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University of Alberta Hospital
ASTS Accredited Transplant Surgery Fellowship-Renal Specific
The University of Alberta Hospital is a Tertiary Teaching Medical Center located in Edmonton,
Alberta, Canada. The Division of Organ Transplantation at the University of Alberta Hospital is
responsible for kidney, kidney-pancreas, islet cells, liver and multivisceral transplants in adults and
pediatric patients.
The fundamental goals of our Institution are
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To provide and environment of continuous learning and inquiry.
To create new knowledge about the effects of disease in human.
To educate, recruit and retain the best surgeons and scientists.
To create an environment where surgical and scientific excellence, and teamwork are
valued.
To promote and advance the highest moral and ethical standards in an environment of
compassion and critical appraisal.
Transplant patients in our program are cared for in a multidisciplinary fashion. Medical students
and surgical residents are actively exposed to patients admitted for organ transplantation during
their formal education. However, the complexity of medical and surgical care of these patients goes
beyond their educational goals. Therefore, medical and surgical fellows in solid organ
transplantation have a fundamental role in the process of diagnosing and treating these patients.
Requirements: The University of Alberta surgical fellowship in transplantation requires two full
academic clinical years of training. Further 1-2 years of basic science training in experimental
surgery, tissue engineering, cryobiology and immunology are available to the suitable candidate.
The fellows have to be graduated from a formal surgical program in North America or elsewhere
and have a strong commitment to transplantation.
Structure of Program: The Division of Transplantation is part of the Department of Surgery.
All patients who undergo organ transplantation are admitted to a dedicated inpatient multi-organ
transplant (MOTS) unit of 16 beds coordinated by a trained charge nurse. Transplant specific
nurses attend the needs of patients who are admitted to the unit. Immediate postoperative care is
delivered in recovery room and intensive care unit as necessary according to the extent of the
surgical procedure. Patients who require intensive care support are under the primary care of
dedicated intensivist attendings that supervise residents and fellows. Transplant surgeons,
hepatologists, nephrologists, infectious disease specialists, pharmacists and fellows dedicated to
transplantation are consulted for the specific patients’ care during their stay both on the MOTS unit
and in the intensive care unit.
The highest standard of care for patients who undergo organ transplantation at the University of
Alberta Hospital is additionally supported by the presence of approved Canadian graduate medical
education training program in Cardiovascular Surgery, General Surgery, Urology, Nephrology,
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Hepatology, Endocrinology, Cardiology, Infectious Disease, Immunology, Radiology, Pulmonary,
Gastroenterology and by a dedicated pharmacist. The presence of all these services provides a
multidisciplinary care that spans 24 hours a day, seven days a week whenever the clinical necessity
requires specific expertise.
In addition, modern laboratory and radiology facilities are available for advanced diagnostic and
therapeutic knowledge in:
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multi-organ procurement and storage
cadaveric and living donor kidney transplantation
living donor nephrectomy techinques (open in laproscopic)
kidney-pancreas transplantation.
At the University of Alberta, the transplant surgical program aims to specifically train fellows to
develop proficiency in:
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pre-opertative management
post-operative management
surgical techniques
During their fellowship, the fellows will develop the necessary skill for:
1. Surgical and medical management of patients with end-stage organ diseases amenable to
transplantation.
2. Optimal preoperative preparation of organ recipients, including immunosuppressive
protocols, as well as the diagnosis and complex postoperative management of these
patients, who are at risk of developing allograft rejection, opportunistic infections and
surgical complications.
3. Completing history and physical examinations, presenting inpatient cases, interpreting
laboratory and radiology findings, performing transplant operations, multi-organ donor
procurement surgery, and actively participating in non-invasive and surgical procedures for
pre and post-operative complications.
4. Understanding aspects of the basic science of transplantation such that they will be able to
describe in general terms the HLA, the recognition of antigens, describe the events of T cell
activation, and the components of the allograft response.
5. Understanding mechanism of action, efficacy, indications, monitoring and toxicity of the
following available immunosuppressive agents: glucocorticoids, azathioprine, cyclosporine,
tacrolimus, mycophenolate acid and its analogues, sirolimus and everlimus, polyclonal
antilymphocyte preparations, OKT3, belatacept and anti-IL2R monoclonal antibodies.
