
- Personal letters
- Reference documents
- Research/Publications
- Transcripts
- Return of service, CMG stream
- Not stated on CaRMS page. Check the provincial return-of-service rules.
- Return of service, IMG stream
- Required
- IMG requirements, IMG stream
- Assessment by a provincial clinical assessment program
Interviews and info sessions
- Interview dates (2027 match)
- 29 and 30 Jan 2027
- Format
- Virtual
- Traditional (one on one/two on one)
Info sessions
Fri 29 Jan 2027
time not stated
Info session · Virtual · Listed under interviews on CaRMS
Pay and call
| Level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| PGY-1 | $73,367 / year |
| PGY-2 | $79,670 / year |
| PGY-3 | $85,564 / year |
| PGY-4 | $92,701 / year |
| PGY-5 | $98,567 / year |
| PGY-6 | $104,167 / year |
Call
- Call (provincial max)
- 7 nights in 28 in-house
- Post-call rule (provincial)
- No new patient responsibilities after 24 hours in-hospital, except what clinical handover needs
- Max continuous duty (provincial)
- 24 hours in-hospital, then relieved after handover (up to 2 hours)
Past matches
No repeated vacancies in CaRMS’s lists of open positions, 2019–2026.
What this means
- A position can go unfilled because of where the site is, because it is open to IMGs only or to another restricted stream, or because the quota changed late.
- It says nothing about the quality of the training or how heavy the workload is.
- A site’s numbers are shown when it had positions open after round 1 in at least 2 of 8 years or at least 3 in one year.
Year by year
2027 match
| Stream | Positions | Length | Interviews | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CMG stream | 4 | 6 years | 2 dates, 29–30 Jan 2027 | Nothing noted |
| IMG stream | 2 | 6 years | 2 dates, 29–30 Jan 2027 |
|
2026 match
| Stream | Positions | Length | Interviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMG stream | 4 | 6 years | 30–31 Jan 2026, listed as a range |
| IMG stream | 1 | 6 years | 30–31 Jan 2026, listed as a range |
The 2026 page of the CMG stream: our summary of its CaRMS description
- The University of Toronto Neurosurgery Residency Program is a comprehensive 6-year training program designed to produce fully trained neurosurgeons with exceptional clinical skills, research capabilities, and academic potential.
- The program offers diverse clinical experiences across four major hospitals, providing residents with exposure to a wide range of neurosurgical subspecialties and cutting-edge medical research.
- Research
- Significant emphasis on research, with opportunities to pursue M.Sc. or Ph.D. through the Surgeon Scientist Training Program, especially for those interested in academic careers.
- Training setting
- The program is conducted across four major academic hospitals in Toronto: Toronto Western Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital, Sunnybrook Hospital, and SickKids Hospital, offering a diverse and comprehensive urban academic medical center training environment.
- Teaching approach
- The program follows a Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) approach, emphasizing progressive skill development, frequent formative assessments, and alignment with CanMEDS competencies.
- Enhanced skills
- Not stated on CaRMS page
- What the program looked at
- Academic achievement
- Standardized medical examination scores
- Reference letters
- Research achievements
- Interview performance
- Interpersonal skills
Contacts and links
- Program director
Dr. George Ibrahim
- Program office
Program Administrator
Per CaRMS. Staff change during the cycle, so check the CaRMS program page(opens in a new tab) before emailing.
Videos and podcasts
From the program
Public podcast episodes and videos where the program presents itself. The short descriptions are ours; each link goes to the original.
Neurosurgery elsewhere
Nearest to Toronto
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