2025 Plastic Surgery Independent Residency - for 2026 positions

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I hate how interviews are overlapping, I’m sure all of us have to make tough decisions ..

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What's annoying is it doesn't HAVE to overlap at all, but if programs want to use it to figure out who is actually interested in them it is what it is. I'm dropping Temple, hope it goes to one of you guys!
 
So now there is only UAB, Westchester, and UTHouston that haven’t sent invites. Hurry up guys @ACEPS 🤠
 
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Anybody know how many interviews are predictive of a successful match? I saw one recent paper report that the average matched applicant had 15 interviews?!? Seems excessive?
 
Magic number is 8, average number for those who matched was 12.7 (~ 13).

Read this article by Janis et al: "Successful matches were associated with US allopathic medical school graduates, university-affiliated general surgery residencies, eight or more interviews, United States Medical Licensing Examination scores greater than 230, and high post graduate year (PGY)1–3 American Board of Surgery In-service Training Examination scores (PGY1–64.7%, PGY2–61.2%, PGY3–60.7%; P < 0.05).
An Update on the Independent Plastic Surgery Match... : Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open
 
I think the paper you're quoting is from the integrated match, and it actually said above 15 was no significant returns. Also the integrated match has 90+ programs in contrast to the independent match with only 34 programs.
 
I think you are right about that @AnAlienIntrusion. On a side note, I wonder if introducing signaling this year and the return of in-person interviews has made programs more selective with the number of invitations they send out. So far it looks like they are interviewing 10-15 candidates per spot. Not sure if this is different to prior years. I guess we will see what happens. Good luck everyone!
 
No this is independent match - check the title and methods, etc

Also here is a screenshot from the table
IMG_2400.jpeg
 
@DocPlast - sorry what independentplastics was saying was a different study! Wasn't commenting on what you were talking about. There is a separate study on the integrated match which talks about the magic number 15 as the point of inflection!
 
Hi all, for those who have already interviewed can you anonymously share your experience/some of the questions asked either here or in the spreadsheet to help your this/next year’s fellow applicants? Also there is a tab to share acknowledgement/concerns about programs. Good luck all!!
 
Hey guys! I’m curious if it’s expected for independent applicants to do away rotations? Since we are residents I can’t imagine anyone has much free time unless elective time is built into your schedules?
 
If you really wanna match to a certain place e.g. Vandy then you have to do an away. You can even take vacation time. But most of the people I know who matched plastics didn’t do away but instead did research years either before or during residency.
 
Hey guys! I’m curious if it’s expected for independent applicants to do away rotations? Since we are residents I can’t imagine anyone has much free time unless elective time is built into your schedules?
It’s not expected, but I have been asked what plastics experience I have. Luckily I had elective time and my program let me switch a rotation to do plastics instead (we have a couple of services that function without residents). If you can’t swing a whole rotation, you can consider taking vacation time to do an observership to show interest. I wouldn’t feel obligated to do research years either, if you can get a few projects and posters done in your first 3 years it works. Your work from undergrad and med school also counts.
 
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Thank you! And then do you usually drop off that standardized letter of rec evaluation to the faculty or do you go over it together? It says on the form it’s rare to get 100th percentile but of course you’d want that lol
 
Thank you! And then do you usually drop off that standardized letter of rec evaluation to the faculty or do you go over it together? It says on the form it’s rare to get 100th percentile but of course you’d want that lol
I didn't go over it. I emailed it to them, let them upload it. Never saw it. My institution does not allow away rotations.
 
A question to all: does your program have a policy where your interview days count against your vacation?
 
I’m using days off and some earned PTO from working holidays. I don’t have to use regular vacation.
 
