Congratulations to Dr. Carol Swallow, Surgical Oncologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, on her appointment as the R.S. McLaughlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. This is a professional milestone for Dr. Swallow, and a historical one for Sinai Health and the University. In the University of Toronto’s Department of Surgery’s almost 180 year history, Dr. Swallow is the first female surgeon to be named its Chair and is also the first Chair for the Department from Mount Sinai Hospital.
A storied career
Dr. Swallow is a surgeon, clinician-scientist and educator. She graduated from the University of Toronto, trained in General Surgery at the University of Toronto, and as a member of the Surgical Scientist Training Program, earning a PhD in cell biology and surgical sepsis. Dr. Swallow completed fellowship training in Surgical Oncology at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is a Professor in the Department of Surgery and Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. Her areas of expertise include retroperitoneal sarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumours, gastric cancer, and rectal cancer. Her laboratory research at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute is focused on cancer cell biology and markers of post-resection recurrence.
Dr. Swallow has held several leadership roles including the Director of the University of Toronto General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program, Head of the Division of General Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital, and Head of the Division of General Surgery at the University of Toronto. She was previously the Chair of the Royal College General Surgical Oncology Specialty Committee, and the President of the Canadian Society of Surgical Oncology and is currently the President-Elect of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society and Section Editor, Sarcoma for the Annals of Surgical Oncology.
Historic milestones
Mount Sinai Hospital is set to celebrate its 100th year anniversary in 2023. The Hospital has risen from its very humble origins, based on the remarkable efforts of a mainly immigrant and marginalized community, to its current state as a large vibrant academic hospital, part of Sinai Health, and fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. The Founders of Mount Sinai could hardly imagine this announcement would even be possible.
In her role as Chair of the Department of Surgery, Dr. Swallow will oversee a strong network of faculty and learners, across all University of Toronto affiliated hospitals. The Department is responsible for surgical teaching of all medical students, residents and fellows. Many of these learners will visit the University of Toronto Surgical Skills Centre at Mount Sinai, which provides a laboratory setting where basic and complex surgical procedures can be learned and practiced.