Fellowship

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery offers fellowship training programs in six orthopaedic subspecialty areas: Hand and Upper limb, Trauma, Arthroplasty, Arthroscopy, and Foot & Ankle

*Spine - see Neurosurgery

These fellowships have appointment of 12-24 months. All interested in pursuing a fellowship at the University of Alberta should provide a current CV, three letters of reference and a letter of interest, specifying which fellowship you are pursuing and your motivations.

Please forward information (unless specified otherwise) to:

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Alberta
Room 400 Community Services Centre
Royal Alexandra Hospital
10240 Kingsway, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 3V9
Attention: Sonia Silva, Administrative Assistant
or email: Sonia.Silva@albertahealthservices.ca

Arthroplasty Knee/Hip

Description 
Our arthroplasty fellowship program is designed to provide comprehensive, hands-on training in joint replacement surgery. This fellowship offers a unique opportunity for postgraduate orthopaedic surgeons to refine their skills, expand their knowledge, and become proficient in the latest techniques in hip and knee arthroplasty.

Fellows will be exposed to a wide range of surgical cases, including but not limited to:

  •     Total hip arthroplasty (direct anterior, lateral, and posterior approach)
  •     Conventional and navigated total knee arthroplasty
  •     Revision joint replacement surgery including periprosthetic fractures and infection

Under the guidance of experienced faculty members, fellows will participate in preoperative planning, intraoperative decision-making, and postoperative management of patients undergoing joint replacement procedures. Our institution is a high-volume center (>5000 primary joints/year, >200 revisions/year), providing ample opportunities for fellows to gain proficiency and confidence in performing both primary and complex arthroplasty surgeries. Fellows will spend at least three days a week in the operating room with little or no overlap with residents, one day in the ambulatory care setting, and have dedicated time for research.

Education and Research

The fellow will also be expected to engage in clinical research with support from our Collaborative Orthopaedic Research (CORe) group (CORe Website). In addition, they will be expected to attend and participate in our weekly arthroplasty rounds focused on complex case planning and resident education.

On Call Requirement

Fellows are required to be on call a minimum of four call shifts a month.

Facilities

The fellow will be based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Orthopaedic Surgery Center, which is the primary referral center for complex and revision arthroplasty in northern Alberta. The fellow will also attend outpatient clinics at the Edmonton Bone and Joint Centre (Edmonton Bone and Joint Centre Website).

Faculty Members

Dr. Ben Herman MD FRCSC (Fellowship Director)

Dr. Edward Masson MD FRCSC

Dr Colleen Weeks BASc, MD, MPH, FRCSC

Dr. Jance McGale MD, MSc, FRCSC

Dr. Michael Goplen MD, MSc, FRCSC

Dr. Troy Bornes MD, MSc, PhD, FRCSC

Length of Fellowship 

12 months, typically starting on July 1.

Number of Fellows

We accept one to two fellows a year.

Salary

The salary is 80,000 dollars per year.  This fund is supported by the Fellows surgical assist billings.  International trainees must pass an English competency exam to be licensed with the CPSA.

Application Process 

Candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, personal statement, and three letters of recommendations. Interviews will be conducted, and selections will be made based on qualifications, experience, and fit with the program. Please send the required documents to Sonia Silva at sonia.silva@albertahealthservices.ca.

Faculty Profiles

Dr. Ben Herman

Dr. Herman graduated from the University of Alberta Orthopaedic Surgery training program in 2014 and completed an arthroplasty fellowship and a sports medicine fellowship at Western in London, Ontario.

Dr. Herman joined the arthroplasty teaching faculty in 2016 and his practice is focused on all aspects of primary and revision arthroplasty, particularly interested in the direct anterior approach. He is the Site Chief at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Arthroplasty Fellowship Director.

Dr. Colleen Weeks

Dr Weeks graduated from University of Alberta Orthopaedic Surgery training program in 2014 and went on to complete an arthroplasty fellowship at Western in London, Ontario and at the University of Alberta, during which time she competed a MSc in clinical epidemiology.

Dr. Edward Masson

Dr. Masson graduated from the University of Alberta Orthopaedic Surgery training program in 1997 and completed an arthroplasty fellowship at Dalhousie and a Trauma fellowship at UBC.   He then joined Division of Orthopaedic Surgery in 1999 and has extensive experience in primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty.

He has held numerous roles within the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Alberta including Program Director and the Divisional Director.

Dr. Jance McGale

Dr. McGale graduated from the University of Alberta Orthopaedic Surgery training program in 2019 and then completed an Arthroplasty fellowship at Western in London, Ontario, during which time he completed a Master’s degree focused on TKA biomechanics.

Dr. McGale joined the arthroplasty teaching faculty in 2020 and focuses on all aspects of primary and revision arthroplasty with a special interest in the direct anterior approach for THA. He is currently the Arthroplasty lead for residents and medical student education at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Dr. Michael Goplen

Dr. Goplen completed his Orthopaedic Surgery training at the University of Alberta in 2022. During that time, he completed the Clinical Investigator Program and obtained a Master of Science focusing on opioid use before and after total arthroplasty. He then completed a fellowship in Auckland, New Zealand, where he was exposed to complex hip and knee revision in addition to robotic-assisted hip and knee arthroplasty.