6. Understanding the principles and methods of tissue typing, panel reactive antibody testing,
and cross-matching and their impact on recipient selection.
7. Recognizing the relative and absolute contraindications to specific organ transplantation.
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8. Working-up patients with end-stage organ disease considered for transplantation and
demonstrate knowledge of patient and graft survival, and impact and management of comorbid conditions pre-transplant.
9. Understand donor selection and contraindications and brain death criteria, the
management of organ donors, and organ preservation.
10. Evaluating risks, psychosocial and ethical issues of living organ donation (Specifically for
kidney and liver transplantation).
11. Developing a systematic approach to the evaluation and management of transplant
recipients with deteriorating allograft function late post-transplant.
12. Mastering technique of transplant organ biopsies, including the management of common
complications of the procedure.
13. Recognizing and describing the mechanism, pathology, and treatment of hyperacute, acute
and chronic rejection.
14. Discussing the ethical issues in transplantation, including the equitable access to organ
transplantation, the allocation of cadaveric and living organ donation.
15. Being familiar with the common complications of transplantation, including:
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Bacterial Infections
CMV infection
EBV infection
Polyomavirus infection
Post-transplant malignancy, including post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
Post-transplant hematological disorders
Hypertension
Diabetes mellitus
Post-transplant bone disease
Dyslipedemia and cardiovascular disease
Training: The teaching program emphasizes responsibility, self-directed learning, and exposure to
a broad spectrum of clinical material. The transplant fellows round twice daily on the patients and
supervise residents and medical students assigned to the transplant service. Constant interaction
with other fellows and the faculty allows opportunity for feedback and clinical instruction. In
addition, transplant fellows are encouraged to initiate self-learning by weekly presentations on
topics pertinent to transplantation and by monthly journal club. This occurs within the context of a
structured didactic teaching schedule that reflects a two-year cycle of core material.
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Operative experience is based on the one to one interaction between the transplant fellow and the
attending surgeon during the surgical procedure. Once competent in the procedure the transplant
fellow is encouraged to take on the role of primary surgeon unless technical complexity of the
specific case requires the attending surgeon to be the primary operator.
Supervision: Transplant surgery fellowship at the University of Alberta Hospital involves a closely
supervised two-year period of education with the trainees having progressive responsibilities and
independence. Constant communications between the trainee, the attendings and nursing staff is
expected. During the second year of training, the transplant surgery fellow is expected to perform
in a more independent fashion, making important decisions regarding preoperative, intraoperative,
and postoperative patient management. The transplant fellow is also given additional teaching,
research and administrative responsibilities. Progression of responsibility toward independent
performance by the transplant fellow especially during the last six months of clinical training is
strongly promoted by the surgery faculty. The transplant attendings continually monitor and
provide appropriate feedback to the fellows throughout their clinical training both in and out of the
operating room with a six monthly report filled out in a Can-Meds fashion.
Continuity of care: The transplant surgery fellow is responsible for the direct patient management
of those patients they operate on. They are expected to collaborate with the nephrology fellow and
attending, demonstrating excellent multidisciplinary communication skills. The fellow is expected
to round twice daily and to attend the weekly multidisciplinary rounds. The fellow may be assigned
to coordinate patient care activities for the transplant surgery service, namely in-patient care,
operating room case assignments, emergency room consultation, daily rounds, consultations,
coverage of outpatient clinics, and attendance at conferences and teaching rounds. The surgical
caseload allows for the trainee to gain a well-rounded experience.
Transplant patients are seen in a designated pre transplant surgical assessment clinic as well as the
individual renal transplant surgeon’s clinics. The donors are seen in the individual renal transplant
surgeon’s clinics. The transplant fellow will be responsible for in-house renal transplant
consultation and will review the consult with the appropriate attending surgeon.
Medical Renal Transplant Surveillance Clinic:
Wednesday 9.00 - 12.00 pm: Transplant Assessment Outpatient Hours
Wednesday 12.00 - 16.00 pm: Transplant Assessment Outpatient Hours
During these session, the transplant fellows are exposed to new referrals or recipients who are
regularly followed-up. This experience allows the fellows the opportunity to follow long-term
patients, gaining an important perspective on their development, and management of complex
issues throughout the patient’s care on an outpatient basis. The fellows are responsible for
documentation on patients seen during these office hours. In particular the fellows are responsible
for determining a diagnosis, the initial diagnostic work-up, and outlining the treatment plan for the
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patients. While the attending faculty always reviews the course of treatment and plans with the
trainee, the transplant fellow is afforded the opportunity of orchestrating the patient’s care with the
help of the transplant organ coordinators.
