Breast and Microsurgery Fellowship

Fellow for 2011-12: Angela Cheng, MD

The UTSW breast and microsurgery fellowship will allow the fellow to gain experience in both micro and non-micro based breast reconstruction via an academic and large private practice setting. The fellow will rotate at all university hospitals affiliated with the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, which includes; University Hospitals -Zale Lipshy and St. Paul, Parkland Memorial Hospital, and Children’s Medical Center.

The fellow will have the opportunity to perform a pre-operative evaluation, operate, and offer post-operative follow-up on all micro and non micro breast reconstruction patients seen at University Hospitals by the fellowship director. This exposure and continuity of care throughout the entire year will provide a seamless experience throughout the entire reconstructive process for the micro breast fellow. The fellow will be exposed to 1-1.5 days of clinic weekly in a private practice setting. The University breast reconstruction practice will cover all aspects of micro breast reconstruction: DIEP, SIEA, MS-TRAM, TUG, SGAP/IGAP and non micro breast reconstruction: LD,  muscle sparing LD,  Extended LD,  TE/Implant, immediate implant/allograft, fat grafting etc. The fellow will also be exposed to a wide variety of breast reconstruction techniques and will also have the opportunity to evaluate, treat, and manage complex secondary breast reconstructions and corrections and aesthetic breast surgery.

The fellow rotates during the year at Baylor Hospital Dallas where he/she will have exposure to both micro and non-micro breast reconstruction in a private practice non-academic center. This setting will provide a unique educational experience on all aspects of breast reconstruction from a private practice perspective. Over 350 breast reconstructions are performed yearly at Baylor hospital and this will provide the fellow an ample exposure to all techniques during the year. The five core faculty affiliated with the fellowship at Baylor Hospital will provide a heterogeneous learning experience. A general reconstruction half day clinic will also be available weekly for the fellow at Baylor Hospital. The fellow will also be exposed to a large variety of head and neck reconstructive microsurgery cases at Baylor hospital (75 micro cases yearly) and will gain particular experience with the free fibular, radial forearm, and anterolateral thigh flaps. Trauma micro reconstruction experience will be available at Parkland Memorial Hospital which is a level 1 trauma center affiliated with UTSW. 

The fellow rotates with UTSW, Baylor Hospital, and private practice faculty   in order to gain experience in cosmetic breast surgery at UTSW Medical Center, Baylor Hospital Dallas, and in private practice in Dallas. Surgeries will include: breast augmentation, breast mastopexy, revision surgeries etc.

The fellow undergoes a two-week elective in breast surgical oncology rotation with the UT Southwestern Center for Breast Care, in order to be more familiar with the latest techniques in oncologic breast surgery, evaluation and staging.

Educational Experience

Educational experiences will include:

  • Attendance at the Stephen Mathes Reconstructive Symposium and Techniques in Flap Dissection with Cadaver Workshop
  • Attendance at the ASRM meeting
  • UTSW Department of Plastic Surgery visiting professors
  • Weekly Thursday didactic teaching sessions from 3-6 p.m.; resident and fellow teaching, case presentations, grand rounds 5-6 p.m.
  • Weekly multidisciplinary breast oncology meeting Tuesday 7:15-8:30 a.m.
  • Fellow will pre-operatively evaluate all Breast reconstruction cases for the week performed at Parkland Memorial Hospital. This is performed in the context of a Monday weekly pre-operative conference for all cases performed at PMH.
  • Attendance at all other UTSW Plastic Surgery related conferences: ex: Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Symposium,  Rhinoplasty/Cosmetic Surgery Symposium, Body Countouring Course etc.

Research Experience

Exposure and access to the UTSW Department of Plastic Surgery Anatomical Studies laboratory and Basic Science laboratories. The microsurgery fellow will also have their own cadaver reserved during the year via the UTSW Willed body program for independent research and dissection in order to maximize teaching and knowledge of flap anatomy. A large number of basic science and clinic studies are ongoing and the fellow will be involved in their own independent research building to presentation at a national meeting and publication.