UPMC Microvascular Reconstructive Fellowship Grant

The UPMC Microvascular Reconstructive Fellowship offers a one-year clinical program designed for qualified surgeons, focusing on mentorship in microsurgical techniques and comprehensive patient care. Participants will gain hands-on experience in reconstructive surgeries, including extremity trauma and facial reanimation, while also engaging in multidisciplinary cancer treatment. The fellowship emphasizes both clinical and didactic learning, with opportunities for research in renowned laboratories, ensuring fellows acquire a deep understanding of the field.

Duration and Scope
Length of educational program is one clinical year with research opportunities.
Admission open to those satisfactorily completing an accredited plastic surgery residency program or other appropriately qualified surgeons
Participation in microvascular and reconstructive cases at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital and several affiliated hospitals
Description of Fellowship
In-depth and comprehensive mentorship experience with the preoperative evaluation, treatment planning, operative treatment, and postoperative management of patients with congenital and acquired defects treatable by conventional and microsurgical techniques.Weekly outpatient clinic experience in the preoperative evaluation and postoperative management of microsurgical patients.Formal experience with extremity trauma, both acute and post-traumatic deformity reconstruction.Formal experience with post-extirpative head and neck reconstruction with multiple muscle, myocutaneous, fasciocutaneous, and osteofasciocutaneous free flaps.Formal experience with microvascular breast reconstruction, including muscle-sparing free TRAM, DIEP, SGAP, SIEP, and other less common techniques.Formal experience with non-microsurgical reconstruction of the trunk, head and neck, and extremities.Formal experience with microsurgical facial reanimation.
Clinical Goals and Objectives
To experience a broad education in the art and science of microsurgical reconstructive plastic surgery.To experience progressive senior surgical responsibility in the essential phases of patient care: preoperative evaluation, therapeutic decision making, operative experience, and postoperative management.To participate in the diagnosis, planning, operative treatment, and postoperative care of microsurgical reconstructive plastic surgery patients.To participate in a multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer and head and neck cancer treatment and reconstruction.
Didactic Goals and Objectives
To demonstrate ability to interpret radiological studies including angiography, CT, and MRI imaging modalities.To demonstrate an understanding of bone and soft tissue healing, both clinically and physiologically.To participate in resident education, both clinically and academically.To acquire and demonstrate depth of knowledge of the microsurgical literature.Research OpportunitiesWhile at least one clinical research project leading to presentation and publication is expected during the fellowship year, significant basic and applied basic science research opportunities are available. For those interested, research experience can be obtained in one of three nationally known laboratories.