Plastic Surgery Hand Fellowship
The primary goal of this program is to prepare individuals for an academic career in Hand Surgery and train physicians to become successful competent hand and microsurgery specialists. A competent physician must have clinical expertise in all aspects of pre, intra, and postoperative hand and microsurgical managements for children and adults. The competent hand surgeon must also have skills to teach other residents, fellows, medical students, nurses, physical/occupational therapists, emergency medicine personnel, and physicians in practice. A successful hand surgeon must be trained to conduct research, clinical or basic science. Such training allows a greater appreciation and understanding of published research and greatly enhances one’s ability to determine whether a literature report has merit. This is necessary to set the framework for continued self-education after training, and advances the science of hand and microsurgery. Finally, the hand surgeon must also understand principles of administration. Fellows in hand surgery must become knowledgeable about financial matters, third party payers, and hospital staff privileges as well as medical-legal issues. They must be facile in interacting with others outside their institution and in handling discord when it arises. Thus, the successful competent hand surgeon will be well-trained in patient care, teaching, research and administration. These goals are readily available both verbally and in writing to all fellows and faculty of the program. In addition, annual fellowship reviews attended by faculty, residents and fellows reassess how these goals are being addressed. The hand fellow must be an expert in treating all aspects of hand surgery including management of trauma/fractures, arthridities, vasculidities, congenital differences, nerve compression syndromes, palsies, open wounds, burns, infections, and tumors (benign and malignant). This expertise includes learning to interact with other subspecialties. Through consultations on other services and to other services there is interaction with pediatric and adult orthopedic residents and fellows, general surgery, anesthesiologists/pain management specialists, pediatricians, emergency room physicians, and hospitalists. The overall program's goals are to provide trainees with the knowledge and basic experience to become the following:
    Accomplished clinicians
  • through the guided study of the pathophysiology of hand and upper extremity maladies in children and adults
  • by becoming proficient in diagnostic and procedural skills used in the management of these patients
  • with the development of the attitudes and communication skills appropriate to facilitate interaction with patients, families, physicians, nurses, and other health professionals
    Effective medical educators
  • via contact with appropriate role models at the bedside and during didactic presentations
  • through critical commentary by faculty on didactic presentations and participation in conferences organized or led by the trainee
  • through the monitored supervision of residents and medical students
    Skilled investigators:
  • by demonstrating a supervised progression toward formulation of testable research hypotheses
  • learning proper experimental design and methodology
  • developing skills for the effective presentation of research results
    Efficient administrators
  • through supervised acquisition of experience in management and problem solving while being part of a multidisciplinary medical team

Application

Listed below is the application for the Plastic Surgery Hand Fellowship, to be printed and filled out.

Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship Application (PDF)