Upper Extremity Reconstruction Fellowship

Number of Positions: 2
Duration: 
1 year (August 1 to July 31)
Location: St. Paul’s HospitalRoyal Columbian Hospital 
Salary & Benefits: $65,000 + Benefits

Fellowship Director: Dr. Farhad Moola
Fellowship Mentors: Dr. Adrian Huang, Dr. Farhad Moola


About:

The UBC Upper Extremity Fellowship aims to graduate a highly competent shoulder, elbow, and hand surgeon who has the clinical expertise and leadership skills to enjoy a successful orthopaedic career. A comprehensive, full-spectrum shoulder, elbow, and hand experience is offered through working with surgeons from upper limb backgrounds on a preceptor-based model. This allows the candidate to view upper extremity problems from various perspectives and increases the tools available to them.

The Upper Extremity Reconstruction Fellowship will provide candidates with a high volume of clinical exposure across all aspects of upper extremity surgery. A preceptor-based, combined elective and trauma practice includes experience in shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand fracture care, post-traumatic reconstruction, arthroscopy, and arthroplasty. Clinical expertise will be gained through patient assessment and management in both trauma clinics and elective offices. The fellow will work between several sites, primarily St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, B.C., and Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, B.C., as well as UBC Hospital in Vancouver, B.C., and Eagle Ridge Hospital in Port Moody, B.C.

St. Paul’s Hospital is an acute care, teaching and research hospital in Downtown Vancouver. Every year, the hospital provides care to more than 380,000 patients from both the local community and patients from across British Columbia and the Yukon including many under served populations.

The Royal Columbian Hospital is a level 1 trauma hospital and regional referral centre for over 1.6 million people in the Fraser Valley. It is also a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of British Columbia. Both sites offer a unique opportunity for high volume clinical exposure to all aspects of upper extremity surgery. Cases provide experience in trauma, post-traumatic reconstruction and elective work. Exposure to elective upper extremity reconstruction will also be provided at outpatient surgical centres such as New West Surgery Center, Eagle Ridge Hospital, and UBC Hospital.

In addition to clinical training, interested candidates can receive leadership and career-building coaching, as well as exposure to innovative technology, including virtual reality and mixed/augmented reality, in the clinical and academic setting.

Research opportunities in clinical, biomechanical, cost, and value-based healthcare will be encouraged.

Requirements:

  • Academic responsibilities include participation in upper-extremity division rounds, resident seminars, and teaching both resident and undergraduate medical students.
  • Participate in department research activities and complete one research project during the year with the expectation of publication and presentation at a major conference
  • Participation as 1st call in a level 1 trauma centre

Goals & Objectives:

  • Clinical exposure to both traumatic and degenerative conditions of the upper extremity from shoulder to hand
  • Surgical experience in the management of injuries of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
  • Arthroscopic surgical reconstructive techniques of the upper extremity
  • Joint replacement of the upper extremity
  • Exposure to a high volume of ambulatory hand and wrist procedures

Highlights:

  • Preceptor based fellowship program with complimentary upper extremity practices
  • Opportunities during the year to work with and without residents in attendance
  • Full complement of upper extremity surgery including trauma and reconstructive exposure

Last updated: June 2025