Didactics

The Department holds educational conferences on select Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings 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. A full time micro-surgical laboratory is available for training and research projects. The department provides funding for research projects accepted for presentation at regional or national conferences.

All PGY levels are encouraged to attend one instructional course per year. Although course are suggested below, alternative courses may be considered.

PGY 6 – Senior Residents Conference

PGY 5 – Flap Course (Penn or Duke)

PGY 4 – ORC Plastic Surgery Research Council or ACAPS Winter Meeting

PGY 3 – AO Hand  or Basics Course

PGY 2 – ASMS Basic Craniomaxillofacial Course

PGY 1 – ACAPS/ASPS-ASRM Resident Bootcamp

 The department provides opportunity each year for UVA medical students and plastic surgery residents to present research projects at our annual Raymond Morgan Research Day. Presentations are evaluated and awards are presented in June at Graduation.  UVA medical students compete for the Larry Nichter Medical Student Research Award and Residents participate in a competition for the Best Presentation and Most Comprehensive Body of Work Awards.

Our Department of Plastic, Maxillofacial and Oral Health was honored to have Dr. Morgan join our team for the 2025 Research Day

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.

2025 Coleman Lecture – Dr. Craig Birgfeld, Plastic Surgery Craniofacial Fellowship Director at the University of Washington spoke on Facial Reanimation and Craniofacial Trauma. 

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, the departments of Plastic Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery have jointly hosted well renowned Hand Surgeons for this lectureship.

Thomas Jefferson Visiting Professor

Several times during the past decade, distinguished medical doctors have been invited to visit the University of Virginia. This is sponsored by both the Department, and at times, by the Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF) Visiting Professor Program.

In November 2025 the department hosted, our very own alumni,  Jack Fisher, MD.  Dr. Fisher spoke on the History of Plastic Surgery and included his time as a resident with Dr. Edgerton, the first Chairperson for UVA Plastic Surgery.

Ronald Barton Visiting Professor

Each year, our department host’s a renowned speaker for our Ronald Barton visiting professor lectureship.   Dr. Barton was well known at UVA and in Virginia for his Burn and Microsurgery expertise.

This year we had the honor of hosting the Chief of Plastic Surgery from the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Samuel Poore.  He spoke on international burn care and innovation growth in plastic surgery.