Plastic Surgery Fellowship

I am writing this blog for all those who are interested in doing fellowship after they are done with their residency in Plastic surgery. I hope this blog helps people in Pakistan as well as the rest of the world, for finding the fellowship opportunities in plastic surgery. I will be happy to help anyone who wants more information or guidance.

Ever since I was a resident in Surgery, I have been keen in doing sub specialization. My desire became yearning while I was in the last years of my Plastic surgery residency. Fortunately, I got selected as a Regan Fellow by Operation smile in 2015. It is a USA based NGO that has a huge network around the world but unfortunately not here in Pakistan. This organization is working to provide free of cost cleft lip and palate surgery and also treats less complicated craniofacial conditions.

Although most of the surgeons who are on these medical missions are not cleft or craniofacial surgeons but I was lucky enough to work among the team of Japanese cleft surgeons who were working in a busy cleft program back in Tokyo, Japan. Our Team leader was Dr.Jesus Inciong , who later became a good friend of mine and a mentor. He guided me in the beginning of my craniofacial carrier by introducing me to the best craniofacial programs in North America and was ready to help me whenever I needed it.

In 2017, I applied in the prestigious American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS/PSF) International scholar program under which I was selected as a cleft and craniofacial ASPS scholar. The ASPS International scholar Program on an average has four fellowships, along with the Smile Train Scholars it makes a total of 6-8 ASPS International Scholar for a calendar year. Out of all these sponsored scholarships they only offer one cleft and craniofacial scholar program that is sponsored by PEER foundation (established in the memory of Lyndon Peer, MD). I was the lucky one to secure this wonderful opportunity and be a Scholar of this esteemed foundation. As a part of this program, I was able to attend the ASPS meeting in Orlando and was trained for a month each, at the three best cleft and craniofacial programs in Houston, Pittsburgh and New York.

While in USA in 2017, I endeavored on getting a university based craniofacial fellowship in order to strengthen my cleft & craniofacial skills. I also wanted to learn more of craniofacial surgeries to make these procedures available for the people of my country. Working under the mentorship of Dr Josph E. Losee (Craniofacial Program Director) was a felicitous experience during my visit as a fellow at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. It was his farsightedness that helped me a lot and introduced me to yet another Craniofacial fellowship program director in Birmingham, AL.

Finally in 2019 I got accepted as an International Craniofacial Fellow to University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. There I developed and refined myself professionally as a Craniofacial Surgeon under the guidance of yet another amazing mentor, Dr. John H Grant. He was not only a great supervisor; a true friend but also was with me through the thick and thin, during my stay at Alabama. I learned many valuable lessons from him and was able to develop special skills from his vast experience. In this fellowship I actively engaged in a couple of research projects as well.

My quest for knowledge and my passion for ear reconstruction and the congenital facial deformities brought me to these subspecialties of plastic surgery. The first one being a visit to the Pioneer of Medpor Ear Reconstructive Technique, Dr. John Reinisch at Beverly Hills in California. The second one was a long awaited destination, a visit to Paris, France to learn ear reconstruction by rib cartilage technique at Francoise Firmin’s Ear Reconstruction Surgery Unit Clinic BIZET, France.

What I learned from these experiences and some helpful guidance for you to get a fellowship of your interest.

The most important thing here I would say is to be FOCUSED, POSITIVE AND PERSISTENT. If you want to be successful, you must never lose hope until you achieve what you desire. I will elaborate this for better understanding.

A lot of people have asked me how to apply for the fellowship and my question to them is always, “What you want to apply for (out of the different sub specialty in plastic surgery)?” Their answer is a whole list of sub specialties including hand, craniofacial, micro vascular, aesthetic etc. This should not be the case, you have to be focused (chose one in which you have your interest and build your CV accordingly).

By persistence I mean that don’t lose hope, if you face rejection from any of the fellowship program you have applied for. I will be honest that I have applied for more than 100 programs, out of which many told me that I am not eligible to apply and from others I haven’t heard till date. Sometimes even after being selected in a program, visa issue was another hurdle and the lists goes on. So be persistent and you will get an opportunity for your diligent efforts and passion. 

Good Resources For Fellowship

Here are some useful websites for you to find a fellowship of your interest.

http://www.plasticsurgeryfellowship.org/

https://www.thepsf.org/programs/international-scholars

https://www1.plasticsurgery.org/globaltraining/

https://aaps1921.org/awards-John-D-Constable.cgi

https://www.surgery.org/professionals/residents-and-fellows/international-fellowship-program

https://plasticsurgery.ca/medical-professionals/fellowships/

http://www.bfirst.org.uk/activities/fellowships/

https://www.akademiska.se/for-vardgivare/sektioner/plastikkirurgi/mikrokirurgiavancerad-lambakirurgi/international-fellowship-program-in-microsurgery/

https://plasticsurgery.org.au/about-us/fellowships/

https://www.isaps.org/medical-professionals/residents-fellows/

https://www1.cgmh.org.tw/intr/intr2/c3250/en/fellowship.htm

https://www.nncf.org/en/get-involved/training_procedure

 

I am happy to guide and help you, and if someone wants any information where I can be a help.It will be an honor for me.