Surgical Foundations is that initial period of postgraduate training required to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes underlying the basics to the practice of surgery in general and preparatory to further training in a surgical specialty or sub-specialty. For the purpose of clarity, the junior surgical resident refers to any surgical resident in PGY 1 and PGY 2 These objectives refer to exit competencies for which a junior surgical resident must be evaluated by the end of PGY 2.

At the discretion of the surgical foundations and home program director, residents who fail to meet these objectives at the end of PGY2 may continue training, however, a remediation plan must be put in place. These objectives of training must be achieved by the end of the third year of training. Successful completion of the Principles of Surgery examination has been designated as one of the means to evaluate the attainment of the objectives of Surgical Foundations, however, if all other objectives are met, but if a candidate fails the POS exam, he/she may be allowed to continue.

It is recognized that the POS examinations is only one metric in determining completion of these objectives. The Surgical Foundations Examination will be taken at end of the Surgical Foundations training period and must be passed to be eligible to apply for the certification exam.

The following University of Manitoba Surgery programs participate in the Surgical Foundations Program

          • Cardiac Surgery
          • General Surgery
          • Neurosurgery
          • Orthopedic Surgery
          • Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery 
          • Plastic Surgery
          • Urology

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Objectives of Surgical Foundations Training

Academic Activities

Seminars (Surgical Foundations Events Calendar)

Schedule (Surgical Foundations Schedule)

PGME Core Curriculum