Career Development - Plastic Surgery

 
What Does Training Look Like?

Plastic Surgery residencies are at least six years for integrated programs which start after medical school, and three years for independent programs.  Independent programs are plastic surgery residency programs that occur after a prerequisite surgical residency, including general surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, orthopedic surgery, and urology. There are post-residency fellowships available.

 
Subspecialties
  • Craniofacial Surgery

  • Hand Surgery

  • Microsurgery

  • Gender Affirmation Surgery

  • Cosmetic Surgery

 
What Does a Typical Workday Look Like?

Plastic surgeons can expect to spend 40-55 hours per week seeing patients, on average. On call schedule can be demanding. 

 
Important Qualities and Traits
Plastic Surgery requires much specialized knowledge and skill in the design and surgery of grafts, flaps and free tissue transfer and replantation. Innovation, technical expertise, ethical behavior and interpersonal skills are all necessary.
 
Shadowing Opportunities
Shadowing opportunities are available by contacting Debra Felix
 
Research Opportunities

If you are interested in conducting research relevant to plastic surgery, contact Dr. Abigail Chaffin for opportunities.

Additionally, students may want to pursue research opportunities through the DeBakey Scholars Program. This program offers medical students the opportunity to pursue and complete a longitudinal, structured, closely supervised research experience culminating in a capstone presentation prior to graduation. For more information, contact Dr. Derek Pociask. 

 
Specialty Interest Group

For information on the Plastic Surgery Interest Group, please see their website. 

Recommended T3 & T4 Coursework

Students should select a variety of surgery rotations for their fourth year, and request to serve in plastics.

 
Specialty Statistics

Summary Statistics (from "Charting Outcomes in the Match 2022")

Matched 

Measure                                                                                              (n=146)                                                                                         

 

1.    Mean number of contiguous ranks

13.9

2.    Mean number of distinct specialties ranked

1.2

3.    Mean USMLE Step 1 score

251

4.    Mean USMLE Step 2 score

257

5.    Mean number of research experiences

6.1

6.    Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications

28.4

7.    Mean number of work experiences

3.8

8.    Mean number of volunteer experiences

9.2

9.    Percentage who are AOA members

37.7

10. Percentage who graduated from one of the 40 U.S. medical schools with the highest NIH funding

34.9

11. Percentage who have Ph.D. degree

2.2

12. Percentage who have another graduate degree

20.7

Note: Only U.S. MD seniors who gave consent to use their information in research are included.

Sources. NRMP Data Warehouse; Top 40 U.S. medical schools with the highest NIH funding in measure 10 is from the NIH website (http://report.nih.gov/award/index.cfm).

 

 
 
Important Advice

An away rotation is HIGHLY advised.

This is a very competitive specialty, so the overall application should be well-rounded and strong.

 
Where Past Tulane Students Have Matched (Past Five Years)

 

U South Florida Morsani COM-Tampa TAMPA FL 2019
Zucker SOM‐Northwell NS/LIJ‐NY GREAT NECK NY 2020
U Southern California LOS ANGELES CA 2020
U Texas Southwestern Med Sch-Dallas DALLAS TX 2021
Cleveland Clinic Fdn-OH CLEVELAND OH 2022
U Southern California LOS ANGELES CA 2023