PGY1 Rotation

The first year of training is specifically designed to provide an introduction to plastic surgery and generate a well-rounded understanding of surgical patient care. Rotations are structured with core plastic surgery rotations and core general surgery rotations. Residents will spend 12 weeks of the first year on dedicated plastic surgery rotations including both aesthetic and reconstructive rotations throughout the various UC San Diego sites.

Additional core surgery rotations include trauma, burn surgery, general surgery, and vascular surgery. These core surgical rotations are designed to facilitate a clear understanding of critical patient management, as well as pre- and post-operative patient care.

Residents will also have the opportunity to rotate through specialty services including anesthesia, emergency medicine and neurosurgery. Each specialty rotation will provide the resident with exposure to ancillary surgical services and generate an understanding of common environments for plastic surgery practice.

The combination of plastic surgery, core surgery and specialty rotations provide the first year resident with a clear knowledge base as they begin their surgical training.

PGY2 Rotation

As the resident progresses into their second year of training, increased emphasis is placed toward plastic surgery with 16 weeks of dedicated plastic surgery rotations and an additional four weeks with pediatric plastic surgery.

Core surgical rotations in the PGY2 focuses on critical patient management including rotations with the intensive care unit, transplant surgery and pediatrics surgery. Residents are instructed by surgical critical care specialists and work alongside pediatric surgery specialists to gain a well-rounded knowledge in caring for the critical patient.

Specialty rotations in PGY2 include dermatology, urology and hand surgery. These specialty rotations are designed to provide the residents with a comprehensive knowledge base in the rapidly expanding specialty of plastic surgery.

PGY3 Rotation

The third year of integrated training provide the resident with increasing dedicated plastic surgery rotations. In the third year, 40 weeks are divided between general reconstructive surgery and aesthetic plastic surgery including eight weeks at the Veterans Administration Hospital and an additional four weeks of pediatric plastic surgery at Rady Children’s hospital. At Rady Children’s Hospital the Resident is exposed to a full spectrum of pediatric plastic surgery including cleft lip and palate, and craniofacial surgery in addition to complex pediatric reconstructive surgery.

Specialty rotations in breast and hand surgery serve to strengthen these core competencies of plastic surgery during the third year of training.

The third year resident also participates actively in care team leadership, medical student education and didactic conferences as they prepare for their role as a senior resident.

PGY4 Rotation

The fourth year of residency will focus on developing independence in the treatment and planning of surgical cases. The resident will work directly with our plastic surgery faculty providing diagnosis, planning and treatment of general reconstructive and aesthetic surgery patients. The resident will have 28 weeks of plastic surgery rotations including 16 weeks of intermediate reconstructive surgery, four weeks of aesthetic surgery, including eight weeks at the Veterans Administration Hospital, and an additional eight week rotation in Pediatric Plastic Surgery at Rady Children’s Hospital.

The fourth year also represents an expansion of aesthetic surgery knowledge. The Resident will develop skills in evaluation of aesthetic deformities and the selection of corrective options including the preparation of surgical plans and appropriate procedures. Senior resident aesthetic clinics serve to mature the resident toward independent practice and operative skills.

Specialty surgical rotations in the fourth year include eight weeks in Hand (Ortho), and four weeks in Burn and Head and Neck.

PGY5 Rotation

The fifth year resident continues their advancement working directly with attending physicians to develop comprehensive perioperative plans for patient care and progressive advancement toward operative independence. The resident will have 36 weeks of plastic surgery rotations including eight weeks each of aesthetic surgery, advanced reconstruction surgery, advanced aesthetic reconstruction surgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Veterans Administration hospital. An additional eight week rotation in pediatric plastic surgery and hand surgery and four weeks of oral and maxillofacial surgery provides the broad spectrum and a comprehensive understanding of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

The PGY5 resident conducts an increasing number of aesthetic procedures. In addition to more technically demanding operative cases, the resident also will become familiar with and participate in ambulatory cosmetic procedures such as nonsurgical facial rejuvenation and all aspects of skin care. The resident will also have the opportunity to rotate with prominent community cosmetic surgeons to expand their perspectives regarding aesthetic care.

PGY6 Rotation

The PGY6 will assume the role of Chief Resident and begins active participation in scheduling and increased leadership responsibilities as a mentor to midlevel and junior residents. Building on the previous five years the Chief Resident will have 36 weeks of plastic surgery rotations including eight weeks each of senior reconstructive surgery, senior reconstructive aesthetic surgery, and advanced aesthetic surgery. The Chief Resident will spend four weeks each at the Veterans Administration Hospital with plastic and reconstructive surgery, Oculoplastic surgery at the Shiley Eye Center, and continued participation with community plastic surgeons. An additional eight weeks of rotation each in hand surgery and pediatric plastic surgery completes the complement of rotations for the chief year.

Developing opportunities for fellowship training or preparation for private practice are incorporated into the Chief Resident year to provide a seamless advancement to the next stage of the surgeon’s career.