You are not the first
to navigate this.
ASSET's community connects surgeons across the career arc — mentors who have been through the transition, and mentees who are approaching it.
Who We Are
ASSET is a peer-led initiative of the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. The group is advisory, not enforcement. It holds no regulatory authority over surgical practice, and membership is open to anyone connected to surgical culture — surgeons at any stage, trainees, family members, and administrators.
The group draws on the knowledge and experience of its members — retired and semi-retired surgeons, surgical educators, and others who have navigated the transition themselves — to support surgeons who are beginning to think about their own.
Meetings are held regularly throughout the academic year, with guest speakers, facilitated discussions, and social gatherings. All are welcome.
Open to all
No membership criteria, no formal application process.
Advisory, not regulatory
ASSET does not make decisions about surgical privileges or credentialing.
Peer-led
Run by surgeons who have navigated the transition, for surgeons who are navigating it.
Confidential
What is shared in ASSET meetings stays in ASSET meetings.
1-to-1 Mentorship
ASSET offers formal 1-to-1 pairing of retired or near-retired surgeons with mid-to-late career surgeons who are navigating the transition. Matches are made based on specialty, hospital affiliation, career stage, and the specific nature of the support being sought.
Informal connections are also encouraged — finding a surgeon who retired from the same division, the same specialty, or under similar circumstances can be the most valuable conversation of a career transition.
As a Mentee
You are approaching or in the middle of a career transition and want to speak with someone who has been through it. You can join anonymously or openly. There is no commitment required beyond a willingness to engage.
As a Mentor
You have navigated the transition and believe your experience could be useful to a colleague. Mentors commit to periodic check-ins and a willingness to speak honestly about their own experience — including the parts that were difficult.
Hospital and Specialty Subgroups
ASSET supports the formation of smaller subgroups based on hospital affiliation, surgical specialty, or shared circumstances. These more intimate groups build on existing relationships and allow for conversations that are more specific to a shared context.
By hospital
Toronto General, St. Michael's, Sunnybrook, Women's College, Mount Sinai
By specialty
Cardiac, Orthopaedic, General, Neurosurgery, Vascular, Plastics, Urology, Gynaecology-Oncology
By circumstance
Health-related transition, partner-led relocation, early retirement, return after retirement
Gatherings and Events
ASSET hosts regular meetings, guest speakers, and social events throughout the year. All are open to the community; none require prior membership or registration.
ASSET Hosting U of T Retirement Guidebook Launch
Coming soon — date to be confirmed
The formal launch of the Temerty Faculty of Medicine late-career transition Guidebook, hosted by ASSET. With remarks from the Faculty of Medicine and a panel of contributing physicians and surgeons. Open to all University of Toronto surgical faculty and their families.
Regular ASSET Group Meeting
Monthly — contact for schedule
Monthly group meetings open to all. No agenda required. Coffee, conversation, and the occasional guest speaker.
Interested? Contact us. Request a Mentor. Be a Mentor.
Whether you're looking for a mentor, interested in becoming one, or simply want to learn more about ASSET, use this form to get in touch or email us directly at asset@surgery.utoronto.ca. There is no commitment required.