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In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, ASPS Oral Board Course Faculty Drs. Ryan Stehr, Zong Law, and Eric Wang discuss their own experiences with the Plastic Surgery Oral Board Examination, how to organize your practice to streamline case book preparation, common pitfalls to avoid, what to expect during the known case examination and how to approach it, and strategies for preparing for the unknown cases. Read a related PRS Global Open article by Bergman, Jehle, and Khansa, "Mental Health and Wellness Among Plastic Surgeons During Oral Board Certification Examination Preparation":  https://bit.ly/OralBoardWellness  Dr. Ryan Stehr is the Chief of Plastic Surgery and Director of Acute Hand Surgery at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City. He completed a residency in plastic surgery and a fellowship in hand surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dr. Zong Law is in private practice in Dallas, Texas. He completed a residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center followed by a fellowship in Craniofacial Surgery at the Pediatric Plastic Surgery Institute, both in Dallas. Dr. Eric Wang is the Chief of Hand Surgery at the University of California Irvine. He completed a plastic surgery residency at the University of California San Francisco, followed by an orthopedic hand surgery fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp

In this "Giants in Plastic Surgery" episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, we sit down with Mr. Norman Waterhouse, an internationally renowned Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon best known for his expertise in facial, craniofacial and aesthetic surgery. Mr. Waterhouse reflects on a career spanning more than four decades: from training in Cambridge, Bristol and London, with further experience in Bordeaux, Adelaide and Tokyo, to leading the Craniofacial Unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and later entering full-time private practice. A former President of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons and the Plastic Surgery Section of the Royal Society of Medicine, he has also published extensively, contributed to surgical education worldwide and delivered life-changing care through Facing the World and Operation Smile. Beyond his clinical achievements, this conversation explores the person behind the surgeon. Mr. Waterhouse discusses the experiences that defined his training, whether success required sacrificing his hobbies, and how he learned to recognize his own limitations. He shares what being a good husband and father means to him, reflects on his family's involvement in healthcare, and considers what he might have done differently. We also delve into the realities of establishing a private practice: when the right time is to begin, how he developed business knowledge, whether financial uncertainty concerned him, and what he wishes he had known at the outset. Finally, he reflects on his chosen area of specialization, his contributions to professional societies, the legacy he hopes to leave, and the interests that continue to keep him busy outside surgery. This is an honest conversation about surgical training, family, private practice, leadership, service and the lessons learned over an extraordinary career in plastic surgery. Your host, Dr. Vimal Gokani, is a senior Specialty Registrar in plastic surgery in London, England. Your producer & editor, Charlene Kok, is a Year 4 Medical Student in Imperial College London, England, with a keen interest in Plastic Surgery.  #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #GiantsPlasticSurgery

In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Janis—Editor-in-Chief of PRS Global Open—talked about his highly individualized approach to teaching residents, whether it is actually possible to motivate people, the Yerkes Dodson curve, what degree of preparation and dedication he demands of his residents and of himself, how to manage patients in the outpatient clinic setting, what drives him to remain involved in research and academia, and the lessons to be learned from his cigar collection.  Read a classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Janis and Dr. Paige Hackenberger, "Demonstrating Excellence in Plastic Surgery Residency": https://bit.ly/Excellence_PS_Residency  Dr. Jeffrey Janis is a Professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the Chief of Plastic Surgery at University Hospital, and the Co-Director of the Center for Abdominal Core Health. He holds adjunct appointments as a Professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Surgery. He completed his undergraduate degree at the Washington University in St Louis, followed by medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and an integrated plastic surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He stayed on as faculty at UT southwestern, eventually becoming program director of the residency program, before departing for the Ohio State University in 2013. Dr. Janis is the Editor in Chief of PRS Global Open, where this podcast is published. He currently serves on the Board of Governors for the American College of Surgeons, and is the former president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Council of Educators in Plastic Surgery, the Migraine Surgery Society, and the American Hernia Society; an the former chair of the board of trustees for ASPS. He has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, as well as several books, including the Essentials of Plastic Surgery, a book used by residents, fellows and surgeons on a daily basis. His current surgical practice focuses on abdominal wall reconstruction, migraine surgery, and breast surgery. Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp

