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Media & The Public
What is a General Surgeon?
A General Surgeon is a surgical specialist who is usually trained to treat 4 main areas: the abdomen, the digestive tract, the endocrine system (including esophagus, stomach, small bowel, colon, liver, pancreas, gallbladder and bile ducts, and often the thyroid gland) and finally the breast/skin/soft tissue, including cancers. General Surgery training includes an undergraduate degree, 3-4 years of medical school and 5-7 years of residency training.
Approximately 80% of all cancer surgery in Canada is performed by General Surgeons. On top of their regular office practice and elective surgery during the week, you'll also usually find them performing most of the ER surgeries while on call during the weekends and late nights - car accidents, trauma, etc. Some in city centres might sub-specialize, but most community and remote General Surgeons perform a wide spectrum of procedures previously listed and perhaps overlapping into other specialties as well, if the community requires it.
Royal College definition
MEDIA:
Q. I have a question for or would like an interview with someone at the Ontario Association of General Surgeons. Who can I contact?
A. Contact the OAGS office directly, and we will forward your request to the appropriate board member: 705-745-5621 / 1-877-717-7765 / info@oags.org .
PUBLIC:
Q. I have a complaint about a physician or procedure? Who takes care of this?
A. Contact the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario: 416-967-2603 / 1-800-268-7096 / www.cpso.on.ca.
Q. I want a surgeon to do my procedure. Who can I contact?
A. Contact your current family physician/GP. He/she will have to refer you to a specialist.