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. The department has a full-time PhD in Biomedical Engineering (Dr. Cottler) to guide resident research interest. A full time micro-surgical laboratory is 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 residents travel to attend the ASMS Basic Craniomaxillofacial Trauma Course. During the PGY-5 year residents travel to attend the Penn Flap Course. During the chief year, the program provides support for residents to attend a major national 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. This is often sponsored by the Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF) Visiting Professor Program.