In this "Giants in Plastic Surgery" episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, we speak with Professor Sydney Ch'ng, Professor of Surgery at the University of Sydney and one of the few surgeons fully trained in both head and neck surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr Ch'ng reflects on her journey from arriving in Australia as a Malaysian Chinese woman to building a distinguished surgical career across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and the United States. She shares what it felt like adapting to a new country, how her perspective on fitting in and standing out evolved, and the mentors who shaped her path. We discuss her route through medical school, surgical training, research, fellowships, and her transition into consultant practice, including her experience at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Dr Ch'ng also offers insight into the challenges and rewards of combining cancer resection, reconstruction, and aesthetic surgery, and reflects on whether aesthetic training should play a larger role in plastic surgery programs. Beyond surgery, she speaks candidly about mentorship, academic publishing, setting up a practice, life outside medicine, and what it means to build a career with both technical excellence and cultural identity at its center. Your host, Dr. Vimal Gokani, is a senior Specialty Registrar in plastic surgery in London, England. Your producer & editor, Charlene Kok, is a Year 4 Medical Student in Imperial College London, England, with a keen interest in Plastic Surgery. #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #GiantsPlasticSurgery

In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Baar talked about the effects of load on tendons and ligaments, how low load long duration loading can improve tendon strength and quality, the effects of stress shielding in tendons, whether resorbable sutures may be superior in tendon repair, why inadequately loaded tendons can develop tendinopathy, the effect of loss of load on tendons and ligaments, how to treat partial ligament tears with isometric exercises, and how increased protein intake is not very effective at increasing tissue recovery without loading and exercise. He also discussed how writing a mission statement helped him make decisions about his lab,  why his peers are often his mentors, and why you should start hanging off your door jamb for a few minutes every day. Dr. Keith Baar is a professor in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, and the Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, at the University of California Davis Health School of Medicine, in Sacramento. He completed his undergraduate studies in Kinesiology at the University of Michigan, followed by a master's degree in Human Biodynamics at UC Berkeley, and finally a Ph.D. in Physiology and Biophysics at the University of Illinois. Now at UC Davis Health, he runs the Functional Molecular Biology Lab. His research focuses on how resistance exercise leads to increased muscle mass and how endurance exercise increases fatigue resistance in muscles. His lab is also working on the development of engineered bone-ligament-bone constructs for the reconstruction of ligament injuries.  Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp Papers referenced in the conversation: Effects of Different Loading Programs on Finger Strength in Rock Climbers. Gilmore NK, Klimek P, Abrahamsson E, Baar K.  Sports Med Open. 2024 Nov 19;10:125 Stress Relaxation and Targeted Nutrition to Treat Patellar Tendinopathy. Baar K. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2019 Jul 1;29(4):453–457 Resorbable Suture Is a Suitable Surgical Repair Material in a Rat Achilles Rupture and Repair Model. Gilmore NK, Orr SV, Lam SK, Christiansen BA, Baar K. JBJS Open Access. 2026 May 12;11(2):e26.00079.

In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast,  Dr. Seaward talked about his path into plastic surgery through the British medical training system, his experience working with Dr. Brian Sommerlad, his approach to the cleft palate repair and how he has incorporated and modified the Sommerlad technique. He also discussed the use of buccal fat flaps and buccal myomucosal flaps in cleft palate repairs, his thoughts on the Fisher technique in cleft lip repair, where he thinks the future of cleft lip repair is going, his research on 4D imaging in speech outcomes, how he became ambidextrous, and why surgery is a spectator sport.   Read a recent "PRS Global Open" article by Dr. Seaward and co-authors, "Rating the Rater: A Technique for Minimizing Leniency Bias in Residency Applications": https://bit.ly/Seaward_Leniency_Bias   Dr. James Seaward is an Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He is the director of the Craniofacial fellowship program, and an associate program director of the plastic surgery residency program at UT Southwestern. Dr. Seaward graduated with honors from Trinity College at Cambridge in England, and then earned a medical degree at the Royal Free and University College medical School in London. After completing a plastic surgery residency in Manchester, he came to UT Southwestern for a pediatric craniofacial fellowship, and then joined the faculty there in 2013. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and an active member of the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association.   Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.   #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp

