University of Washington Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency

Baseball season is officially in full swing here in Seattle! ⚾️🌲

Our Emeritus Chief of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Vedder, is making the most of his well-deserved retirement—and we love that he’s still taking the time to bring our residents out to the ballpark. Check out these great shots of Dr. Vedder and PGY-3 Dr. Michael Finnan catching the Mariners vs. Yankees game earlier this week! 🧢🏟️

There is nothing quite like catching up with mentors and colleagues outside the OR. Go M’s! 💙⚾️

This weekend, our UW Plastic Surgery residents and fellow headed down to Austin, TX, for an incredible educational experience at the course focused on current trends and clinical perspectives in orthognathic surgery!

We are especially proud that this comprehensive course was co-chaired by our very own Dr. Susarla, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Seattle Children’s. Representing UW and expanding their expertise were our craniofacial fellow, Dr. Solomon Lee, alongside residents Drs. Editt Taslakian, Lindsey Teal, Daniella Cordero, Thais Calderon, and Ryan Badiee.

The team learned directly from international experts in the field, then got their hands dirty refining their techniques in the dry lab. Another major highlight of the event was a fantastic presentation by course faculty and former UW faculty member, Dr. Hopper, who delivered an insightful talk on the critical role of multi-functional craniofacial care teams.

Continuous learning and collaboration are at the core of our program. We love taking advantage of these opportunities to bring the best possible care back to our patients!

Huge congratulations to the newest members of the University of Washington Plastic Surgery family!

We are beyond thrilled to announce our incoming intern class. These five incredible medical students have matched with us for their 6-year residency journey here in Seattle, and we can’t wait to see the impact they will make on our program and the field of surgery.

Please join us in welcoming:

Payton Grande – University of Tennessee SOM
Kate Guion – Keck SOM at USC
Sai Pinni – Washington University in St Louis SOM
Jade Smith – Northwestern University SOM
Eric Zeng – Wake Forest University SOM

Welcome to the PNW! We’re honored to have you join the Husky lineage. ☔️💜🐕

✨Oh, the Places You’ll Go ✨

Can’t wait to welcome the class of 2032 in a few days!!

Calling all rising MS4s! 🏔️ Applications are officially open for the Carlos A. Pellegrini Visiting Student Internship Program.

If you are highly motivated to pursue a career in Plastic Surgery and want to experience world-class clinical training here at the University of Washington, we’d love to have you on our service this summer. You’ll spend four weeks integrated into our surgical teams at UW Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Harborview Medical Center, taking on the duties of a medical student intern.

✨ Program Highlights:
* 4-week immersive sub-internship
* Up to $3,000 stipend to offset travel and living costs
* Opportunity to care for a diverse patient population at our tertiary care centers

🗓️ Application Deadline: April 10, 2026

How to Apply:
Scan the QR code, visit tinyurl.com/fxb9ryhw, and ensure your VSLO application is submitted. Required materials (CV, LOR, unofficial transcript, and USMLE score) should be emailed to China Hardison at [email protected].

Come spend a month with us in the Pacific Northwest and see what our program is all about! 🌲🩺

‼️New publication alert‼️

While recent years have seen increased gender parity across integrated plastic surgery programs, underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic residents persists, highlighting the structural barriers affecting potential applicants and emphasizing the ongoing need for diversity efforts. Congratulations to and the entire research team on this impactful study and thank you for your dedication to moving our field forward ✨.

 

From the exam room to the green! ⛳️✨

Last Thursday was a day of focus and future-planning for UW Plastic Surgery. While our residents spent the morning crushing their Annual In-Service Exam, the faculty gathered for our annual retreat to strategize the next chapter of our program.

Once the work was done, we all reunited at Flatstick Pub to trade surgical instruments for putters and darts. Between the fierce competition and the great food, it was the perfect way to celebrate our residents’ hard work and strengthen our team bond. We know the best surgical teams are built both in the OR and on the putting green!

We are incredibly proud of PGY-4 for representing the University of Washington and at the American College of Surgeons Leadership & Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.!

Mahsa is joining surgical leaders from across the country to engage with lawmakers and sharpen the skills needed to lead in an ever-evolving medical landscape. During her time at the capital, she is advocating for patients, surgeons, and health systems to improve the quality of care and the health of our communities.

It’s about more than just what happens in the OR—it’s about ensuring our voices are heard where policy is made. Safe travels and keep up the great work, Mahsa!

WomenInSurgery ResidentLife

The University of Washington has a 🚨updated availability🚨 for our medical student ✨research opportunity✨ with faculty Drs. Shane Morrison and Russell Ettinger for the upcoming academic year. 📚🔍

Drs. Morrison and Ettinger are seeking a highly motivated medical student to complete a 1-year research fellowship focusing on surgical and patient-reported outcomes in plastic surgery and gender-affirming surgery, as well as medical ethics and advocacy.

During their time, the research fellow will gain clinical and research experience in a fulfilling and exciting field. Fellows will be expected to conduct and oversee research projects, prepare manuscripts, obtain IRB approvals, and write grant applications.

Medical students pursuing Plastic Surgery with an interest in gender-affirming surgery are highly encouraged to apply. A stipend will be provided. The position will require relocation to Seattle and begins Summer 2026.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of intent, CV, and two faculty/mentor references to [email protected] no later than ‼️March 12th! ‼️

genderaffirmingsurgery

And that’s a wrap 🎁 on PREP and ACEPS 2026 in Nashville, TN! PGY-5 , co-director of PREP, led another successful year teaching medical students about special topics in plastic surgery, how to be an effective sub-intern, and how to maximize success in the integrated plastic surgery match, with sage advice from UW PRS faculty Dr. Shane Morrison. At the ACEPS Annual Meeting, PGY-4 presented his research on evolving demographic trends among plastic surgery trainees and won first prize at the meeting for his presentation! 🥇🍾 Congratulations to all for a successful weekend, we’ll see you next year! ✈️

✨MEDICAL STUDENT RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY✨

The Plastic Surgery team at Harborview Medical Center is seeking THREE highly motivated medical students to complete a full-time research fellowship focused on: 1) soft tissue reconstruction 🔬, 2) peripheral nerve injuries 🪡, or 3) hand and upper extremity injuries 🦴✋🏽. During their time, the research fellows will gain clinical and research experience in a fulfilling and exciting field. Fellows will be expected to perform retrospective and prospective research projects, submit and present abstracts at regional and national meetings, and prepare manuscripts for publication.

Start Date: Spring/Summer 2026 🗓️
Duration: 1 year
Location: Seattle, Washington (on-site relocation required)
Compensation: Stipend provided

Interested? Please email [email protected] with a brief statement describing your topic(s) of interest (soft tissue, nerve, or hand/upper extremity). You will then receive an application link to submit a current curriculum vitae. Applications will be accepted until all positions are filled.