How to get into a career in plastic surgery

There is a one day course coming up in Liverpool on how to get into plastic surgery. It is run by Prosthetic Innovations.

Plastic surgeons are generally an energetic bunch who have done a lot and been through the mill. Trainers are exacting and expect a high standard.

For what is worth my advice is to become interested early, demonstrate initiative and participate in as many plastic surgery related activities as possible.

As a medical student
- Visit local unit
- Do a special study module in plastic surgery
- Attend the UPRAS conference
- Attend the BAPRAS plastic surgery day for medical students
- Organise a plastic surgery related elective
- Read general plastic surgery related books to find out about the specialty and its illustrious history

Foundation years
As above plus . . .
- Work towards MRCS
- Get involved with local plastic surgery unit, think about small research projects and audit

Core surgical trainee
As above plus. . .
- Pass MRCS ASAP
- Work hard to get ranked high enough to get the rotation with plastic surgery
- Seek advice from consultants and more senor trainees on what they are looking for in a plastic surgery trainee.
- Meticulous preparation for ST3 interviews. Tick all the boxes. It seems obvious but some trainees don't bother. . . .

Any more suggestions?

Check out: Jalali M, Davies PS, Tehrani H, Winterton RI. The UK plastic surgery trainee. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2011; 64:1716–1717.

Freedlander E. Careers in plastic surgery. BMJ Careers 2009. 

Davies C. 15 minutes with a plastic surgeon. BMJ Careers 2008.

Microsurgery Courses

There is an advert on the PLASTA website about a new Irish microsurgery course. It will be held at the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland in conjunction with the Christine M. Kleinert Institute between 15th and 19th November. Email enquiries to Mr. Sean Carroll (plasticsurgery@beaconclinic.ie).

In the UK the Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research (Imperial College London) run Micorsurgery Workshops and Advanced Microsurgery Workshops. Contact Mrs. Shirley Jenks (020 8869 3265, s.jenks@imperial.ac.uk).

There are many other courses worldwide. One with an excellent reputation is at Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, India. It was reviewed in a BMJ careers article a few years ago.

Reconstructive Trauma Surgery Fellowships

The Severn Deanery is managing the recruitment for four interface fellowships in reconstructive trauma surgery. Closing date: 22nd October 2010

The posts are based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for 3 months in duration from March 1st 2011.

Further information available here. The candidate support line is 01454 252610.

Update:
Three cleft interface fellowships have been advertised. Administered by Severn Deanery. Closing date: Friday 12th November 2010. Further information as above.

Life as a military plastic surgeon

There is an interview with Wing Commander Demetrius Evriviades in this months RCS Bulletin. He is one of three military plastic surgeons at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. He describes his clinical practice managing casualties from Afghanistan.

Blogging Burd

Andrew Burd is professor of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He has been blogging for the BMJ for a while. His major interests are paediatric burns and palliation of advanced malignancy.

He writes about his clinical work and related issues. Using his wealth of experience to illustrate his views on many topics. Check out the blog here.