Thomas J. Gampper, M.D., F.A.C.S. – Program Director

1996 marked the inception of the integrated plastic surgery residency training program at the University of Virginia. One resident is accepted each year. This program is truly integrated; each rotation during the first three years is selected in order to provide the best possible foundation on which to build an education in plastic surgery. The Department of Plastic Surgery considers all applicants to its integrated program and participates with ERAS and the National Resident Matching Program. No additional documents are required beyond those specified in ERAS; please submit three letters of reference.

Application deadline for the Integrated Residency Program is November 1, 2012. 

The successful applicant will begin residency July 1, 2013.

Interview dates will be Thursday, December 20, 2012 and Thursday, January 24, 2013.

For questions regarding the integrated residency program, please contact :

Freda McClung, Program Coordinator
(434) 924-1234

fm3s@virginia.edu

Curriculum

The University of Virginia  integrated plastic surgery residency program is designed to provide a broad education in general surgery, and specific training in plastic surgery. Our goal is to train independent plastic surgeons who are competent practitioners, who excel and become leaders in their field and communities, and are eligible and qualified to become Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Our program is truly an integrated one, with rotations in plastic surgery and fields that fall within the scope of plastic surgery beginning intern year. All rotations during the first three years are chosen in order to provide the best possible foundation on which to build an education in plastic surgery. In addition to general surgery, other rotations during the first three years include occuloplastics, plastic surgery, head and neck surgery and reconstruction, facial plastic surgery, Mohs surgery, and hand surgery. During the last 3.5 years of residency, all rotations are dedicated to plastic surgery. Residents are trained in all aspects of plastic surgery including thermal injury, reconstructive surgery, microvascular reconstruction, head and neck reconstruction, craniofacial trauma, hand surgery, pediatric plastic surgery, cleft and craniofacial surgery, and aesthetic surgery. Our training model is that of an apprenticeship: during each rotation, each resident is assigned to one attending and participates in all patient care within that attending’s scope of practice. Residents participate in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management of each patient and are encouraged to formulate and execute treatment plans as they progress in training. During the chief year, a separate Chief Resident’s Clinic is maintained to allow for independent growth.

Example Integrated Program Schedule

Conferences and Education

The Department holds educational conferences on Monday afternoon and Wednesday morning at which all residents and attendings are present. During this time, the core curriculum is discussed, fractures and interesting cases are reviewed, and a quarterly mortality and morbidity conference is held. Additionally, one Wednesday each month is dedicated to the discussion of hand surgery topics, held jointly by the departments of orthopaedic surgery and plastic surgery.

Both clinical and basic science research is strongly encouraged during the resident's tenure. The department has a full-time adipose stem cell and tissue engineering laboratory, an active wound healing research laboratory as well as a full-time microsurgical laboratory which are available for training and research projects. The department provides full funding for all research projects accepted for presentation at regional or national conferences.

During the PGY-4 year in the integrated program and the PGY-6 year in the independent program, residents travel to attend the ASMS Basic Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Course. During the PGY-5 year in the integrated program and the PGY-7 year in the independent program, residents travel to attend the Duke University Flap Course. During the chief year, the program provides support for residents to attend the American Association of Plastic Surgeons annual meeting.  

The Department hosts several internationally and nationally-known plastic surgeons as visiting professors each year:

Claude C. Coleman, Jr. and Sr. Lectureship in Craniofacial Surgery

Each year since 1992, a renowned craniofacial surgeon is invited to the University of Virginia to present lectures to the Department of Plastic Surgery highlighting new advances in craniofacial surgery. Surgeons who have held this lectureship in recent years include Joseph Losee, M.D., Mimis Cohen, M.D., John A. Persing, M.D., Henry Kawamoto, M.D., Kenneth Salyer, M.D., Paul Manson, M.D., and Steven R. Buchman, M.D. among others.

Morgan-McCue Visiting Professor

Inaugurated in 2009, the Morgan-McCue Visiting Professorship brings an outstanding hand surgeon to the Medical Center for two lectures. Since its inception, W.P. Andrew Lee, M.D., David Green, M.D., Peter J. Stern, M.D, and James P. Higgins, M.D. have held this lectureship.

Thomas Jefferson Visiting Professor

Several times during the past decade, distinguished medical doctors have been invited to visit the University of Virginia.