1. Corewell/Beaumont (12/3): 1/11 (in-person)
2. Temple (12/5): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
3. UT Chattanooga (12/10): 1/24 (virtual)
4. U Buffalo (12/11): 1/30, 2/27 (in-person)
5. Johns Hopkins (12/18): 2/26 (virtual)
6. Summa Health (12/19): 1/15, 2/12,2/17,2/14 (virtual)
7. MUSC (12/27): 3/18 (in person)
8. Tulane (12/31): 1/10, 3/21 (virtual)
9. UPenn (1/2): (in person): 3/8
10 Nassau/Stony Brooks (1/2): (in person) 1/25, 2/22
11. Indiana (1/2): (virtual) 2/24, 2/27
12. Emory (1/2): (in person) 3/21
13. Henry Ford (1/3): 2/7, 3:7 (virtual); 4/4 and 4/11 (in-person)
14. Cincy (1/7): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
15. Louisvillle (1/7): 3/10 (in-person)
16. Iowa (1/7): 2/10, 3/10 (in-person)
17. Nebraska (1/7): 3/19 in person
18. UMiami (1/8): 2/22 (in-person)
19. Houston Methodist (1/9): 2/21 (in person)
20. Harvard/MGB (1/9): 3/12 (virtual)
21. UPMC (1/9): 2/24 (virtual)
22. Broward (1/10): 2/10, 2/24 (virtual)
23. Colorado (1/10): 3/13 (in person)
24. Florida (1/10): 2/26 (in-person)
25. UTSW (1/10): 3/27 (in person)
26. UT San Antonio (1/14): 3/17, 3/18 (virtual)
27. Saint Joseph’s (1/16): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
28. Oklahoma (1/17): 2/14, 2/28 (virtual)
29. BIDMC Harvard (1/21): 3/27 (virtual), 3/28 (virtual and in person)
30. The Ohio State (1/23): 2/28 (in person)
31. Reading/Tower Health (1/23): 2/12, 2/13 (virtual)
1. Corewell/Beaumont (12/3): 1/11 (in-person)
2. Temple (12/5): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
3. UT Chattanooga (12/10): 1/24 (virtual)
4. U Buffalo (12/11): 1/30, 2/27 (in-person)
5. Johns Hopkins (12/18): 2/26 (virtual)
6. Summa Health (12/19): 1/15, 2/12,2/17,2/14 (virtual)
7. MUSC (12/27): 3/18 (in person)
8. Tulane (12/31): 1/10, 3/21 (virtual)
9. UPenn (1/2): (in person): 3/8
10 Nassau/Stony Brooks (1/2): (in person) 1/25, 2/22
11. Indiana (1/2): (virtual) 2/24, 2/27
12. Emory (1/2): (in person) 3/21
13. Henry Ford (1/3): 2/7, 3:7 (virtual); 4/4 and 4/11 (in-person)
14. Cincy (1/7): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
15. Louisvillle (1/7): 3/10 (in-person)
16. Iowa (1/7): 2/10, 3/10 (in-person)
17. Nebraska (1/7): 3/19 in person
18. UMiami (1/8): 2/22 (in-person)
19. Houston Methodist (1/9): 2/21 (in person)
20. Harvard/MGB (1/9): 3/12 (virtual)
21. UPMC (1/9): 2/24 (virtual)
22. Broward (1/10): 2/10, 2/24 (virtual)
23. Colorado (1/10): 3/13 (in person)
24. Florida (1/10): 2/26 (in-person)
25. UTSW (1/10): 3/27 (in person)
26. UT San Antonio (1/14): 3/17, 3/18 (virtual)
27. Saint Joseph’s (1/16): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
28. Oklahoma (1/17): 2/14, 2/28 (virtual)
29. BIDMC Harvard (1/21): 3/27 (virtual), 3/28 (virtual and in person)
30. The Ohio State (1/23): 2/28 (in person)
31. Reading/Tower Health (1/23): 2/12, 2/13 (virtual)
33. UT Houston (1/27): 3/4 in person
 
Final call, anyone is willing to switch their in person interview with Temple on 3/1 or their virtual on 4/12 with my 2/28 in person interview plz? Will bribe you with coffee ☕️ and donuts 🍩 😁
 
