Medical Student Elective Rotations

Jeffrey M. Kenkel, MD, is the faculty coordinator for course name and number Plastic Surgery (SUR 1605). Student are instructed in basic techniques of complex wound management within the general area of plastic surgery including hand, facial trauma, reconstructive, microvascular, and aesthetic surgery.  At completion of the course, students have obtained a better understanding and a balanced perspective of plastic surgery.

Details about the medical student elective rotations in Plastic Surgery are below. They include course objectives, goal/objectives by hospital, method of instruction, student responsibilities, and method of evaluation.

Course Objectives

Student will be instructed in basic techniques of complex wound management within the general area of plastic surgery including hand, facial trauma, reconstructive, microvascular, and aesthetic surgery. At completion of the course, students will have obtained a better understanding and a balanced perspective of plastic surgery.

Education Goals and Objectives by Hospital

Students will rotate through four separate facilities while with our department University Hospital-Zale Lipshy; University Hospital-St. Paul; UT Southwestern’s Outpatient Surgery Center; Parkland Health & Hospital System; and Children’s Medical Center Dallas.

Parkland Health & Hospital System

Rotation objectives at Parkland Memorial Hospital include gaining experience and exposure in: hand and microsurgery; craniomaxillofacial trauma management; lower extremity trauma management and reconstruction; plastic surgery of the breast (including immediate and delayed breast reconstruction and breast reduction/ mastopexy); oncological reconstruction; a broad range of overall reconstructive surgery including burn reconstruction, pressure sores, chest wall reconstruction; aesthetic surgery via the resident cosmetic clinic; service management with faculty, co-residents, medical students and staff.

Children’s Medical Center

A resident is assigned to this institution on a full-time basis. Each resident spends six-weeks of hi or her junior year and six week of his or her chief year at Children’s.

Rotation objectives at Children’s Medical Center include gaining experience and exposure in: broad range of congenital anomalies with significant emphasis on cleft-lip palate; pediatric craniofacial surgery; pediatric trauma/reconstruction management including facial fractures; lower extremity trunk reconstruction and vascular malformation management; service management with faculty, co-residents, medical students and staff.

University Medical Center Hospitals/Ambulatory Clinics; Outpatient Surgery Center; University Hospitals - St. Paul and Zale Lipshy

Rotation objectives at UT Southwestern University Hospitals-St. Paul and Zale Lipshy include gaining experience and exposure in: cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery reconstruction; microsurgery; management of complex wounds; in secondary upper extremity hand reconstruction; laser surgery; cosmetic procedures including facial rejuvenation and body contouring; service management with faculty, co-residents, medical students and staff.

Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute (DSPI)

This rotation will take the student to a private office setting where many of our part time faculty operate only if they have suitable transportation as it is approximately 10-15 minutes from the UTSW campus. The focus of the facility is largely cosmetic surgery but also experiences other plastic surgical procedures done on an outpatient basis. The objectives of this rotation are to gain experience and participate in cosmetic procedures involving the face, breast, and body. The rotating student will be part of the “team” which also includes an aesthetic fellow and upper level resident.

Methods of Instruction

• Dr. Kenkel meets with all of the student rotators every Monday morning at 8:00 a.m.
• Hand Conferences – Students are required to attend the Plastic Surgery Hand Conferences held Wednesdays at 6:00 a.m.
• Additional Plastic Surgery faculty meet with the students on Wednesday mornings to review addition topics related to Plastic Surgery

Student Responsibilities

• Students will be responsible for helping with ward management of the Plastic Surgery patients, admission, history, and physical will be obtained in conjunction with the residents
• Students will be accountable to the chief resident on the service and to the faculty members who are staffing the case
• Students will be expected to participate in call responsibilities with the Plastic Surgery residents
• Students will be involved in surgical cases and will be required to attend all residency and fellowship lectures and conferences related to the residency program

Method of Evaluation

One written evaluation on each student will be completed by the Faculty Coordinator. This evaluation shall be a compilation of input provided by all residents, faculty, and ancillary staff with whom the student comes into contact.