In this "Giants in Plastic Surgery" episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Karol Gutowski, a board-certified plastic surgeon, educator, and nationally recognized leader in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. With a career spanning academic leadership, surgical innovation, and private practice, Dr. Gutowski reflects on the journey that brought him to the United States, why he chose medicine, and how his training and residency experiences shaped the opportunities that followed.   We discuss some of his happiest memories from residency and academia, the achievements he is proudest of, and the realities of serving in major leadership roles, including as Chief of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Gutowski also shares what prompted his transition from academia to private practice, how he navigated the uncertainty of leaving a fixed income to build his own business, and his perspective on what it takes to start and sustain a successful private clinic. Along the way, he offers thoughtful insights into handling patient dissatisfaction, avoiding short-lived trends, and distinguishing lasting innovation from fad in plastic surgery.   Beyond surgery, this conversation explores the personal side of a long career in medicine: what it is like working alongside his wife, balancing work and family life, and how he thinks about success across both professional and personal spheres. We also talk about whether different personalities are drawn to aesthetic versus reconstructive surgery, the future of the specialty, and what he sees as the next big thing in plastic surgery and medicine more broadly.   Read a classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Gutowski and co-authors, "What Influences a Plastic Surgery Resident to Pursue an Academic Career?": https://bit.ly/Academic_Influences_GOX   Dr. Gutowski is an award-winning Chicago-based plastic surgeon known for advanced aesthetic treatments of the face, breast, body, and skin, as well as for his extensive contributions to education, research, and national professional leadership. He has authored over 100 publications and book chapters, served in numerous chief and professorial roles, and has been recognized as a Top Doctor by U.S. News & World Report, Castle Connolly, and others.   Your host, Dr. Vimal Gokani, is a senior Specialty Registrar in plastic surgery in London, England. Your producer & editor, Charlene Kok, is a Year 4 Medical Student in Imperial College London, England, with a keen interest in Plastic Surgery.   #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #GiantsPlasticSurgery

In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Eamon O'Reilly talked about how his time in the navy defined his approach to being a surgeon, his belief in living a life of service, how to approach patients with that philosophy in mind and why it requires a degree of sacrifice, his three rules for the operating room, and how he was able to sustainably and reproducibly create a microsurgery service at the San Diego Naval Medical Center. He also discusses why the surgical system and infrastructure matters more than the surgeon, why the postoperative period needs to be a focal point of patient care, how he pulls off a 45 minute breast reduction safely,  his experience setting up the gender affirmation surgery program in San Diego, how innovation requires a firm grasp of foundational principles and a willingness to fail, the three qualities he thinks make a good resident,  and finally, his food adventures on the hospital ship Mercy.   Read a recent "PRS Global Open" article by Dr. O'Reilly and co-authors, "Donor Limb Functional Restoration via a Novel Clinical Care Pathway following Fibula Free Flap Harvest for Head and Neck Reconstruction": https://bit.ly/Fibula-FF-Care-OReilly.   Dr. Eamon O'Reilly is  board certified general surgeon and plastic surgeon and an Associate professor at the University of Missouri division of Plastic Surgery. Dr. O'Reilly was born and raised in Anchorage Alaska and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a degree in Biochemistry, followed by medical school at the University of Washington, and a General Surgery residency at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. After spending a year with the US Navy, working as the only general surgeon in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, he completed a plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He returned to the Naval Medical Center San Diego where he eventually served as the Department Head and the Plastic Surgery Consultant to the US Navy Surgeon General. He deployed overseas multiple times on the hospital ship USNS Mercy, and to Afghanistan NATO Role 3 Hospital in Kandahar. He recently joined the University of Missouri Division of Plastic Surgery where his practice focuses on complex microsurgical reconstruction including limb salvage and limb preservation, head and neck reconstruction, as well as breast and body aesthetic surgery.   Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.   #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp

In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Cenk Demirdover talked about his training in Turkey and his path into plastic surgery, his approach to resident training, how he does an augmentation mastopexy, his technique for breast augmentation under local anesthesia, the use of the appropriately named Demirdover flaps for sacral reconstruction, a new approach to alveolar bone grafting in cleft palate patients, and the importance of treating patients like you would like to be treated yourself.   Read a recent "PRS Global Open" article by Dr. Demirdover and co-authors, "Layered Repair in Extensive Sacral Defects with Bilaminar Gluteal Flaps: Demirdover Flaps": https://bit.ly/DemirdoverFlaps     Dr. Cenk Demirdover is a plastic surgeon in private practice in Izmir, Turkey. He completed medical school at Ege University, followed by plastic surgery training at Dokuz Eylul University. He worked as a faculty member at the Dokuz Eylul University until his retirement in 2023, and returned to private practice. He is the past president of the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, past president of the Turkish Society of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, the current secretary general of the European Society of Plastic Reconstruction and Aesthetic Surgery, and the president of the Platform of the Turkic World of Plastic Surgery. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Turkish Journal of Plastic surgery, and a member of the editorial board of the European Journal of Plastic Surgery and the Journal of Wound Care.   Dr. Demirdover has no conflicts of interest with products or companies mentioned in the episode.   Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.   #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp

