Throughout your surgical training, you’ll develop increasing independence and learn side-by-side with experienced faculty. The resident-to-faculty ratio is typically 1:1, and residents rarely watch other residents perform surgery. Because of our diverse and high-volume caseload, the number of operative opportunities far exceeds the number of residents. That gives us the freedom to connect residents to the best educational cases.
Training consists of 6 clinical years and a research year. Clinical years are divided into roughly three phases:
- Phase 1: Training focuses on the transition from medical student to physician, developing general surgical knowledge and skill, as well as specialized focus on plastic surgery.
- Phase 2: Residents solidify their foundation in plastic surgery and become competent surgeons-in-general, capable of overseeing large clinical services.
- Phase 3: Residents add finesse to their plastic surgery capabilities, becoming capable of independent practice as competent plastic surgeons.
Your training ground consists of the University of Michigan Medical Center — comprising an adult hospital, a children’s and women’s hospital, a cardiovascular center, and multiple outpatient surgery centers; Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in nearby Ypsilanti, Michigan; St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital; and the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.
Discover the spaces where you'll train, learn and practice at the University of Michigan Medical School Department of Surgery. As one of the largest training programs in the country, we provide unparalleled opportunities for our learners. Explore the clinical, work and common areas where you’ll train and grow as a physician.
The Chief Resident Clinic (CRC) is a vital training experience for residents in their last year of residency at the University of Michigan. It provides an opportunity for residents to make clinical decisions, execute operative plans, and follow their patients with a high level of autonomy. In the CRC, residents get a taste of practicing on their own while still having access to attending guidance and supervision when needed. Choosing a plastic surgery program that facilitates ever-increasing levels of clinical and operative autonomy will directly impact your first year of practice and board collection period.
The Chief (6th year) residents run the Plastic Surgery Chief Clinic while on a two-month Silver Service rotation with dedicated staff resources including clerical lead, surgery scheduler, MA specialist & RN Support. They have the autonomy to run clinic as an attending physician would, including scheduling and monthly dedicated OR blocks for resident cases. Residents also participate in the Indications Conference to promote resident training and education. Residents perform the following procedures under the supervision of a board-certified Plastic Surgery faculty member: body contouring, breast reductions, botox and filler injections.
Residents have a non-accredited year of Academic Development Time (ADT) between clinical training years PGY-3 and PGY-4. The first three years of residency provide an opportunity for residents to become familiar with the research being done in the department, develop relationships with primary investigators, and finalize a research proposal.
You’ll work hard at Michigan, but we recognize the importance of balancing work with personal time and wellness. When you are at work, we provide you with the support and the tools that make for a fulfilling professional experience. All plastic surgery residents are part of the House Officers Association, a collective bargaining unit.
The Department of Surgery supports the Michigan Promise, a commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment in which all individuals can achieve the highest excellence in clinical care, research, and education.
- Nishant Ganesh Kumar, MD
- Geoffrey Hespe, MD
- Austin Remington, MD
- Rami Sherif, MD
- Amy Strong, MD, PhD
- Shelby Svientek, MD
- Nicholas Berlin, MD, MPH, MS
- Sarah Kennedy, MD
- Gina Sacks, MD
- Alfred Yoon, MD
- Jessica Billig, MD, MS
- Carrie Kubiak, MD
- David Stepien, MD, MS, PhD
- Vickram Tandon, MD
- Jeffrey Lisiecki, MD
- Thomas Olinger, MD
- Jessica J. Hsu, MD, PhD
- Katherine Santosa, MD
- Calvin Young, MD