Dr. Goplen joined the arthroplasty teaching faculty in 2023 and focuses on all primary and revision arthroplasty aspects.

Dr. Troy Bornes

Dr. Troy Bornes completed his Orthopaedic Surgery training at the University of Alberta in 2019. During that time, he completed the Clinical Investigator Program and obtained a Ph.D. focused on cartilage restoration. He then went on and completed an Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery and associated trauma centers in New York City, an Adult Lower Extremity Reconstruction (Arthroplasty) Fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, and a Complex Joint Reconstruction Fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City. In addition, he holds a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at Harvard University.

Dr. Bornes joined the arthroplasty teaching faculty in 2022 and focuses on all primary and revision arthroplasty aspects.

Orthopaedic Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy

Director: Dr. David Otto

Supervisors

  • Dr. Rob Balyk
  • Dr. Marty Bouliane
  • Dr. Jeff Bury
  • Dr. Rob Glasgow
  • Dr. Catherine Hui
  • Dr. Paul Leung
  • Dr. Mark Sommerfeld

Description

The Fellow will be involved in the care of patients with injuries and disorders of the knee and shoulder. There is an emphasis on sports related injury. The Fellow will learn clinical skills to properly evaluate and treat these patients. The Fellow will develop expertise in advanced arthroscopic techniques and will see a surgical caseload of 500 procedures in 12 months. One day a week will be dedicated to research and study. The Fellow is expected to be involved with ongoing research projects and to complete a paper for presentation (at the COA or similar meeting) and submission for publication. The Fellow will also be involved in monthly rounds presentations and resident teaching. The fellow will be expected to participate in trauma call coverage.

Length of Fellowship

12 months

Salary

For Canadian Fellows: For Canadian Fellows: a salary of $74,000 per annum will be funded by the Edmonton Orthopaedic Fellowship Fund. This fund is supported by the Fellows Surgical Assist Billings.

For Foreign Fellows: external funding would need to be arranged and credential verification by the Physician Credentials Registry of Canada (PCRC) is required before training.

Timeline/Process

Applications for fellowship will generally open on July 1 two years preceding the fellowship year and close by February 1 of the preceding year. Incomplete applications, or applications sent too early will be returned.

Once the selection of the fellows has been done, fellowship applications must also be done through the post-graduate medical education office at the University of Alberta.

Applications should include:

  • curriculum vitae
  • a cover letter describing the applicant's interest in the program at the University of Alberta, career aspirations, and any other professional or personal items that may add to the application
  • three letters of reference

Spine

*Spine - see neurosurgery

Trauma

Director: Dr Matthew Menon

Supervisors

  • Dr. Marty Bouliane
  • Dr. Gordon Goplen
  • Dr. Nadr Jomha
  • Dr. Rob Stiegelmar
  • Dr. Don Weber

Description

We wish to share our knowledge and experience with Orthopaedic graduates interested in improving their skills in the areas of adult trauma. The fellowship is based at the University of Alberta Hospital. We have a dedicated trauma room and service a population of approximately two million people. The Fellow will learn clinical and surgical skills involving all adult trauma cases except spine. The Fellow is expected to be involved with ongoing research projects and to complete a paper to be submitted for presentation at the COA or similar meeting. The Fellow is also involved in monthly rounds and resident teachings.

The fellow will be expected to participate in trauma call coverage.

Length of Fellowship

12 months

Salary

For Canadian Fellows: a salary of $74,000 per annum will be funded by the Edmonton Orthopaedic Fellowship Fund. This fund is supported by the Fellows Surgical Assist Billings.

For Foreign Fellows: external funding would need to be arranged and credential verification by the Physician Credentials Registry of Canada (PCRC) is required before training.

Foot and Ankle

Director: Dr. Gord Goplen

Supervisors

  • Dr.Nadr Jomha
  • Dr. Beth Pedersen
  • Dr. Angie Scharfenberger
  • Dr. Paul Leung

Description

The Edmonton Foot and Ankle Surgeons are pleased to announce a unique combined clinical and academic foot and ankle fellowship in conjunction with the University of Alberta School of Public Health. This 2 year fellowship consists of training by 4 fellowship trained foot and ankle surgeons in all areas of adult foot and ankle surgery including complex trauma and reconstruction. In addition, the successful fellow will be enrolled in the School of Public Health resulting in a Masters of Public Health (MPH) degree.

During the two years, the fellow will spend fluctuating amounts of time between the clinical and academic parts of the program so that the fellow is always active in the clinical context. 

Applicants must be eligible to bill in the Alberta heath system.

Interested applicants should send an updated CV to Dr. Gord Goplen at goplens@shaw.ca

Hand and Upper Limb Surgery

 Western Upper Limb Facility Fellowship