Application Process

Advanced Program

The plastic surgery residency program will match with two new residents for the three-year advanced program to begin in July 2009.

Residency positions for this track are matched via the advanced plastic surgery match sponsored by the San Francisco Matching Program. Residency applications for the advanced program are submitted through the San Francisco Matching Program.  Our faculty will review all applications for the advanced program during the months of December and January. Those who are invited to interview will be notified in February, 2009. 

Integrated Plastic Surgery/General Surgery Program

The plastic surgery residency program will match with three new residents for the six-year integrated program to begin in June 2009.

PGY-1 positions for this program will be matched through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Information regarding registration for the NRMP is available from the Dean's Office at your medical school or www.nrmp.org.

The residency application process for the integrated plastic surgery program will go through the AAMC ERAS electronic residency application system this year. The deadline for applications to be complete (except for Deans' letters) is November 1, 2009. Our Faculty will review all completed applications for the integrated program during the month of November. Those who are invited to interview will be notified by late November.

Selection

Each application is reviewed in its entirety with an eye toward a combination of overall academic excellence, leadership ability, career development potential and personal character.

Although we receive applications from many well-qualified candidates, it is not possible to interview all who apply. Every effort is made to notify applicants of their interview status in a timely manner, however our application review process for the integrated program often continues through late November due to the large number of applications received and the late release date for Dean's letters.

Interviews

Interview dates for 2008/2009:
Integrated interviews will be held on 12/5 & 12/6 (deadline is 11/1/08)
Advanced interviews will be held on 3/13 & 3/14 (deadline is 2/9/09)

Each two-day interview session takes place from early Friday afternoon through late Saturday afternoon. Any applicants who are invited to interview will need to plan to be present for the entire two-day session. We do not schedule any individual interviews outside of these group interview sessions.

Any candidate who is invited to interview must contact the surgery education office to confirm their acceptance of the interview offer. If we do not receive a confirming phone call or e-mail from you by the deadline which will be stated on the invitation, we will not be able to schedule you for the interview.

Interview Format

On Friday afternoon the applicants will participate in a general orientation session during which they will meet the residency program director and the chiefs of plastic surgery from each of the teaching hospitals. Individual interview sessions between applicants and the faculty may begin on Friday afternoon, with additional interviews being scheduled throughout the day on Saturday. On Friday evening the applicants will have dinner with the Harvard plastic surgery faculty and residents.

Tours of the teaching hospitals will take place throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. For purposes of scheduling travel arrangements, any invited applicants should plan to be here by noon on Friday. It is anticipated that all interview activities will be completed by 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.