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Trends in Microsurgery Fellowship Training to Pursue and Academic Plastic Surgery Career
Brandon T. Smith, MS
Francesco M. Egro, MBChB MSc MRCS
Vu T. Nguyen, MD
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
2020-01-23
Presenter: Brandon T Smith
Affidavit:
I advised for this project. However, the majority of the work represents the original work of the resident and medical student listed.
Director Name: Vu T. Nguyen
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Introduction:
The microsurgery fellowship has taken on new importance in career development, with many now pursuing fellowship training as a foundation for future academic careers. In an increasingly competitive environment, residents must be deliberate in the programs they choose. The aim of this study was to detail the effectiveness of individual fellowship programs in helping aspiring academics achieve their goal.
Methods:
We profiled all the currently practicing academic plastic surgeons in the United States during the 2019 year. This produced a database of 930 academics. Demographics, residency and fellowship background, practice interests, and practice type were collected from institutional and practice websites, Doximity, LinkedIn, and Google.
Results:
Of 930 academics, 18.8% were found to be microsurgery fellowship trained. For those academic microsurgeons, 60% were found to have trained at one of the 10 most-represented fellowships. In order of representation, these institutions included: MD Anderson, New York University, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Pennsylvania, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Stanford, University of Texas Southwestern, and University of Chicago.
Conclusions:
It appears that there are a select number of fellowship programs that produce a disproportionate number of academic microsurgeons. The reasons for this disparity are likely multifactorial but include improved networking and career-building opportunities. For microsurgery fellowship candidates interested in academia, this new analysis can help inform program selection and guide the application process.