1. Corewell/Beaumont (12/3): 1/11 (in-person)
2. Temple (12/5): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
3. UT Chattanooga (12/10): 1/24 (virtual)
4. U Buffalo (12/11): 1/30, 2/27 (in-person)
5. Johns Hopkins (12/18): 2/26 (virtual)
6. Summa Health (12/19): 1/15, 2/12,2/17,2/14 (virtual)
7. MUSC (12/27): 3/18 (in person)
8. Tulane (12/31): 1/10, 3/21 (virtual)
9. UPenn (1/2): (in person): 3/8
10 Nassau/Stony Brooks (1/2): (in person) 1/25, 2/22
11. Indiana (1/2): (virtual) 2/24, 2/27
12. Emory (1/2): (in person) 3/21
13. Henry Ford (1/3): 2/7, 3:7 (virtual); 4/4 and 4/11 (in-person)
14. Cincy (1/7): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
15. Louisvillle (1/7): 3/10 (in-person)
16. Iowa (1/7): 2/10, 3/10 (in-person)
17. Nebraska (1/7): 3/19 in person
18. UMiami (1/8): 2/22 (in-person)
19. Houston Methodist (1/9): 2/21 (in person)
20. Harvard/MGB (1/9): 3/12 (virtual)
21. UPMC (1/9): 2/24 (virtual)
22. Broward (1/10): 2/10, 2/24 (virtual)
23. Colorado (1/10): 3/13 (in person)
24. Florida (1/10): 2/26 (in-person)
25. UTSW (1/10): 3/27 (in person)
26. UT San Antonio (1/14): 3/17, 3/18 (virtual)
27. Saint Joseph’s (1/16): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
28. Oklahoma (1/17): 2/14, 2/28 (virtual)
29. BIDMC Harvard (1/21): 3/27 (virtual), 3/28 (virtual and in person)
30. The Ohio State (1/23): 2/28 (in person)
31. Reading/Tower Health (1/23): 2/12, 2/13 (virtual)
33. UT Houston (1/27): 3/4 in person
1. Corewell/Beaumont (12/3): 1/11 (in-person)
2. Temple (12/5): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
3. UT Chattanooga (12/10): 1/24 (virtual)
4. U Buffalo (12/11): 1/30, 2/27 (in-person)
5. Johns Hopkins (12/18): 2/26 (virtual)
6. Summa Health (12/19): 1/15, 2/12,2/17,2/14 (virtual)
7. MUSC (12/27): 3/18 (in person)
8. Tulane (12/31): 1/10, 3/21 (virtual)
9. UPenn (1/2): (in person): 3/8
10 Nassau/Stony Brooks (1/2): (in person) 1/25, 2/22
11. Indiana (1/2): (virtual) 2/24, 2/27
12. Emory (1/2): (in person) 3/21
13. Henry Ford (1/3): 2/7, 3:7 (virtual); 4/4 and 4/11 (in-person)
14. Cincy (1/7): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
15. Louisvillle (1/7): 3/10 (in-person)
16. Iowa (1/7): 2/10, 3/10 (in-person)
17. Nebraska (1/7): 3/19 in person
18. UMiami (1/8): 2/22 (in-person)
19. Houston Methodist (1/9): 2/21 (in person)
20. Harvard/MGB (1/9): 3/12 (virtual)
21. UPMC (1/9): 2/24 (virtual)
22. Broward (1/10): 2/10, 2/24 (virtual)
23. Colorado (1/10): 3/13 (in person)
24. Florida (1/10): 2/26 (in-person)
25. UTSW (1/10): 3/27 (in person)
26. UT San Antonio (1/14): 3/17, 3/18 (virtual)
27. Saint Joseph’s (1/16): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
28. Oklahoma (1/17): 2/14, 2/28 (virtual)
29. BIDMC Harvard (1/21): 3/27 (virtual), 3/28 (virtual and in person)
30. The Ohio State (1/23): 2/28 (in person)
31. Reading/Tower Health (1/23): 2/12, 2/13 (virtual)
33. UT Houston (1/27): 3/4 in person
34. St Joseph's Regional Medical Center (1/28): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
 