Surgical Renal Transplant Assessment Clinic:
Tuesday 8.00 – 12.00 pm: Transplant Assessment Outpatient Hours
During these sessions, the transplant fellows are exposed to new potential recipients. This
experience allows the fellows the opportunity to establish long-term patient interaction, gaining a
perspective on expectations of outcomes, risk management stratification, assessment and
correction of vascular and urinary tract issues pre-operatively and management of complex
patients on an outpatient basis. The fellows are responsible for documentation on patients seen
during these clinic visits. The fellows are responsible for determining the fitness for surgery,
further diagnostic work-up, and outlining a treatment plan for all patients. While the attending
surgeon always reviews the course of treatment and plans with the trainee, the transplant fellow
will be responsible for orchestrating the needed interventions or investigations prior to listing for
transplantation. This will be done with the help of the patient coordinators and transplant
urologist’s support staff.
Pancreas and combined Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Services:
Tuesday 2.00 – 2.00 pm: Surgical Indication Conference.
Multidisciplinary meeting where the surgical attending or transplant fellows present patients
referred to the transplant service for consideration of pancreatic transplant.
Wednesday 1 – 2.30 pm (twice/month): Outpatient Office Hours.
During these sessions, the transplant fellows are exposed to new referrals or recipients of a
pancreas or combined kidney and pancreas transplant and who are regularly followed-up. This
experience allows the fellows the opportunity to follow long term patients, gaining and important
perspective on their development, and management of complex issues throughout the patient’s
care on an outpatient basis. The fellows are responsible for documentation on patients seen during
these office hours. The fellows are responsible for determining a diagnosis, the initial diagnostic
workup, and outlining the treatment plan for all patients. While the attending surgeon always
reviews the course of treatment and plans with the trainee, the transplant fellow is responsible for
orchestrating the patient’s care with the help of the transplant organ coordinators.
Islet Cell Transplant:
Tuesday 1.00 0 2.00 pm: Indication Conference.
Multidisciplinary meeting when the surgical attending or transplant fellows present patients
referred to the transplant service for consideration of pancreatic transplant.
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Tissue Typing:
During the two years of training, the surgical fellows will spend one week in the HLA laboratory
directed by Dr. Patricia Campbell to study the technical aspects of PRA assessment, flow cross
match, DNA typing and tissue compatibility immune response.
In addition, the transplant fellows at the University of Alberta Hospital will be required to spend
one week of their training in the Islet Cell Transplant Laboratory directed by Dr. James Shapiro to
study the technical aspects of pancreatic islet cells preparation. These valuable rotations will be
able to make transplant fellows more educated in the understanding of HLA and modern
techniques of cellular organ transplantation.
Cadaveric Organ Procurement (Heart Beating and Non-Heart Beating):\
The fellow after specific training with the liver transplant fellow or attending surgeon will be
expected to participate in the retrieval of organs (locally and distantly) on a call schedule.
Academic Accomplishments:
Because of the mission as an academic institution, during the two-year training period, transplant
surgical fellows at the University of Alberta Hospital will be required to complete a clinical research
project with submission of an abstract and final paper to one of the peer-reviewed North American
or European surgical journals. Annually the fellows will vbe expected to revies and present clinical
outcomes for that year.
In addition, there is an opportunity to work in the laboratories of Dr. Philip Halloran or Dr. Allan
Murray on basic research questions.
