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SickKids

Department of Surgery

The Department of Surgery focuses on the integration of clinical care, teaching, and research and supports the mission and goals of SickKids.

James Drake, BSE, MB, B.Ch., M.Sc., FRCSC
Surgeon-in-Chief

The Department of Surgery focuses on the integration of clinical care, teaching, and research and supports the mission and goals of SickKids. 

The Department of Surgery is comprised of six surgical divisions – all involved in, and committed to ensuring that children have the best possible experiences and outcomes in their surgical journey.

The staff of the Department of Surgery provide national and international leadership in highly complex and innovative clinical care, basic, clinical and health outcomes research, undergraduate and postgraduate education, and numerous administrative responsibilities.

Surgical divisions

Cardiovascular Surgery

We provide expert care to children with congenital and acquired forms of heart disease.

General & Thoracic Surgery

We take care of children with a wide variety of congenital anomalies and acquired diseases.

Neurosurgery

We're the largest and longest running Neurosurgery Division in Canada, and one of the best in the world.

Orthopaedic Surgery

We have a long history of excellence in treating bone and joint disorders.

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

We're the largest paediatric division of its kind in North America.

Urology

Our team does a full range of surgical services spanning the spectrum of acquired and congenital urogenital conditions.

Division heads

Head, Cardiovascular Surgery

Dr. David Barron

Interim Head, General & Thoracic Surgery

Dr. Lennox Huang

Chief Medical Officer, Vice-President of Medical and Academic Affairs

Headshot of Dr. Peter Dirks.

Head, Neurosurgery

Dr. Peter Dirks

Head, Orthopaedic Surgery

Dr. Andrew Howard

Head, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

Dr. Christopher Forrest

Head, Urology

Dr. Armando Lorenzo

Research activities

Research activities are coordinated at the SickKids Research Institute under various research programs which range from basic science at the sub-molecular level to organ systems to population health. 

The total research funding in fiscal year 2019/20 was $70.1M, of which $63.2M was external funding, with 174 grants held. Perioperative Services (POS) principal investigators directly held 147 grants and controlled $53.3M of funding, while 27 grants and $9.9M were sub granted out to other organizations.

POS held 32 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grants that totaled $23.7M, with an additional nine sub grants totaling $2.1M. Our CIHR success rate in the fall 2019 project competition was 33% compared to 28% for SickKids and 21% nationally.

Contact Surgery

Dr. James Drake, BSE, MB, BCh, MSc, FRCSC, Surgeon-in-Chief 
Email: james.drake@sickkids.ca
Phone: 416-813-7794 
Staff profile

Laurel A. Brown, MHSc, Director, Strategy & Business Operations  
Email: laurel.brown@sickkids.ca
Phone: 416-813-6398 

Leslie Jones, Executive Assistant to Dr. Drake
Email: leslie.jones@sickkids.ca
Phone: 416-813-5102

Jeannette So, Evidence Analyst
Email: jeannette.so@sickkids.ca
Phone: 416-813-1920

Dr. Sonya Sivakumar, Leader, Clinical Quality & Data Analyst
Email: sonya.sivakumar@sickkids.ca
Phone: 416-813-6207

Department Fax: 416-813-7369

Coming for Surgery

Review this important information to help prepare for surgery.

Exterior of SickKids hospital from University Avenue

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