RESEARCH

Large research facilities are available at the University of Illinois Hospital. In addition, there is a microsurgery laboratory for training of the residents and students in the techniques of microsurgery. With the increased number of funds and the present of additional research fellows, several projects are currently ongoing. The residents are encouraged to participate in research and to complete and present at least one clinical/research project each year.

An average of 15 papers, book chapters and abstracts are published yearly by the attending staff and residents of our Division.

TEACHING

Teaching of the residents by the attending staff includes:

a. Informal one-to-one clinical teaching in the clinics, the ER, operating room and wards

b. Conferences, including:

• Weekly lectures by attending staff and guest speakers
• Weekly indications conference
• Monthly Journal Club
• Bi-monthly M & M Conference
• Monthly Core Curriculum Lectures

c. Microsurgery laboratory

d. Cadaver dissection

e. Library with an extensive selection of books, journals, and videotapes and DVD’s.

f. During rotation for Hand and Burn, residents participate in all scheduled conferences of these services.
STUDENTS

Third-year medical students rotate through our service during their surgical clerkship. Our Division offers an elective clerkship of a minimum of four weeks to fourth-year medical students or equivalent level from other institutions and other countries.

Residents participate actively in the training of medical students along with the attendings.

TEACHING OBLIGATIONS OF THE RESIDENTS

The residents engage in ongoing teaching dialogue with the junior residents and students who rotate through our service. In addition, the residents participate actively and take their turns in presenting didactic lectures to students.

Teaching by our staff, including the residents, is so highly regarded by the medical school students that our service is one of the most sought-after and best subscribed to by the students on their required as well as elective rotations.

MEETINGS

Each resident, as well is supported to attend a major Plastic Surgery meetings each year. Opportunities are provided to attend several local or regional meetings each year.

Residents are encouraged to prepare and submit papers for presentation at meetings at the local, regional, and national levels. In keeping with the policy of the Department of Surgery at the University of Illinois, residents are allowed time and funding to attend such a meeting, as long as their paper has been accepted for presentation.

Senior residents attend the Senior Plastic Surgery Residents’ Conference each year on the condition that a paper is accepted for presentation.