Plastic Surgery Rotations

Plastic Surgery Rotation: University of Louisville Hospital (ULH)

The UofL Hospital rotation has a broad clinical base with a concentration of trauma, burn, and critical care experience. The Hospital is designated as a Level I Trauma Center, and it houses our adult burn unit. Thus, the clinical goals of this rotation are to become skilled in the following principles and techniques:

• Critical care
• Trauma and burn resuscitation
• Maxillofacial trauma, extremity trauma, and general trauma surgery
• Burn care, grafting, and reconstruction
• Major flap and microvascular reconstructions

These clinical goals are supported by several weekly bedside teaching rounds. These include Plastic Surgery Service rounds, with the University attending, interdisciplinary Burn Service rounds, and multidisciplinary Trauma rounds, involving all services participating in trauma care. The multi-disciplinary structure of this service also serves the goal of developing skills in effective interdisciplinary relationships for care of critically ill patients, which is present to a degree found in few other programs.

In addition, the University of Louisville Hospital rotation serves the goal of enhancing progress toward independent judgment and responsibility, as it is a trainee-run service, with the faculty serving in supervisory roles as attending consultants and teaching first assistants. The University clinics serve the goal of developing skills in pre- and post-operative care and in non-operative management of appropriate conditions. The Outpatient Clinic provides progressive responsibilities and continuity for Plastic Surgery fellows/residents. This clinic gives our fellows/residents the experience and responsibility for being the primary plastic surgeon for the patient in the context of appropriately supervised care. Increased responsibility and autonomy are encouraged in progressing PGY-levels. Safe opportunities for independent activity are provided. Supervision by attending surgeons is always present at the clinics. Dr. Joshua H. Choo will provide overall supervision at the University Hospital. He is complemented by all faculty when the needs arise.

Plastic Surgery Rotation: Reconstructive I and II Rotation

The adult reconstructive service at Jewish and Norton Hospitals provides a rich and diverse exposure to all areas of adult plastic surgery and serves goals of developing general reconstructive judgment and skills. The thoracic and cardiovascular service at Jewish Hospital provides challenging thoracic reconstructions and provides the goals of developing both reconstructive skills and critical care management. This rotation also includes a large transplant service and serves the goals of developing skills and knowledge in difficult wound problems as well as basic transplantation biology. The adult oncologic service at the Norton Hospital Cancer Center and the Brown Cancer Center serves the goal of enhancing judgment and experience in breast reconstruction, head and neck oncologic reconstruction, gynecologic oncologic reconstruction, and orthopedic oncologic reconstruction. Drs. Joshua Choo, Ryan Shapiro, and Gordon Tobin, mentor and direct this service.

Plastic Surgery Rotation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center Rotation

This trainee-run rotation is based in a large Veterans Affairs Medical Center Hospital ten minutes from the main campus. Its primarily mission serves the goals of acquiring experience in head and neck oncology and reconstruction, cutaneous malignancy oncology and reconstruction, and management of neurological injury complications, such as decubitus ulcers. In addition, this rotation serves the important goal of developing independent judgment and responsibility; both the service and its clinics are trainee-run with a full-time plastic surgeon attending serving in a supervisory role. Dr. Joshua H. Choo provides supervision at the VAMC.