Integrated Residency Program

Welcome to the Yale Plastic Surgery Residency Program!

The year 2020 marked our 50th anniversary as a training program whose mission is to provide a broad-based educational curriculum covering all aspects of plastic surgery, to promote innovation and excellence in plastic surgery research and clinical care, and to serve and provide outstanding care for all community members who seek our expertise and care.

Through the combined efforts of our full and part-time faculty members, we aim to graduate comprehensively trained plastic surgeons who can meet and exceed the highest expectations in patient care, clinical safety, and ethical behavior, while also adapting to the ever-changing landscape of plastic surgery and making their own significant contributions to practice innovation. Our residents are chosen through a stringent system that encompasses the person as a whole rather than exam scores or scholastic aptitude alone, and they are expected to meet high standards throughout residency while also being provided with a supportive and safe environment to promote personal well-being and professional development through individualized attention and coaching.

I appreciate your interest in our program and if there are any questions that are not answered by the information provided here, please feel free to reach out to our team. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,
Henry Hsia, MD
Program Director, Yale Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Through the combined efforts of the 20 full and part-time faculty members, a broad educational program is provided in the basic science, clinical and research aspects of plastic surgery. Balanced experience is provided in the biology of disease and the clinical management of problems in congenital craniofacial deformity, cranial base surgery, vascular anomalies, hand surgery, burns, cancer surgery, maxillofacial and extremity trauma, head and neck tumors, microvascular surgery and aesthetic surgery. The program affords the resident an opportunity to acquire a broad base of knowledge and the core information necessary for Board Certification in Plastic Surgery. The residency is fully accredited by the Residency Review Committee in Plastic Surgery.

Education

The Yale Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Residency is a fully accredited six-year integrated educational program. A broadly based program, the first few years are characterized by learning essential skills in preoperative and postoperative management, the management of acutely ill patients, critical care management, and increasing experience in plastic surgery and related disciplines. The subsequent years are exclusively devoted to plastic surgery with educational experience in craniofacial, hand and upper extremity, microsurgery for oncologic and traumatic defects, general reconstructive care, and cosmetic surgery. In the PGY5 year, residents are able to take advantage of international surgical service in developing countries and three months of individually designed educational program. Residents have elected research and clinical experiences worldwide during this time period.

Conferences

Weekly conferences include clinical review of cases, didactics, and grand rounds. The section’s grand rounds feature a variety of speakers, including pioneers in plastic and reconstructive surgery worldwide and experts on topics relevant to the practice of medicine. A select number of grand rounds have been recorded and are available for viewing.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Yale School of Medicine is committed to creating and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. To read more about its efforts and goals, please visit the Yale Diversity, Equity & Inclusion page.