Well, the Duke Plastic Surgery Residency training program has been on a journey, been on a journey since its inception
The idea is to always become stronger and to be able to change with the environment around it
So when you look at it
We've gone from an independent to an integrated residency training program and with that change, there are
significant
Challenges we're at the point now, we're one
Finishing this year with our independent program and we will have our first graduating class of the integrated program next year
Change is an opportunity. We have taken advantage of the opportunity. We continue to grow and continue to get stronger
That's a wonderful thing. It's great to be part of it
So what makes the Duke Plastic Surgery Residency training program special to me is without a doubt the people
Yeah, it's just that simple
it's the people, you know, any academic medical center can have power and prestige and resources and case complexity but
Here at Duke we have the people. I feel reconstructive surgery and microsurgery in particular
Have changed the way we treat
patients in my area in particular
it has been because of the
Advances in microsurgery as well as in immunology and transplantation that we have been able to create
Or a new field has been able to be born
which can
Reconstruct tissues that before could not be reconstructed and provide not only quality of life but in certain cases
prolong life as well
All we have a diverse group of residents come from all parts of the country from many different backgrounds
So it brings
Unique perspectives that I think you can't get at all other places
Special to me is really how close everyone is here. I like the size of the program
It's big enough that you get the diversity, but it's small enough that it really feels like a family people know
You know your spouses they know your children. You've been to the attendings homes. So it's really supportive in that way
Duke's a wonderful place to work. I think the thing that makes it so good is the people that work here
everybody's
Inspired by the opportunity that they have to be at a wonderful university
With an outstanding medical center and everybody wants to make the most of that opportunity. It's a very collegial
Collaborative environment and also it's a friendly workplace. So
I've worked now at Duke for eight years and
Hopefully we'll be here for much longer. The Duke Plastic Surgery program is special overall
Because it's a resident-centered training program. I think what's special about this program and
About Duke but mainly about plastic surgery is that we have resources that other programs in the country
Do not have and when I say resources I'm talking about
The clinical volume and diversity that we have here. I'm talking about the resources available for research
I'm also talking about the resources available as our faculty
they're always interested in training and teaching and
Giving each resident special attention so they can further their education
in plastic surgery
Why is reconstructive surgery important? Reconstructive surgery is the restoration of form and function. I think we touch on every part of the human condition
everything from
psychology to
functional movements to skin wound healing
I think the things that I appreciate most about the university is the talented people that I'm around and the resources that are here. I
Find that there are some
many very bright people who are good thinkers, who are like-minded, who work towards a common goal, who are
willing and able to collaborate in a multidisciplinary
manner and seek to solve complicated problems
that
Might be difficult to solve in other
Environments where there are less resources and less talented people
The thing that is the strongest about the residency program is the formation of future leaders
it certainly does a good job of providing the technical training and
Expertise that's required. But it also instills a characteristic of inquiry and
Being able to have confidence enough to push the envelope and think to yourself
How can we do things even better and go ahead and give them a try because of that self-confidence that's been instilled
So what makes the Duke Plastic Surgery Residency program special to me I think is the people that are in the program
It's a very collaborative atmosphere
We're very supportive of each other
and I think one of the most important things is when we come to work we
Enjoy the people we work with and I think that's probably one of the key elements of being happy in a residency training program
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