Rotations

Resident rotations (PGY 4-6):

In the first year, junior plastic surgery residents rotate through the Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children’s Hospital and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.  During the second year, senior plastic surgery residents also rotate through the Shriner’s Burn Hospital. In the third year, trainees spend the majority of the year as chief resident at a combination of the BIDMC, MGH and/or BWH, and all residents spend additional time at the CH as chief resident.  In addition, a protected elective block during the chief year is designated to allow residents to explore areas of special interest in plastic surgery, arrange for visits to other institutions or with other surgeons outside the Harvard system, interview for jobs, attend meetings, and complete ongoing research projects.   A clinical rotation may also be an added for the final year.

RESIDENT ROTATION SCHEDULE SAMPLE

BIDMC:  Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
BWH:  Brigham and Women’s Hospital
CH:  Children’s Hospital
MGH:  Massachusetts General Hospital
SBH:  Shriners Burn Hospital
E:  Elective

Team Organization:

At each of the hospitals, the residents are part of a team headed by the chief resident, including a number of junior surgery residents, interns, medical students. Each teaching hospital incorporates daily inpatient rounds, operating room experience and clinic exposure.  There is a system of graded responsibility and appropriate independence in the operating room. In addition to the full time permanent staff, there is also a hand and microsurgical fellow at the MGH and BIDMC, a reconstructive breast fellow at the BIDMC, and a pediatric/craniofacial fellow at CH. Through close supervision and graded responsibility the residents will be taught the necessary technical skills to carry out a complete range of plastic surgery procedures.