Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Plastic Surgery Categorical Integrated Training Program
The Plastic Surgery Training Program at WFUBMC accepts two applicants per year into an integrated six year program. The first three years are comprised of a diverse collection of rotations centered on understanding general surgery and surgical subspecialties, while the final three years are dedicated to plastic and reconstructive surgery.
The first three years include rotations equally divided between general surgery and surgical subspecialties. Residents rotate on general surgery services including surgical oncology, trauma & emergency general surgery, critical care, pediatric, vascular, cardiothoracic, transplant, endocrine, and burn surgery. Rotations on subspecialty services include ENT, Orthopedics, Urology, Mohs surgery, Emergency Medicine, Anesthesia, Radiology, and four months on the Plastic Surgery service at Wake Forest. The 2nd year also includes a dedicated research month, which includes a microsurgery training course and anatomic dissections of a fresh cadaver head/neck and upper extremity. Additionally, a total of four months are spent during the 2nd and 3rd years in the general surgery private practice setting at nearby Forsyth Medical Center. The resident is closely integrated with the Plastic Surgery department during the first three years through attendance at monthly journal clubs, visiting professor lectures, and business of medicine lectures.
The last three years are spent entirely on plastic surgery. Residents will receive vast clinical training in reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, pediatric/craniofacial surgery, burn reconstruction, and hand/microsurgery experience. While on service, time is divided between both inpatient and outpatient operative experiences. Plastic surgery residents are responsible for a weekly resident reconstructive clinic directly supervised by the faculty.
During the 4th year, four months are allotted as protected time for pursuit of research interests. Many of these projects develop from ancillary interests during the first three years and include all arenas of plastic and reconstructive surgery including, but not limited to, the evaluation and implementation of new techniques and devices. The 5th year of training centers on a dedication to learning clinical and operative plastic & reconstructive surgery.
The chief year at Wake Forest includes a chief resident clinic that has been in continuous operation for nearly 20 years. This clinic occupies a specific and protected period of time encompassing one full day of each week during the chief resident year. That day is devoted to the chief resident clinic and the operations that result from this clinic. The day is divided equally into clinical and operative segments run by the two chief residents in each year’s class. Patients are not assigned individually to a resident but are instead treated as shared patients throughout the process. On the initial day of consultation, patients are interviewed by both chief residents and preoperative photographs are obtained. Operative plans are determined in concert with the patient’s wishes. These plans and the preoperative photographs are then reviewed at a weekly preoperative conference. Input is provided by all attending surgeons on staff and a final operative course is determined and discussed with a single attending surgeon of record. Intra-operative attending input and aid is readily available when requested. As a result of its availability, this additional and expert perspective is frequently utilized.
Requirements for residency include the completion of a significant research project for presentation at the national meeting and participation in the annual resident research day. Participation in both basic science and clinical research is encouraged throughout the six years of training and many opportunities exist to this end.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Submission requirements:
- USMLE/NBME scores
- Personal Statement
- Dean's Letter
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Medical School Transcript
- Recent Photograph
APPLICATION TIMELINE 2009-2010
November 1st — Deadline for application submission
Early November — Interview invitation sent to potential residents
December 17th & January 29th — Interviews are conducted
February — Match list is compiled
March — Match day is held
Residency Program Coordinator:
Lynn Cauble
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
Dept. of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Medical Center Blvd.
Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1075
Phone 336.713.4372
Fax 336.716.8759
Email lcauble@wfubmc.edu