Educational Activities

Resident participation in the teaching conferences listed below is mandatory. Residents are excused from their clinical responsibilities in order to attend these conferences. There is a sign-in sheet that must be initialed by each resident for each conference.

A weekly didactic conference, Mondays. Based on a two-year cycle of didactic topics that is comprehensive and represents the basic core of plastic surgery. Inpatient work rounds are expected to be performed after this conference. All residents are expected to have read the assigned materials and be prepared to substantively discuss the assigned topics.

A weekly Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds, Thursdays. Subject matter changes weekly and includes morbidity/mortality, interdisciplinary hand/upper extremity, interdisciplinary maxillofacial trauma, and assigned topics from other surgeons or allied medical professionals. A related "indications" conference occurs once a month. Once a year, this conference devotes itself to sleep deprivation and recognizing signs of sleep deprivation.

The General Surgery Department also hosts a didactic conference in the same Thursday time slot, which covers topics relevant to plastic surgery. Residents will be notified in advance which of these conferences should be attended in lieu of plastic surgery conferences.

A "mock oral" examination, twice a year, fall and spring. An extension of the education program, this exercise introduces four exam room scenarios with four unknown clinical cases to review in each room. It is designed to simulate the oral board examination administered by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

A Journal Club, monthly. Journal articles are assigned in advance to every resident, who is expected to critically review the assigned manuscripts.

In addition, ad hoc research meetings address our clinical research projects, abstract preparation, abstract deadlines, paper presentation and related matters. Residents are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one clinical research project. Attendance at these research meetings also is highly encouraged.