1. Corewell/Beaumont (12/3): 1/11 (in-person)
2. Temple (12/5): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
3. UT Chattanooga (12/10): 1/24 (virtual)
4. U Buffalo (12/11): 1/30, 2/27 (in-person)
5. Johns Hopkins (12/18): 2/26 (virtual)
6. Summa Health (12/19): 1/15, 2/12,2/17,2/14 (virtual)
7. MUSC (12/27): 3/18 (in person)
8. Tulane (12/31): 1/10, 3/21 (virtual)
9. UPenn (1/2): (in person): 3/8
10 Nassau/Stony Brooks (1/2): (in person) 1/25, 2/22
11. Indiana (1/2): (virtual) 2/24, 2/27
12. Emory (1/2): (in person) 3/21
13. Henry Ford (1/3): 2/7, 3:7 (virtual); 4/4 and 4/11 (in-person)
14. Cincy (1/7): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
15. Louisvillle (1/7): 3/10 (in-person)
16. Iowa (1/7): 2/10, 3/10 (in-person)
17. Nebraska (1/7): 3/19 in person
18. UMiami (1/8): 2/22 (in-person)
19. Houston Methodist (1/9): 2/21 (in person)
20. Harvard/MGB (1/9): 3/12 (virtual)
21. UPMC (1/9): 2/24 (virtual)
22. Broward (1/10): 2/10, 2/24 (virtual)
23. Colorado (1/10): 3/13 (in person)
24. Florida (1/10): 2/26 (in-person)
25. UTSW (1/10): 3/27 (in person)
26. UT San Antonio (1/14): 3/17, 3/18 (virtual)
27. Saint Joseph’s (1/16): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
28. Oklahoma (1/17): 2/14, 2/28 (virtual)
29. BIDMC Harvard (1/21): 3/27 (virtual), 3/28 (virtual and in person)
30. The Ohio State (1/23): 2/28 (in person)
31. Reading/Tower Health (1/23): 2/12, 2/13 (virtual)
33. UT Houston (1/27): 3/4 in person
34. St Joseph's Regional Medical Center (1/28): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
St Joseph is a duplicate - see 27
 
Updating the list with a few more dates
1. Corewell/Beaumont (12/3): 1/11 (in-person)
2. Temple (12/5): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person), 4/12 (virtual)
3. UT Chattanooga (12/10): 1/24 (virtual)
4. U Buffalo (12/11): 1/30, 2/27 (in-person)
5. Johns Hopkins (12/18): 2/26 (virtual)
6. Summa Health (12/19, 1/27): 1/15, 2/12,2/17,2/14 (virtual)
7. MUSC (12/27): 3/18 (in person)
8. Tulane (12/31): 1/10, 3/21 (virtual)
9. UPenn (1/2): (in person): 3/8
10 Nassau/Stony Brooks (1/2): (in person) 1/25, 2/22
11. Indiana (1/2): (virtual) 2/24, 2/27
12. Emory (1/2): (in person) 3/21
13. Henry Ford (1/3): 2/7, 3:7 (virtual); 4/4 and 4/11 (in-person)
14. Cincy (1/7): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
15. Louisville (1/7): 3/10 (in-person)
16. Iowa (1/7): 2/10, 3/10 (in-person)
17. Nebraska (1/7): 3/19 in person
18. UMiami (1/8): 2/22 (in-person)
19. Houston Methodist (1/9): 2/21 (in person)
20. Harvard/MGB (1/9): 3/12 (virtual)
21. UPMC (1/9): 2/24 (virtual)
22. Broward (1/10): 2/10, 2/24 (virtual)
23. Colorado (1/10): 3/13 (in person)
24. Florida (1/10): 2/26 (in-person)
25. UTSW (1/10): 3/27 (in person)
26. UT San Antonio (1/14): 3/17, 3/18 (virtual)
27. Saint Joseph’s (1/16, 1/28): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
28. Oklahoma (1/17): 2/14, 2/28 (virtual)
29. BIDMC Harvard (1/21): 3/27 (virtual), 3/28 (virtual and in person)
30. The Ohio State (1/23): 2/28 (in person)
31. Reading/Tower Health (1/23): 2/12, 2/13 (virtual)
32. UT Houston (1/27): 3/4 in person

Cleveland FL, Minnesota, and Vandy withdrew from the match, possibly took internal candidates
UAB and Westchester haven't sent invites yet
 
FYI: there is a free spot for Henry Ford on Mar 07 - virtual (SF match scheduler). Good luck everyone!
 
