Faculty at the UC Davis School of Medicine established a plastic surgery residency in 1978.  Our goal is to train residents in the safe, efficacious, and ethical delivery of plastic surgical services.  We strive to educate residents in the principles of plastic surgery; to teach problem-solving, and to impart the technical skills necessary for completion of a therapeutic plan.

Our faculty includes Thomas R. Stevenson, MD, Professor and Chief (Program Director); Thomas P. Whetzel, MD, Professor; Granger B. Wong, MD, DMD, Associate Professor; Michael S. Wong, MD, Assistant Professor (Associate Program Director), Lee L.Q. Pu, MD, Professor, and Vik R. Reddy, MD, Assistant Professor.  We are committed to teaching the art and science of plastic surgery

The UC Davis Plastic Surgery Program is fully accredited by the ACGME.  We have two established training tracks for plastic surgery residents.  The Combined track allows applicants to match into our program after completing medical school.  This track consists of three years of general surgery training followed by two years of plastic surgery.  The Independent track matches applicants with a minimum of 3 years of training in a surgical specialty.  We match one Combined track and one Independent track resident each year.  Our Plastic Surgery Program is two years in duration.  We have two residents in each year of training, with a total of four plastic surgery residents matriculated at all times.

Sam Bartholomew, M.D.
Medical School - University of California, San Francisco
General Surgery Residency - Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon

Jeff Sweat, M.D.
Medical School - University of Kansas School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency - University of Kansas, Wichita

Andrew Dodd, M.D.
Medical School - University of Wisconsin Medical School
General Surgery Residency - University of California, Davis

William Vinyard, M.D.
Medical School - University of Kansas School of Medicine
General Surgery Residency - University of Kansas Medical Center

Our program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).  All applicants are considered and appointments are made by the Program Director, subject to the rules and regulations of the NRMP.  The Plastic Surgery Residency Program participates in the Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS).  When applying to the Combined track, our listing is found through ERAS under Plastic Surgery at UC Davis.  Our AAMC number is 11211059.
We will be accepting applications for the 2008 Match until October 31, 2007

We participate in the SF Match  and will only accept applications from individuals who submit their application through the Central Application Service (CAS) via the SF Match.  Our Program number is 61238. All applications  are considered and appointments are made by the Program Director, subject to rules and regulations of the 2008 SF Match. 
We will be accepting applications for the 2008 SF Match until December 31, 2007.

Residents are taught plastic surgery through broad clinical exposure and formal didactic sessions:

Clinical - Our educational program provides extensive exposure to the entire breadth of clinical plastic surgery.  The Division of Plastic Surgery works with the Trauma Surgery Service, in cooperation with the Departments of Otolaryngology and Orthopedics, to provide coverage for all maxillofacial and hand trauma.  In addition, our Division provides general and microsurgical reconstructive services for Orthopedic Trauma, Neurosurgery, Urology, Vascular Surgery, Cardiac Surgery, GI Surgery and Surgical Oncology.  Plastic surgery faculty members perform pediatric, craniofacial, and complex burn reconstructions.  In addition, we educate residents in a range of aesthetic plastic surgical procedures, including body contouring operations for patients who have lost significant weight following bariatric surgery. 

Didactic - Three one-hour conferences are scheduled on a weekly basis.  These include Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds, Case Conferences, and Friday didactic sessions.  Grand round topics are varied, reflecting the scope of plastic surgery, and are given by UCD faculty, plastic surgery residents, guest lecturers, and visiting professors.  Case conferences are presented by faculty and residents, often in a format similar to that of the Oral Boards.  Friday’s didactic conferences are based on CoreQuest, a comprehensive two-year curriculum covering topics in plastic surgery, supplemented by Selected Readings in Plastic Surgery and topical In-Service questions. We have a monthly journal club where several articles from the latest issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery are critically discussed.  Morbidity and mortality conference meets monthly in conjunction with the Department of Surgery.  A yearly Donald P. Hause Memorial Lecture features a prominent visiting professor who augments the education of our residents, faculty, and community plastic surgeons.

Residents rotate through five clinical services during their two years of plastic surgery residency.  The majority of time is spent on the University Service where the more complex reconstructions and aesthetic surgery is performed.  The Shriners Hospital Service provides more in-depth experience with burn reconstruction and pediatric plastic surgery.  During the Kaiser rotation, each plastic surgery resident has an opportunity to learn management of benign and malignant skin neoplasms and breast reconstruction in a managed care setting.  The Hand Service gives residents concentrated exposure to the principles and practice of hand surgery with an emphasis on complex congential, neurologic and arthritic hand problems.  Additional experience in managing hand problems, skin neoplasms, and patients requiring other oncologic reconstructions is found at the VA Hospital.

The four plastic surgery residents are assigned alternately to the above rotations.  A Chief resident, a first year plastic surgery resident, and an Intern are on the University Service at all times.  Both categorical and preliminary general surgery interns, as well as ones from Orthopedics and Otolaryngology, rotate on the plastic surgery for one month during their first year of training.  Each resident is given increasing responsibility for preoperative and postoperative management of the service patients as their training progresses.  Interns are required to attend the Cypress Clinic twice a week and are expected to be involved in the operating room upon completion of other service responsibilities.  The plastic surgery residents are required to attend 1 ½ days of Clinic, split between the UC Davis and C Street (off site) clinics.  Home call is distributed amongst the plastic surgery residents, with trauma call (hand and maxillofacial call) covered by an In-House Intern every third night.  We adhere strictly to the 80-hour work week and other ACGME work hour guidelines.

Medical student teaching receives considerable attention.  Each third year student is assigned a faculty mentor for the rotation.  That mentor reviews patient write-ups and focuses on pertinent plastic surgical issues presented.  All the faculty and residents work with every medical student daily during his/her rotation, involving the student in every aspect of patient care on the wards, in the clinic, and operating room.  We hold medical students responsible for selected patients.  Students write daily progress notes, and report on patients’ progress during rounds.  Participation in the operating room is encouraged.  Medical students take call with the service intern according to a schedule established by the Surgery Course Director.  At the end of the plastic surgery rotation, each student is expected to present on a topic of his/her choice.  In addition to third year medical students, we often host visiting fourth year medical students who serve as acting interns during the first few months of the academic year.

All faculty members are involved in academic projects, with most research being clinical.  There are opportunities for basic science collaboration within the University.  Plastic surgery residents are expected to participate in at least one project per year that results in a presentation at a local, regional or national plastic surgery meeting.  Residents are strongly encouraged to publish the results of their work.  If a resident is interested in dedicated research time, advance notice is necessary.  It may be possible to make time for additional research.

Please contact Lisa Madden, Plastic Surgery Residency Coordinator at (916) 734-2568 or you can email your inquires to plasticsurg.residency@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.