Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide the highest quality of compassionate care to patients and their families; to train and mentor the next generation of surgeons; and to advance surgical knowledge through the pursuit of scientific discovery and innovation.

Department Overview

The Department of Surgery is one of the largest Departments in the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. Members of the Department of Surgery provide care at several sites: London Health Sciences Centre (University Hospital, Victoria Hospital, and Children’s Hospital), St. Joseph’s Health Care, London and the Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Clinic. The Office of Surgical Education is located at Victoria Hospital and the main Department of Surgery office is located at St. Joseph’s Health Care, London. The Department of Surgery has been led by city-wide Chair/Chief Dr. John Denstedt since 2002 (2002-03 in an acting capacity), whose second 5-year term was renewed July 1, 2008. Dr. Denstedt also serves as the Integrated Senior Medical Director of Surgery Services for London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care, London.

The Department of Surgery has undergone dramatic renewal in the last six years. We have recruited a number of outstanding clinical academics; increased our representation of women and designated groups; heightened our research profile; and played a strategic role in the increase in medical education in Southwestern Ontario through the Southwestern Ontario Medical Education Network (SWOMEN), a partnership of over 40 communities throughout Southwest Ontario including Windsor, providing Rural Regional medical education and training experience to undergraduate and postgraduate trainees from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

Divisions and Programs

The Department of Surgery is comprised of eight Divisions: Cardiac Surgery, General Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, and Urology. Notwithstanding Paediatric Surgery, each Division has an active post-graduate residency training program. In addition there are four sub-units tied to one or more Divisions: The Hand and Upper Limb Centre (HULC) based at St. Joseph’s Health Care, London; the Multi-Organ Transplant Program based at University Hospital; the Fowler Kennedy Sports Medicine Clinic based on Western’s campus; and the Trauma Program based at Victoria Hospital.