PH GME Integrated Programs - Plastic Surgery Curriculum
The primary goal of the program is to train the resident in all aspects of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The strengths of the program include craniofacial and skull base surgery, cleft lip and palate, head and neck surgery, hand and microvascular surgery, and cosmetic surgery.
Providence and St. John Hospitals serve as the primary clinical training sites. Providence Hospital serves the surrounding community as a primary care facility in addition to being a busy referral center. Two separate ambulatory surgical facilities, as well as private physician offices, are also utilized by the Plastic Surgery Residency Program for the training of residents. St. John Hospital houses a Level I trauma center which provides the residents with an extensive experience in the management of hand trauma, maxillofacial fractures and lower extremity reconstruction.
During the two-year training program, each resident will perform between 800-1,000 operative cases. Regularly scheduled rotations include general plastic surgery, pediatric plastic surgery, craniofacial surgery, maxillofacial surgery, hand surgery and micro surgery and cosmetic surgery. Rotations outside the hospital designed to augment the educational experience of the resident, include one month each of oculoplastic surgery and burns. The department of Medical Education allows five days of educational leave per year with a stipend, in addition to a $500 annual book allowance.
There is a resident clinic at Providence Hospital. The resident is responsible for all aspects of the patients' care, under close supervision of the attending staff. Residents also spend time in the private offices of the faculty where they assist in the initial consultation, the pre-operative evaluation post-operative care of the patient and office surgery.
Craniofacial and Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery
Scheduled rotations on the craniofacial service expose the resident to a large volume of patients with clefts and congenital malformations, vascular malformations, post-traumatic facial deformities, skull base and all varieties of head and neck tumors. During this time the resident is instructed in the basic techniques of craniofacial surgery such as coronal flaps, craniotomies, facial osteotomies and the use of skull bone grafts. Once a month the resident takes part in the Craniofacial and Cleft Palate Diagnostic Clinic held at the Craniofacial Institute. This clinic utilizes a comprehensive team approach to treat a large volume of patients with a wide variety of deformities. Patients are referred from all over the United States as well as throughout the world. The latter are direct referrals or come courtesy of our charity program.
Microvascular Surgery
The junior residents are required to complete a basic microvascular surgery course, held in the micro laboratory, during their first few months of training. After the basic techniques are mastered, the resident becomes involved in clinical cases. The residents are encouraged to participate in the ongoing micro research projects under the supervision of a full-time research fellow and a microvascular technician.
Head and Neck Surgery
In addition to the cases performed by the plastic surgery staff, the otolaryngologists, neurotologists and the oral-maxillofacial surgeons perform a wide variety of head and neck cases which are available to the residents. There is also a monthly Head and Neck Tumor Conference consisting of formal presentations and a review of difficult cases. This is a multidisciplinary conference organized by Plastic Surgery and Medical Oncology departments.
Cosmetic Surgery
Experience in cosmetic surgery is acquired primarily through rotations in the private offices of the faculty members. There is a specific oculoplastic surgery rotation of one month each year. During these rotations, the resident evaluates the patient with the attending physician and will assist in the surgery. Cosmetic surgery patients are also seen through the resident clinic in conjunction with the clinic staff. The residents are the primary surgeons in these cases.
Burn Rotation
A one-month rotation during the junior year at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, exposes the resident to a large number of acute burn cases. The resident manages the initial resuscitation, participates in any operative procedures and follows the patient until discharge under the supervision of nationally known burn surgeons. Travel expenses are paid by Providence Hospital.
Resident Clinic
Patients having the full spectrum of conditions are seen by the residents being supervised by a staff member; aesthetic cases predominate. These cases are operated on by the residents again with staff supervision.
Emergency Room
Providence and St. John Hospitals each have active emergency rooms where a wide variety of acute injuries are seen each year. The plastic surgery resident serves on a consultative basis to both emergency departments. Significant injuries are seen by the resident first in consultation with the faculty member on call and treated accordingly. These cases represent a significant educational experience for the resident who will be intimately involved in the care of these patients. Call is taken from home on an average of every fourth night.
Didactic Program
Didactic conferences are held three mornings a week from 7:00 - 8:00 AM. There is a Monday and Wednesday lecture series that covers all aspects of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and a bimonthly series of lectures devoted to cleft lip/palate and craniofacial surgery. Monthly updates on current research projects, morbidity and mortality, interesting cases, combined Grand Rounds and monthly journal clubs play an integral role in the education of the resident.
Once a year, a nationally known plastic surgeon is invited to speak to the residents as the Kapetansky Visiting Professor. The residents are able to exchange ideas and review challenging cases with a recognized expert in plastic surgery in an informal setting.
Conference Schedule
- Academic Lecture Series: Weekly
- Craniofacial Lecture Series: Bi-monthly
- Research Meeting: Monthly
- Interesting Cases: Monthly
- Journal Club: Bi-monthly
- Morbidity and Mortality: Monthly
- Head and Neck Conference: Bi-monthly
- Grand Rounds: Monthly
