The Association Between Interview Day and Rank Order in Plastic Surgery Match: Is Recency Effect to Blame?

Introduction: Plastic and reconstructive surgery is among the most competitive specialties in the National Resident Matching Program match. Though efforts to institute unbiased and equitable measures of an applicant's success have been made, many barriers still hinder suitable applicants from successfully matching. We sought to identify whether interview day influenced applicants' likelihood of being ranked favorably in both independent and integrated plastic surgery residency programs at a single academic institution.

Landmark Plastic Surgeon Advocacy within the Federal Government: Four Case Studies.

Background: Throughout history, plastic surgeons have advocated for the protection of the specialty and for better care for their patients. Whether through efforts to support and move legislation through Congress or through preventative advocacy in the form of lobbying against legislation, plastic surgeons have often used their expertise in the political sphere to shape patient care. We hope to inspire current and future plastic surgeons to be politically active and to devise ways in which their expertise can be used within the legislative system to better care for their patients.

Smartphone Use for Patient Photography by Plastic Surgery Trainees.

Medical photography has become essential to patient care, trainee education, and research in highly visual specialties such as plastic surgery. As smartphone technology advances, plastic surgeons and trainees are using their personal smartphones to take medical photographs prompting ethical and legal concerns about patient consent and privacy. This study aims to determine the prevalence of personal smartphone use for patient photography among plastic surgery trainees, evaluate encryption practices, and establish understanding of current guidelines.

Abdominal Contouring and Male Gender: Analysis of Complications Using the National Quality Improvement Program Database.

Background: Males represent a significant portion of patients undergoing abdominal contouring. Despite this, there are few studies examining the implication of gender on complications.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between gender and early postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing abdominal contouring procedures.

Surgical Excision of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer in an Elderly Veteran's Affairs Population.

Background: Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy in the United States. Recommended treatment for NMSC remains surgical excision following a positive biopsy. Evidence of complete spontaneous regression of residual NMSC exists in the case of small lesions macroscopically removed by shave biopsy, but with a positive microscopic margin.