The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)-accredited Clinical Fellowship in Abdominal Organ Transplantation and HPB Surgery is regarded as one of the leading training programmes of its kind in North America. Mr Abbas will undertake the fellowship from August 2026 to July 2028.
The programme combines high-volume clinical training in abdominal transplantation and complex HPB surgery with dedicated opportunities for academic and research activity. Its first year provides comprehensive experience across both specialties, while the second focuses on advanced abdominal transplantation, including complex liver, pancreas and kidney transplantation, as well as living donor, paediatric and multivisceral transplantation.
Training is based primarily at Toronto General Hospital, with additional experience at the Hospital for Sick Children in paediatric transplantation and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in HPB oncology. Together, the institutions provide exposure to one of North America's highest-volume abdominal transplant programmes, performing more than 230 liver, approximately 190 kidney and around 40 pancreas transplants each year. The programme also includes North America's largest living donor liver transplant programme, undertaking more than 60 procedures annually.
Alongside transplantation, the fellowship provides extensive experience in complex liver, pancreatic and biliary surgery. This includes major liver resections, pancreaticoduodenectomy, minimally invasive HPB surgery, vascular reconstruction, intraoperative imaging and multidisciplinary cancer care.
Established in 1983, the fellowship is designed to train future academic transplant and HPB surgeons and has trained more than 85 fellows, many of whom have gone on to consultant and faculty positions at leading transplant centres around the world.
Reflecting on his appointment, Mr Abbas said:
‘I am incredibly honoured to have been selected for the University of Toronto's ASTS-accredited Fellowship in Abdominal Organ Transplantation and HPB Surgery. It is internationally recognised as one of the world's leading transplant fellowships.
‘My training in Oxford has been instrumental in preparing me for this next step. The combination of outstanding clinical training, a world-leading research environment and the mentorship of inspiring colleagues across the University of Oxford and Oxford University Hospitals have shaped my development as an academic surgeon.
‘I look forward to further developing my expertise in abdominal organ transplantation, HPB surgery and translational research in Toronto, while strengthening international collaborations that I hope will continue throughout my career.
‘Ultimately, I hope to bring the knowledge, experience and collaborations developed during the fellowship back to the UK to advance Transplant/HPB surgery, research and patient care.’
The fellowship represents an opportunity for Mr Abbas to build on his academic and clinical training in Oxford while developing specialist expertise and international research collaborations at one of the world's major centres for transplantation and HPB surgery.
Find out more about the University of Toronto Abdominal Organ Transplant Fellowship