Author(s)
Kirkland N. Lozada, MD
Jason D. Bloom, MD
Affiliation(s)
New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
Abstract:
Summary: Our study shows fellowship applicants want strong exposure to business of medicine, rhinoplasty, aging face, while in their preferred location. Additionally, the majority of applicants seek employment in a plastic surgery focused group practice with its sole focus being the breadth of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.Core: Systems-based PracticeLevel IV - Case seriesLearning Objectives: Facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (FPRS) training programs offer exceptional exposure to the most current techniques in the field. However, no two programs are alike and applicants have many factors to weigh when ranking programs. Therefore, it is important to examine the factors that applicants believe to be most critical when choosing a FPRS fellowship. Understanding these factors may aid in improving the design of FPRS fellowships in the future.Study: To understand the importance of specific fellowship program characteristics to applicantsDesign: Anonymous online survey of FPRS fellows between the years 2018-2020 (total 147). Respondents were asked to rate importance of program factors on a Likert scale (1-5).Method: n/aResults: 63 of 147 (43%) applicants responded to the survey. Applicants found the type of practice, academic or private, equally important with score averages of 3.02 and 3.25 respectively. The two most important program factors to applicants were exposure to business of medicine/practice management (3.94) and location (3.4). We also surveyed the importance of exposure to specific surgical techniques to future fellows (Figure 2). The two most important areas include rhinoplasty (4.54) and aging face (4.44). Of the surveyed applicants, only 52% applied to programs offering microvascular reconstruction. Finally, we asked applicants about future career interests (Figure 3). 41/63 (65%) applicants were interested in private practice with 51% seeking a facial plastics/plastic reconstructive surgery group setting vs. solo practice, general otolaryngology group, or dermatology group practice. 48/61 (76%) want a mix of cosmetic/reconstructive surgery in their first 5 years of practice with lower numbers for purely cosmetic, purely reconstructive, and general otolaryngology with facial plastic surgery mix. 50/61 (79%) indicated they would not take a job that included microvascular reconstruction after fellowship. Finally, applicants were not very interested (average 1.94) in keeping general otolaryngology as part of their practice.Conclusion: Our study shows applicants want strong exposure to business of medicine, rhinoplasty, aging face, while in their preferred location. Additionally, the majority of applicants seek employment in a plastic surgery focused group practice with its sole focus being the breadth of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.