The length of the program will be 12 to 24 months. The primary focus of the training curriculum is the management of complex CMF trauma and reconstructive surgery, where the Fellow will be intimately involved in the care of all patients presenting to the CMF Trauma service. Formal educational opportunities will exist for the Fellow to work in the Plastic Surgery Microvascular Surgery workshop under the tutelage of the Plastic Surgery staff; the Fellow will be involved in all microvascular reconstructive cases that present to/or are managed by the CMF Trauma Service. Ready access to the Human Fresh Tissue Laboratory and cadaveric specimens will be an integral component of training. Participation within a formal advanced level training platform within AO North America and/or SORG North America will be presented to the Fellow. The Fellow will be an active participant in the annual Duke CMF Trauma Cadaver course, and have the opportunity to be involved in the Duke Flap Course.
During the first 6-12 months of the training platform, the Fellow will become facile in the use of intraoperative navigation; intraoperative radiology/CT scans; patient-specific implant fabrication and comprehensive soft/hard-tissue management of injuries to the CMF region. Additionally, the Fellow will be intimately involved in the educational activities as it relates to CMF Trauma of the Plastic Surgery residency – as well as rotating residents from Head and Neck Surgery/Communication Sciences, Duke Surgery rotators, Duke Medical Students and rotating sub-interns from outside institutions. Should an additional year of Fellowship training be pursued, the focus of the clinical activities in the final 6 – 12 months would be expertise in complex soft tissue reconstructive procedures of the head & neck, including microvascular tissue transfer for the CMF trauma cases.
Conferences
Fellows participate in weekly Grand Rounds and Didactics.
Research Labs
DataLab for Clinical Care & Population Health
The DataLab utilizes epidemiology, research-design principles, biostatistics, and computational data-science methods. Our clinical focus is on health and health care related to pediatric conditions, particularly congenital anomalies that require complex, multidisciplinary care.
Fibrosis and Wound Healing
This laboratory investigates the mechanisms of fibrosis and tissue remodeling and aims to develop a novel small molecule inhibitor to prevent fibrocontractile disease progression. There is a large unmet need for an effective pharmaceutical to prevent fibrosis.
Tissue Engineering and Implantable Devices
Research in this laboratory focuses on endothelial cell adhesion to vascular grafts, implantable glucose sensors for diabetics, glaucoma drainage device, and xerogel coating of implants.