Message From the Residents Council Chair

It's an honor to write to you as this year's ASPS Resident Representative. The Residents Council (RC) has done tremendous work in several realms during the past year, including bolstering its Professional Resource Opportunities in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Education and Leadership (PROPEL) mentorship program; increasing medical student engagement within ASPS; collaborating with international trainees; and helping displaced residents following program closures by lobbying for change within the AMA. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all RC members for their hard work in making these projects possible. I also would like to introduce a new initiative for this year: the Residents Council Report.

The Residents Council Report

The goal of the RC Report is to put together a comprehensive account on the current "state of affairs" of the plastic surgery residency experience in the United States – made by the residents, for the residents. We want to learn more about your experiences – what are the greatest benefits and challenges of your training? What obstacles have you faced? What areas of improvement do you see?

Our field has changed and progressed dramatically with each generation of surgeons. Modern-day surgical residents look and think differently from those of 10 years ago. Our values in society are different than they were a decade ago and will be different in each decade moving forward. Even the youngest leadership and program director may have trained in a very different environment than that of their current trainees.

The RC Report group will talk to residents from each program to learn more about the greatest problems they face. The purpose of this project is to ask – to talk to you and collect your narratives. As residents, we all have shared experiences; however, without being able to classify, document or support them with data, it's difficult to lobby for change.

ASPS recognizes that residents represent the future of the specialty and the Society. As RC chair, I hope to bring your voices front and center. I'm looking forward to speaking and collaborating with you all. Thank you for the opportunity to represent us as residents. If you are interested in any of the RC initiatives, please reach out!

Dr. Abbate Ford is ASPS Resident Council Chair and PGY-5 in the Harvard Mass General Brigham Integrated Plastic Surgery Program.