News

New Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) Credential in Trauma General Surgery

We are writing to share with you the exciting development of a new Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) credential in Trauma General Surgery.

As many of you are aware, the Area of Focused Competence (AFC) system has been developed by the RCPSC to facilitate training in areas of advanced specialization and beyond; indeed over 35 such AFC programs currently exist. The AFC Trauma General Surgery was developed and launched by the RCPSC in 2016, with two training programs currently fully accredited. Most recently, the Practice-Eligibility Route (PER) has been developed for certification in Trauma General Surgery by the RCPSC.

The PER creates an opportunity for those surgeons engaged in the active practice in Trauma General Surgery to obtain RCPSC recognition of their leadership, expertise and advanced training in trauma surgery.

Briefly, the eligibility criteria include:

1) An active clinical role or leadership position within a Trauma system

2) A continuous practice in Trauma Surgery for a minimum of 24 months in Canada

3) Completion of a trauma surgery fellowship in Canada or the United States, or Royal College certification in General Surgery with a practice focused in Trauma Surgery

The application process includes submission of a Curriculum Vitae, completion of an application form that includes questions about one’s involvement in trauma care, and provision of referees as part of the multi-source feedback component. This application process is conducted in accordance with the RCPSC standards for PER certification.

The creation and dissemination of this new credential in Trauma General Surgery represents an important opportunity for formal recognition of the specialization and advanced training in the care of trauma patients that trauma surgeons possess. It also establishes a new standard in trauma surgery expertise and practice going forward and will define the next leaders in trauma care in Canada.

We are inviting you to join us in becoming Diplomates of the RCPSC (DRCPSC) in Trauma General Surgery, as well as sharing with and encouraging you and your colleagues to consider this new opportunity.

Please inquire about applying via email to diplomas@royalcollege.ca.

=In addition, we are  available to answer any of your questions and share our experiences from the PER process.

This is an exciting opportunity for us as Trauma Surgeons.

Sincerely,

Andrew Beckett, CD MD MSc FRCSC DRCPSC FACS

Chair, AFC Subcommittee in Trauma General Surgery

President, Trauma Association of Canada

Najma Ahmed, MD PhD FRCSC

Past-Chair, AFC Subcommittee in Trauma General Surgery

Paul Engels, MD FRCSC DRCPSC FACS

TAC Representative, AFC Subcommittee in Trauma General Surgery

Director, Trauma Association of Canada

Download the letter here.