Question is there some sort of recommendation form that your PD has to send? To my knowledge applicants list their three letter writers and that's it. My PD received an email today asking for a Recommendation Form for Independent Plastic Surgery Applicants. I'm wondering if this is specific to certain programs that want objective feedback from the applicants PD or should the PD have sent this form out to every program the applicant applied?
 
Might be the ACEPS/ACAPS LOR template (attached)? If your recommenders haven't uploaded that along with the usual LOR then that's probably what they are asking for. You could ask SF match people to attach it along with the LOR - can have your PD email them if you wanna keep it waived.
 

Attachments

Saw it but I did not get a schedule like saying how many people are gonna interview us or how many rooms there will be. Did you get something other than the link and info pdf?
No they haven’t sent that - hope they do today or tomorrow
 
1) Thanks DocPlast you were on point!
2) Anyone receive confirmation of their BIDMC interview?
 
1. Corewell/Beaumont (12/3): 1/11 (in-person)
2. Temple (12/5): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person), 4/12 (virtual)
3. UT Chattanooga (12/10): 1/24, 3/18 (virtual)
4. U Buffalo (12/11): 1/30, 2/27 (in-person)
5. Johns Hopkins (12/18): 2/26 (virtual)
6. Summa Health (12/19, 1/27): 1/15, 2/12,2/17,2/14 (virtual)
7. MUSC (12/27): 3/18 (in person)
8. Tulane (12/31): 1/10, 3/21 (virtual)
9. UPenn (1/2): (in person): 3/8
10 Nassau/Stony Brooks (1/2): (in person) 1/25, 2/22
11. Indiana (1/2): (virtual) 2/24, 2/27
12. Emory (1/2): (in person) 3/21
13. Henry Ford (1/3): 2/7, 3:7 (virtual); 4/4 and 4/11 (in-person)
14. Cincy (1/7): 2/28, 3/1 (in-person)
15. Louisville (1/7): 3/10 (in-person)
16. Iowa (1/7): 2/8, 3/10 (in-person)
17. Nebraska (1/7): 3/19 in person
18. UMiami (1/8): 2/22 (in-person)
19. Houston Methodist (1/9): 2/21 (in person)
20. Harvard/MGB (1/9): 3/12 (virtual)
21. UPMC (1/9): 2/24 (virtual)
22. Broward (1/10): 2/10, 2/24 (virtual)
23. Colorado (1/10): 3/13 (in person)
24. Florida (1/10): 2/26 (in-person)
25. UTSW (1/10): 3/27 (in person)
26. UT San Antonio (1/14): 3/17, 3/18 (virtual)
27. Saint Joseph’s (1/16, 1/28): 3/20, 4/3 (in-person)
28. Oklahoma (1/17): 2/14, 2/28 (virtual)
29. BIDMC Harvard (1/21): 3/27 (virtual), 3/28 (virtual and in person)
30. The Ohio State (1/23): 2/28 (in person)
31. Reading/Tower Health (1/23): 2/12, 2/13 (virtual)
32. UT Houston (1/27): 3/4 in person
33. Westchester (2/80: 3/5 in person
 
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Did anyone ever get confirmation of their interview date from BIDMC? I never did and now I am worried my form response never went through...
 
MGH added an integrated position, meaning I assume they dropped an independent spot for next year?
 
Super last minute but anyone willing to swap U Cinci from 1st to 28th?
 
Temple sent their schedule out. They have 6 faculty and 2 fellows interviewing. Does everyone that’s interviewing have 3 total interviews?
 
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