Division of Plastic Surgery

Mission & History

Breadcrumb

The Brown University residency in plastic surgery is the oldest in New England, established in 1963. Anticipating the current national trend, my predecessors achieved full departmental status for Plastic Surgery at Rhode Island Hospital. We are a fully integrated program, meaning that we participate in the National Resident Matching Program for 4th year medical students, and have two positions for six years of post-graduate training. Our trainees have access to the picturesque campus of Brown's Ivy League campus on the east side of Providence, as well as the cultural amenities of a vibrant revitalized urban environment.

 Our faculty is diverse, with specialized training and clinical/research interests in craniofacial, cosmetic, hand, microsurgery, wound healing, and general reconstruction. There are thirteen faculty plastic surgeons on staff. The clinical volume is varied and large, including the reconstructions that accompany a Level 1 trauma center and an ABA-accredited burn center.

Educational Mission

The Integrated Plastic Surgery program at Brown University/Rhode Island Hosital is committed to providing a comprehensive foundation for its graduating residents in both aesthetic and reconstructive scenarios. Success is defined as the production of capable, independent practitioners who will actively contribute to the field. The clinical half is bolstered by an increasingly high and broad surgical volume, while its academic counterpart continues to grow with frequent contribution to scholarly journals and participation in regional and national conferences. Additionally, numerous faculty are active participants in multiple academic societies, including the Plastic Surgery Research Council.

In line with this philosophy, interns are identified as plastic surgery residents from their first steps into the hospital. Protected time is given while off-service in order for residents to participate in a variety of weekly academic conferences and visiting professorships. The program stresses the continuity of these six years of training, as the constant communication and interaction among plastic surgery residents is critical to developing a sense of identity and the unique clinical acumen required of the plastic surgeon.