Breast reconstruction at USF Health Plastic Surgery provides an academically rigorous environment for education, clinical training, research, and multidisciplinary collaboration. 

Faculty care for patients with reconstructive needs following breast cancer treatment, risk-reducing mastectomy, trauma, and congenital deformities. This broad clinical experience allows medical students, residents, and fellows to develop a comprehensive understanding of breast reconstruction - from initial consultation and operative planning through survey, recovery, and long-term follow-up. 

Trainees are introduced to the full spectrum of reconstructive decision-making, including patient selection, timing of reconstruction, implant-based and autologous techniques, microsurgery, revision procedures, and management of complex cases. Education emphasizes technical development as well as professionalism, patient-centered communication, clinical judgment, safety, and collaboration across specialties. 

The clinical practice serves as an important setting for experiential learning. Trainees participate in the evaluation and care of patients seeking immediate or delayed breast reconstruction, oncoplastic reconstruction, revision surgery, and treatment of complications related to previous surgery, trauma, or radiation therapy. 

Clinical exposure may include:

• Implant-based breast reconstruction

• Autologous tissue reconstruction

• Microsurgical breast reconstruction

• Oncoplastic techniques

• Fat grafting and contour refinement

• Nipple and areola reconstruction

• Surgery to improve breast symmetry 

• Revision of previous reconstruction

• Reconstruction following radiation therapy

• Management of complex reconstructive complications

Through supervised clinical and operative experiences, learners gain insight into reconstructive options, surgical anatomy, preoperative planning, postoperative management, and longitudinal patient care. Collaboration with breast surgery, surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, pathology, and other disciplines demonstrates the importance of coordinated care. 

The division supports scholarly inquiry aimed at improving breast reconstruction techniques, outcomes, safety, recovery, and patient experience. Students and trainees have opportunities to participate in faculty-mentored research, quality-improvement initiatives, clinical outcomes studies, presentations, and scholarly publications.

Areas of academic interest include:

• Outcomes of implant-based and autologous reconstruction

• Microsurgical techniques and outcomes

• Prevention and management of surgical complications

• Reconstruction in patients receiving radiation therapy

• Nerve repair and sensory restoration

• Enhanced recovery and perioperative care

• Fat grafting and regenerative approaches

• Patient-reported outcomes and quality of life

• Shared decision-making and patient education

• Health equity and access to reconstructive care

• Surgical education and trainee development

Research activities encourage learners to develop skills in study design, critical appraisal, data interpretation, scientific writing, and presentation of findings.

The Breast Reconstruction Division contributes to the education of medical students, plastic surgery residents, fellows, and other health professional learners through structured teaching and supervised clinical experiences.

Educational activities may include:

• Participation in outpatient consultations and follow-up care

• Supervised operative experience

• Case-based conferences and multidisciplinary discussions

• Instruction in surgical anatomy and reconstructive principles, including cadaver labs

• Preoperative planning and postoperative management

• Morbidity and mortality review

• Journal clubs and evidence-based literature review

• Research and quality-improvement mentorship

• Opportunities for presentations and scholarly publications

Faculty mentorship supports the progressive development of clinical knowledge, operative skills, professional identity, and academic interests. The division's educational mission is to prepare thoughtful, technically skilled, and compassionate physicians who can contribute to the continued advancement of reconstructive surgery.