In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Justine Lee talked about how she approaches research, how she developed the planning process for adult facial feminization surgeries, what a porcupine forehead guide is, the multidisciplinary Gender Health program for adults at UCLA, the tension between doing surgeries the same way each time and improving the process, the standardized room setup and timed surgical sequencing that she uses for these surgeries, how she uses a female skull to plan the necessary bony changes in adult facial feminization surgery, her switch to preservation rhinoplasty and the use of cadaveric cartilage in rhinoplasty, and the use of prehabilitation to decrease opioid use and improve outcomes. She also discussed her new fellowship at UCLA, how she avoids tunnel vision and keeps herself honest with on-table results during cases, what WWGD means, and her love of Star Trek. Read a classic "PRS Global Open" article by Dr. Lee and co-authors, "Simplifying Facial Feminization Surgery Using Virtual Modeling on the Female Skull": https://bit.ly/Simplifying_FFS_Lee  Dr. Justine Lee is a Professor and Associate Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles, California. She holds the Bernard G. Sarnat Endowed Chair in Craniofacial Biology. Dr. Lee attended UCLA for her undergraduate studies, then completed medical school, a PhD, and Plastic Surgery residency at the University of Chicago. She returned to UCLA as a craniofacial fellow, and then stayed on as a member of the faculty. Dr. Lee serves as the Experimental Section Editor for the journal "Plastic Reconstructive Surgery," and serves as the chair of the Plastic Surgery Research Council. She received the 2016 UCLA Plastic Surgery Faculty Teaching award. Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp

In this "Giants in Plastic Surgery" episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Andrea Moreira, renowned plastic surgeon, breast reconstruction expert, and global health advocate, to explore the remarkable journey behind her career and the wisdom she's gained along the way. Dr. Moreira shares the personal story behind why she chose medicine, what it was like training at the University of Pará in Brazil, and the emotional and professional challenges of repeating medical school after moving to the United States. She walks us through the differences she observed between residency training in Brazil and the U.S., her path through two residencies at the Cleveland Clinic, and her progression into leadership roles at major institutions including the Cleveland Clinic and UPMC, where she now serves as Director of Innovation for Breast Reconstruction Services and Chief of Plastic Surgery at Magee Women's Hospital. We dive into her cutting-edge work in robotic-assisted microsurgery, breast neurotization, and direct-to-implant reconstruction, as well as her experiences in research, teaching, and global health missions. Dr. Moreira also opens up about the mentors who shaped her career, how she and her husband navigate life as a dual-physician couple, and how trainees can identify the right program or environment for their stage of development. Whether you're a medical student, resident, or aspiring plastic surgeon, Dr. Moreira offers thoughtful advice on when, and how, to get involved, the value of microsurgery training, and what she wishes more young surgeons knew. A candid, inspiring conversation with one of the field's most forward-thinking leaders. Read a recent classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Moreira and co-authors, "Learning Curve Analysis for Robotic-assisted Harvest of Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap": https://bit.ly/Robotic_DIEP_GOX   Your host, Dr. Vimal Gokani, is a senior Specialty Registrar in plastic surgery in London, England. Your producer & editor, Charlene Kok, is a Year 4 Medical Student in Imperial College London, England, with a keen interest in Plastic Surgery.  #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #GiantsPlasticSurgery

In this "Giants in Plastic Surgery" episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Babak Mehrara, an internationally recognized leader in oncologic reconstruction and Chief of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Mehrara shares the remarkable journey that shaped his career, beginning with his move from Iran to the United States and the path that led him into medicine.   We explore how Dr. Mehrara chose his medical school, the mentors who influenced his development, and the pivotal moments that guided him toward plastic surgery. Dr. Mehrara offers a candid look at the personalities within different surgical subspecialties, how he thinks about broadening or narrowing a practice, and why he believes plastic surgery holds unique value within the field of medicine.   Dr. Mehrara opens up about what keeps him grounded outside of the operating room, and he discusses the "buddy system" he pioneered to foster healthier, more effective teamwork in high-stakes clinical environments.   With more than 400 peer-reviewed publications, leadership roles at MSK, Weill Cornell Medical College, and the NIH-funded Lymphatic Biology Lab, as well as his current service as President of The Plastic Surgery Foundation (2025–2026), Dr. Mehrara brings a rare blend of clinical and scientific insight to this conversation—offering inspiration and guidance for trainees, surgeons, and anyone interested in the evolving landscape of reconstructive care.   Read a recent PRS Global Open article by Dr. Mehrara and co-authors, "Thigh-based Breast Reconstruction: A Decade of Experience With the Diagonal Upper Gracilis Flap": bit.ly/DUG_Flap_10_Yrs_Mehrara     Your host, Dr. Vimal Gokani, is a senior Specialty Registrar in plastic surgery in London, England. Your producer & editor, Charlene Kok, is a Year 4 Medical Student in Imperial College London, England, with a keen interest in Plastic Surgery.   #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #GiantsPlasticSurgery

