Pediatric Cardiac Surgery began at the Hospital for Sick Children in the late 1940's under the direction of Dr. W.T. Mustard. A broad referral pattern from a population of about 10 million people has allowed a focused development of care for the newborn, infant and child with congenital heart disease. A complete range of cardiologic investigation and intervention, echocardiography, anesthesia and 40 bed Intensive Care Unit allows for surgical management of approximately 700 children per year.

Care for the adult with congenital heart disease is provided at the adjacent Toronto Hospital in the Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre for Adults. The adult clinic cares for over 3,500 patients and over 100 adults per year undergo surgery for congenital heart disease. 
There are three full time pediatric cardiac surgeons at the Hospital for Sick Children. Two of the surgeons have a major commitment to laboratory research and two are involved in the adult cardiac surgical clinic. 

The Hospital for Sick Children provides senior resident experience for trainees in the University of Toronto Cardiac Surgery Program. Six months experience is required by the Royal College as part of the Fellowship training. The resident is involved in a complete range of pediatric patients with congenital and acquired heart lesions. 

Mission Statement:

• To provide exemplary and compassionate patient care.
• To develop the clinical, teaching and research skills of physicians, surgeons, nurses, allied health care professionals, students, life scientists and other colleagues in the field of cardiovascular medicine.
• To create, apply and disseminate new knowledge for the well-being of patients.
• To maintain excellence in patient care, education, and research, in accordance with the highest ethical standards.
• To manage the resources entrusted to us for these purposes responsibly and honourably.

Clinical Activities (1994) Open heart procedures:

• Coronary Artery Bypass - 1,373 patients
• Valve Surgery - 398 patients
• Miscellaneous (Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms, Transplants, Congenital Heart Defects, etc.) - 283 patients 

Other:

• Pacemakers - 481 patients
• Defibrillators - 25 patients 

Educational Activities:

Staff surgeons participate actively in medical undergraduate education (Years 2, 3 and 4). The Division has 2 Residents (1 assistant and 1 senior) and 5 fellows (2 in research and 3 in clinical activities).

Permanent Manpower:

Staff surgeons: 9; Clinical assistants: 5; Nurse clinicians: 4 

Sunnybrook Health Science Centre currently performs 735 open heart cases each year, 20% which are valvular. There are active clinical trials and research protocols in myocardial protection and valve reconstruction. Opportunities exist for clinical fellows and/or assistants with an Education Licence or OHIP billing number.

Mission Statement:

To prevent, detect and treat diseases of the cardiovascular system, with particular attention to atherosclerosis, heart failure and valvular heart disease. Through these efforts, we attempt to provide exemplary patient care in a contemporary and caring medical environment, foster challenging and stimulating educational programs for undergraduate and post graduate students, and pursue new knowledge through research in selected aspects of our discipline.

Clinical Activities:

At the Terrence Donnelly Heart Centre at St. Michael’s Hospital, 1500 cardiac procedures are performed. Close to 400 of these are valve complex aortic procedures. In addition, the vascular service performs 300 graft procedures per year. Electrophysiology: 150 defibrillators, and 300 pacemakers. Within the hospital, there is the Terrence Donnelly Cardiac surgical and vascular biology research laboratories. Its focus of interest include angiogenesis gene therapy and investigating the mechanism of restenosis.

The clinical trial division is extremely active and has national and international collaborative approaches.

There is usually one resident and several fellows on the service. The residents get a wealth of experience caring for the cardiac surgical patients. Also, there is time allotted for research projects suited to the individual resident.

 https://trilliumhealthpartners.ca/patientservices/cardiacservices/Pages/Cardiac-Surgery.aspx