Gender Affirming Surgery Fellowship

Overview

The University of Utah Division of Plastic Surgery offers a 12-month fellowship in all aspects of gender affirming surgery designed for board eligible/board certified graduates of ACGME plastic surgery residencies. This is a comprehensive clinical and academic experience to gain expertise in all aspects of gender affirming surgery. 

Learning Experience

The Plastic Surgery faculty, in conjunction with Urology, and all other members of the University of Utah Transgender Health program cares for patients from all over the mountain west. The fellowship will provide experience with all aspects of gender affirming surgeries.

Clinical Activity

The fellow will be expected to learn the management and treatment of the following procedures: Gender affirming body contouring, Transfeminine genital surgery (vulvoplasty, vaginoplasty, and associated secondary procedures), Transmasculine genital surgery (phalloplasty, metoidioplasty, and associated secondary procedures), Chest surgery (breast augmentation and mastectomy, free nipple grafting) and Facial feminization (forehead/brow setback, rhinoplasty, upper lip shortening, mandibular).

The fellow will be expected to become proficient in these surgeries.  Additionally, the fellow will be expected to learn the pre-operative counseling and work-up required for these procedures. The fellow will familiarize themselves with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care (SOC).  The fellow will be expected to learn the post-operative management of this group of patients and how to address complications as they arise.

The fellow will also learn the workings of a multidisciplinary transgender health group, participating in clinics and joint conferences with plastic surgery, urology, endocrinology, voice therapy, and physical therapy. 

Participant’s Supervisory & Patient Care Responsibilities

As acting instructor at the University of Utah School of Medicine, the participant will be involved in the clinical supervision and teaching of medical students and plastic surgery residents. Fellows will be required to take call three nights per month and will perform general plastic surgery procedures independently to maintain clinical skills in plastic surgery.

Research Opportunities

Throughout the year, the fellow will participate in transgender health research, with the goal of presenting and publishing a peer reviewed research project.  The fellow will have administrative responsibilities organizing a gender affirming surgery journal club, and teaching residents and medical students.  The fellow will be expected to publish at least two papers, clinical or basic science, during the fellowship year and present at scientific meeting(s).

Didactic Conferences

The fellow will be expected to attend weekly conferences and didactic sessions.  These include Tuesday evening conferences from 5-7pm which will focus on plastic surgery core curriculum; Wednesday morning Plastic Surgery Grand Rounds from 7:00-8:00 AM; and participate and organize quarterly GAS journal club for the GAS group (open to larger transgender health group).

Supervision and Evaluation

Dr. Isak Goodwin will be responsible for fellow education and supervision in clinics and in the operating room.  If the fellow works with another member of the faculty, then that faculty member will assume responsibility for the fellow’s education and supervision on that particular day and will report any issues to Dr. Goodwin.

Facilities