Yale plastic surgery residency

As I visit Yale University again with my son who is attending undergraduate college here, I am reminded of the time I spent on this beautiful campus while completing my Plastic Surgery residency. I have trained in many wonderful places including Bellevue Hospital in New York, Charity Hospital in New Orleans with Tulane University, the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, the University of Wisconsin… All great places, but there’s something different about Yale that I always appreciated and I love it best out of all the places I’ve trained.

At Bellevue in New York and Hopkins here in Baltimore, the teaching tradition is based more on learning from the masters. There are people there who have done great things in surgery and the approach is more or less learning the techniques from the masters. It’s an old approach and there’s a lot to be said for that method of learning.

However, at Yale, the approach was more of a Socratic method where you’re encouraged to find your way. Questions are answered with questions. It was sort of a training to be always questioning yourself, always trying to improve, always trying to find a better way. I believe this method creates the best foundation for approaching new techniques in plastic surgery.

Over the years I believe that training has helped me continue to evolve my technique as I go along. The Socratic teaching method allows me to confidently try new innovative techniques to complement the tried and true techniques of plastic surgery. I owe that to Yale, a tradition that keeps renewing itself.

Yale Plastic Surgery training utilizes the Socratic method of teaching and I believe this method creates the best foundation for approaching new techniques in plastic surgery. Experiencing the Socratic teaching method allows me to confidently try new innovative techniques to complement the tried and true techniques of plastic surgery. I owe that to Yale.