CARMS Profile - Dr. CArolyn Nessim

Where did you train?
Residency: University of Montreal; Fellowship : University of Toronto and Peter MacCallum Cancer Center, Melbourne, Australia

What do you like about general surgery?
The variety of the cases and the fact that it is both surgical and medical. The privilege to have such a trusting relationship with patients in sometimes a very short period of time. "To cut is a chance to cure" We make a true difference in people's lives

What is your sub-specialty?
Surgical Oncology

What is your research interest?
Clinical Large Database Research and some translation immunotherapy research

What do you like about this program?
Collegiality, Huge Volumes and Case Exposure, Feels like a family that supports each other. You are not just a number among a large crowd.

What is your hope for this program?
To continue to recruit the top medical students to create the top surgeons for Canada

Do you have a special role in the residency program? What do you do?
I used to be the CaRMS Lead (just finished my term) and I am the Program Director for the Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program

What do you like about training residents?
They stimulate you to want to learn more and be better. It is a live exchange of ideas

What is your favourite thing to teach?
I like to teach about my specialty and the cancers that I treat. I want them to understand about pathology and medical/radiation oncology and the biology of cancer. It is not just about cutting the cancer out. The multidisciplinary approach is what I love about oncology. I am an Oncologist who knows how to operate. That is what I want them to learn.

What is the thing you're the most proud of in your professional life?
My fellowship program and my fellows. They are amazing and teach me every day. I also love my research team of resident, fellows and medical students. They are dedicated, hard working and productive. We have presented 10 abstracts in the last year and have submitted 6 manuscripts. It has been such a great experience.

What do you do outside of work?
Paint, Sing, Read, Travel, and I love SPAS for relaxation LOL

Tell us something people should know about you?
I am approachable, personable and non judgemental. Easy to talk to. I think I am pretty down to earth and inclusive. I care about what I do and I always give 150% to whatever I do. My expectations are high but it is worth it.