Transplant Faculty:
Renal Tranplantation
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Medical Director: Dr. Sandra Cockfield; Nephrology; 11-107 CSB UAH;
407-7239; Sandra.Cockfield@uablerta.ca
Dr. Particia Campbell; Internal Medicine NEPH: 11-107 CSB UAH;
407-7579; trish.campbell@ualberta.ca
Dr. Sita Gourishankar; Internal Medicine NEPH; 11-107 CSB UAH;
407-8716; sitag@ualberta.ca
Dr. Allan Murray, Nephrology; 206F.1 Heritage Medical Research Building;
407-8741; allan.murray@uablerta.ca
Dr. Kailash Jindal; Nephrology; 11-107 Clinical Sciences Building;
407-1098; kailash.jindal@uablerta.ca
Dr. Richard Grynoch; Nephrology; 11-107 CSB UAH; 407-3322;
Richard.Grynoch@ualberta.ca
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Dr. Thomas Mueller; Nephrology; 260F.1 Heritage Medical Research
Building; 407-8488; Thomas.mueller@uablerta.ca
Dr. Manjula Gowrishankar; Pediatric NEPH; 2C3 WMC UAH; 407-7576;
mgowrish@cha.ab.ca
Dr. Maury Pinsk; Pediatric Nephrology; 2C3 WMC UAH; 407-7567;
maurypinsk@cha.ab.ca
Dr. Verna Yiu; Pediatrics’ 2C3 WMC UAH; 407-7567; vyiu@cha.ab.ca
Surgical Director: Dr. Gerry Todd; Renovascular Urology; Suite 400 Hys
Centre, 11010 – 101 Street; 441-2577; gtodd@ualberta.ca
Dr. Ronald Moore; Uro-Oncology; 2D2.16 WMC UAH; 407-6330;
rmoore@cha.ab.ca
Dr. Trevor Schuler; MIS Urology; Suite 400 Hys Centre; 11010 – 101 Street;
441-2586; ts9@ualberta.ca
Liver Transplantation
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Medical Director: Dr. Vince Bain; GE Internal Medicine; 205, 8215-112
Street, Edm, AB; 492-8128; vbain@cha.ab.ca
Dr. Dave Bigram; General Surgery; 2D4.43 WMC UAH; 407-1466;
dbigam@chas.ab.ca
Dr. Kalus Gutfreund; GE Internal Medicine; 2105, 8215-112 Street, Edm, AB;
492-8134; kgufreu@cha.ab.ca
Surgical Director: Dr. Norman Kneteman, General Surgery; 2C4.44 WMC
UAH; 407-7072; nknetema@cha.ab.ca
Dr. Mang Ma; GE Internal Medicine; 205. 8215 – 112 Street, Edm, AB;
492-8146; mma@cha.ab.ca
Dr. Andrew Mason; GE Internal Medicine; 205, 8215 – 112 Street, Edm, AB;
492-6941; amason@cha.ab.ca
Dr. James Shapiro; General Surgery; 2000, 8215 – 112 Street, Edm, AB;
407-8259; amjs@islet.ca
Dr. Winnie Wong; GE Internal Medicine; 205, 8215 – 112 Street, Edm, AB;
492-8134
Pancreas Transplantation
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Surgical Director: Dr. Dave Bigam; General Surgery; 2D4.43 WMC UAH;
407-1466; dbigam@cha.ab.ca
Islet Transplantation
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Surgical Director: Dr. James Shapiro; General Surgery; 2000. 8215 – 112
Street, Edmonton, Ab; 407-8259; amjs@islet.ca
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Infectious Disease and Small Bowel Transplantation
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Dr. Karen Doucette; ID Internal Medicine 2E4.20 WMC UAH; 407-1620;
Karen.Doucette@uablerta.ca
Dr. Jutta Preiksaitis; ID Internal Medicine; 1B1.17 WMC UAH; 407-8903;
jpreiksa@cha.ab.ca
Dr. Atul Humar; ID Internal Medicine; 4106 RTF; Heritage Building;
407-1600; atul.humar@ualberta.ca
Transplant Immunology/Tissue Typing
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Dr. Patricia Campbell; Internal Medicine NEPH; 11-107 CSB UAH;
407-7579; trish.campbell@ualberta.ca
Dr. Philip Halloran; Internal Medicine; 250 HMSC; 407-8880;
Phil.Halloran@ualberta.ca
Ms. Anne Halpin; Laboratory Scientist, Lab Med & Path; 4B4.28 WMC UAH;
407-7633; ahalpin@cha.ab.ca
Transplant Pathology
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Dr. Michael Mengel; Anatomical Pathology; 5B2.27, WMC UAH; 492-5943;
mmengel@ualberta.ca
Dr. David Rayner; Anatomical Pathology; 5B4.08 WMC UAH; 407-6012;
drayner@cha.ab.ca
Dr. Kim Solez; Anatomical Pathology; 5B4.12 WMC UAH; 407-2607;
kim.solez@ualberta.ca
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