University of California (San Diego) Medical Center Program

The UC San Diego Plastic Surgery Residency Program provides an integrated six-year training pathway for aspiring plastic surgeons. This innovative program is designed to prepare residents for the diverse and expanding field of plastic and reconstructive surgery, emphasizing a comprehensive clinical experience that spans multiple surgical specialties.

Training Sites

Residents in the program access a range of advanced clinical training facilities across four key campuses:

• Jacobs Medical Center (JMC): A modern facility that supports complex head and neck, surgical oncology, breast reconstruction, and aesthetic surgery.
• UCSD Medical Center at Hillcrest: This center encompasses a Level 1 Trauma Center, the regional burn center, and specialized services for vascular anomalies.
• Rady Children’s Hospital: The primary destination for pediatric plastic care in California, renowned for treating complex craniofacial disorders.
• The Veterans Administration Hospital: This facility offers opportunities for residents to engage in trauma, oncology reconstruction, transgender surgery, and advanced wound care.

Each of these training sites is strategically selected to provide exposure to a broad spectrum of plastic surgery, ensuring residents develop essential skills in patient care across various contexts.

Curriculum and Rotations

The residency curriculum is structured to develop a well-rounded understanding of plastic surgery through a series of core rotations, specialty training, and educational conferences. Across six years, residents will engage in:

• PGY1: Introduction to plastic surgery with rotations in aesthetics, general surgery, trauma, and burn surgery.
• PGY2: Increased focus on plastic surgery with rotations in pediatric plastic surgery and exposure to trauma and hand surgery.
• PGY3: Advanced rotations that emphasize aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, including significant opportunities at Rady Children’s Hospital.
• PGY4: Development of treatment independence and planning skills within a clinical setting.
• PGY5: Continued advancement focused on advanced aesthetic procedures and comprehensive perioperative care.
• PGY6: Chief residency, emphasizing leadership and mentoring junior residents while preparing for fellowship or practice.

The program facilitates a robust balance between clinical experience and educational development, with didactic conferences scheduled to promote continuous learning and engagement with current plastic surgery literature.

Research and Conferences

Research is a core component of the residency, with opportunities for residents to participate in various ongoing projects. The program hosts a range of conferences, including:

• Journal Club: Residents review and discuss current literature to foster critical evaluation skills.
• Treatment Planning Conference: A platform for residents to present pre-operative cases for discussion and evaluation.
• Morbidity and Mortality Conference: A forum to review surgical outcomes and enhance quality assurance practice.
• Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds: Involves presentations from faculty and invited speakers covering a wide array of topics relevant to the discipline.

Through these initiatives, residents engage deeply with the academic aspects of plastic surgery while contributing to their field.

International Opportunities

The residency program integrates international exposure by encouraging residents to partake in humanitarian surgical projects. Applicants can travel to underserved populations in Mexico and engage in telemedicine consultations with craniofacial clinics, enhancing global health outreach efforts and fostering a spirit of service.

Application Process

Prospective residents are encouraged to apply through the Plastic Surgery Common Application (PSCA). The program has specific application requirements that focus on recent graduation years and exam performance. They actively promote diversity and inclusivity within their ranks, striving to welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds, including DO and IMG applicants. They can provide visa sponsorship for the appropriate categories, making the program accessible to international medical graduates.

Resident Competitiveness and Support

Admission to the UC San Diego Plastic Surgery Residency Program is notably competitive, with a limited number of positions available in each application cycle. The residency strongly supports candidates through the entirety of the application process, including providing mentorship opportunities to enhance candidate preparedness.

Subinternship Opportunities

For those interested in gaining firsthand experience, the residency offers a funded visiting sub-internship aimed at applicants from institutions without a dedicated plastic surgery program. This opportunity allows participants to engage directly with the faculty and current residents, enhancing their application potential.