The Universityof Virginia is one of the top schools in the country for integrated plastic
surgery residency. With a strong curriculum, a high case volume, and
subspecialty training, this school is the ideal choice for any aspiring
physician.
Requirements
An integrated plastic surgery residency program isan excellent way for medical students to obtain the training needed to become
competent and confident plastic surgeons. The program offers a thorough and
progressive training experience, with a focus on clinical care, research, and
professional development. This type of training is designed to prepare students
for a career in academic or private practice.
In addition to a rigorous and focused curriculum,residents in an integrated program are encouraged to pursue independent
clinical research and publications. They also have the opportunity to
participate in professional degree programs and bio-innovation programs.
Applicants are selected through an interviewprocess conducted by a panel of full-time plastic surgery faculty. During
interviews, each applicant is evaluated on their own merits. A number of
objective factors are taken into account, such as medical school performance,
letters of recommendation, and USMLE scores. But, subjective factors are also
crucial to assessing an applicant's integration.
Attrition rates
One of the most pressing issues in the field ofsurgical training is attrition. The number of residents who leave before they
finish a residency program is increasing. As a result, programs need to have
ways to deal with this. Some of these actions may involve changing program
requirements and others require flexibility to deal with nonprofessional life
events.
Attrition rates vary from specialty to specialty.For example, attrition rates for general surgery programs are estimated at 18%.
It is more common for women to leave than men.
In an effort to find out what factors contribute toattrition, a study was conducted. It followed one thousand four hundred and
eighty surgical residents from across the country for a year. Researchers found
that while overall attrition rates were low, there were significant differences
between the attrition rates of residents in the first and second years.
Case volume
Integrated plastic surgery residencies have beengrowing rapidly in recent years. Currently, the Indiana University Department
of Surgery has thirteen integrated programs. In addition to a mandatory
research year, residents are involved in a variety of research activities,
including basic science, clinical research, and bio-innovation projects.
One key factor that influences residentsatisfaction is the volume of operative cases. Surgical case volumes have
become more volatile and unpredictable. This can interfere with the development
of surgical competency and assessment of performance. Hence, programs should
prioritize operative case volumes. Moreover, increasing demand for
subspecialization may pose a challenge for upcoming graduates.
A prior study found a weak association betweenoperative case volume and self-perceived surgical proficiency. However, it was
not clear whether the association was due to hands-on training or other
operative characteristics.
Rotations
Integrated plastic surgery residency programs offerresidents the opportunity to spend their last 3.5 years of training focused on
plastic surgery. The program is designed to expose residents to all aspects of
plastic surgery, including aesthetics, reconstructive, and oncologic
procedures.
During the first three years of the program,residents will rotate in a number of different environments to broaden their
knowledge of the field and to develop a thorough understanding of the critical
patient management issues. This training is based on a rotating curriculum,
which is designed to give the resident an excellent foundation in the art and
science of plastic surgery.
The PGY2 year of the program focuses on buildingupon the foundation acquired in the PGY1 year. In this phase, residents will
expand their presence in the operating room through didactic/teaching sessions
and team rounds with senior residents. They will also gain knowledge through
hands-on experience in the operating room and through the development of
surgical plans for complex cases.
Subspecialty training
During an integrated plastic surgery residency,residents complete a rigorous training program that is designed to prepare them
for a successful career as a plastic surgeon. They are trained in the full
spectrum of the discipline, including microsurgery, aesthetics, trauma,
pediatrics, and oncologic reconstructive surgery.
Residents in an integrated plastic surgeryresidency spend a significant amount of time in general surgery. The average
resident in programs that have had more than ten years of integration spent
45.5 weeks in general surgery. In comparison, residents in programs with less
than ten years of integration spent 55.5 weeks in general surgery.
As a result, plastic surgery faculty are not asacademically productive as general surgery faculty. Nonetheless, integrated
residency programs have increased the number of publications produced by
faculty. This is likely due to the high degree of research involvement among
both residents and fellow trainees.
At the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia's integrated plasticsurgery residency program is designed to provide a broad initial training in
the field of surgery. Residents are trained in all areas of plastic surgery,
including reconstructive, craniofacial, and cosmetic procedures.
In addition to didactic teaching, residents participatein a variety of educational activities, such as weekly grand rounds, biweekly
conferences, and a monthly journal club. In addition, they attend special
courses organized by the department's members.
Residents also have the opportunity to take part inan immersive four-week plastic surgery residency rotation in Eldoret, Kenya.
This is part of an international partnership with the Moi Teaching and Referral
Hospital.
