by Chad M. Teven, MD

I read with great interest the article “Plastic Surgery Training Worldwide: Part 1. The United States and Europe” by Kamali et al.1, and applaud their valuable addition to the literature.  As the authors note, the role of plastic surgery in modern medicine continues to rise as developments within our field expand and new discoveries are made.  In this exciting time of growth, it is critical that the care provided by plastic surgeons is delivered safely, compassionately, and completely.   To that end, comprehensive and proper training of novice plastic surgeons is essential.  In an effort to better understand how plastic surgeons are trained, the authors offer a thought-provoking overview of training paradigms in the United States and Europe.  While the results are interesting, there are several important issues that warrant further discussion.