History of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto: celebrating a centennial of progress and innovation

Now in its centennial year since inauguration, the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto lays claim to more than 500 faculty, 270 residents, and 250 clinical fellows. There are 7 direct entry residency training programs, and 4 subspecialty programs accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. There have been 10 chairs of the department since 1921. This article chronicles the life and times of the previous chairs in sequence; the success of the department originates from its many talented and luminary surgeons who have innovated and shaped their fields of surgery. In recent years, the department’s academic productivity has been characterized by more than 1400 peer-reviewed publications per year, and annual research grant capture in excess of $90 million. Since the time of William Gallie, surgical trainees have been enabled to develop careers in surgery and science through the Gallie Program and, more recently, the Surgeon Scientist Training Program (SSTP) to attain higher graduate degrees. Providing quaternary surgical care at multiple hospital sites in Toronto, the Department of Surgery takes great pride in its robust clinical fellowship programs across all specialties that continue to attract trainees from around the world.