In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Devinder Singh talked about balancing the role of being a surgeon and a Division Chief, how he went about growing and rejuvenating the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Miami, the differences between a community hospital and academic hospital setting, why he enjoys doing the job of a circulating nurse, his unique experience being the chair of the Maryland State Medical Board, his approach to pre-pectoral implant based breast reconstruction, why he thinks negative pressure therapy is helpful in reducing complications, how he salvages infected implant based reconstruction, why chief residents need more time in the clinic rather than the OR, and the special quality assurance conference format he has instituted at Miami.   Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Dr. Singh reports consulting relationships with Solventum and IC Surgical; several products from these companies were discussed in this episode.   Read a classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Singh and co-authors, "The Efficacy of Single-Application NPWTi-d for the Salvage of Infected Breast Prostheses: A Multi-Center Study": https://bit.ly/npwti-d-salvage   Dr. Devinder Singh is the Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Miami Health System and a professor of surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Previously he was the Chief and Medical Director of Plastic Surgery at the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis and a faculty member at the University of Maryland School of medicine and Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. Singh completed medical school at Columbia University, and a combined plastic surgery residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. He has previously served as the Chair of the Board of Physicians of the State of Maryland. He has also served as chair of the ASPS legislative advocacy committee, and on the board of governors for PlastyPac, and the ASPS judicial council.   Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.   #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp

In this "Giants in Plastic Surgery" episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, recorded live at PSTM 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana,  we sat down Dr. Kevin C. Chung, one of the most influential figures in modern plastic and hand surgery. Dr. Chung is the William C. Grabb Distinguished University Professor of Surgery and the Charles B. G. De Nancrede Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan. A globally respected surgeon-scientist, he has authored more than 850 peer-reviewed papers, 600 book chapters, and 41 textbooks, and served as the 7th Editor-in-Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. His leadership roles span the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and the Plastic Surgery Foundation, among many others.   We explore Dr. Chung's personal journey into medicine, beginning with whether he always envisioned becoming a doctor and what alternate career paths he once considered. He reflects on the mentors who guided him toward plastic surgery and shares how his training experiences: from general surgery in Texas, to plastic surgery at the University of Michigan, to hand surgery at the renowned Curtis National Hand Center, shaped his philosophy as a surgeon and educator.   Dr. Chung shares thoughtful reflections on the contrasts he has observed between practicing medicine in America moving from Singapore, and he discusses the pivotal moment that led him to specialize in hand surgery. He also talks about how surgeons can recognize when it may be appropriate to narrow or refine their scope of practice. Beyond the operating room, Dr. Chung opens up about what keeps him grounded outside of medicine and the philosophy he follows to prevent burnout throughout a demanding and highly productive career. Tune in for rare insight and invaluable perspective from one of plastic surgery's most accomplished leaders.   Read a recent classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Chung and co-authors, "Out-of-pocket Costs and Total Payments for Common Congenital Hand Difference Procedures": https://bit.ly/Congenital-Hand-Costs-Chung   Your host, Dr. Vimal Gokani, is a senior Specialty Registrar in plastic surgery in London, England. Your producer & editor, Charlene Kok, is a Year 4 Medical Student in Imperial College London, England, with a keen interest in Plastic Surgery.   #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #GiantsPlasticSurgery

In this Leveling Up episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Dr. Tormod Westvik talked about his diverse journey through the world of plastic surgery—from navigating residency training programs in America, Norway, and Australia to balancing algorithmic decision-making with highly individualized patient care. He shares why returning to first principles is essential in every clinical encounter, how serving as Section Editor for Case Reports in PRS Global Open has reshaped his surgical thinking, and the leadership lessons he carries forward from his mentors. Dr. Westvik also offers a memorable glimpse into his life outside the OR—including the surprising tool he uses to slice pizzas.   Read a classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Chuang and co-authors, "The Value of Case Reports in Plastic Surgery: An Analysis of 68,444 Articles across Six Major Plastic Surgery Journals": https://bit.ly/Value_of_PS_Case_Reports   Dr. Tormod Westvik is a board-certified plastic surgeon and an Associate Professor in the department of plastic surgery at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He completed medical school at the University of Oslo in 2001, followed by general surgery residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, and a plastic surgery residency at Harvard University. He returned to Norway where he became the Chief of Plastic Surgery and Program Director of the plastic surgery training program at Telemark Hospital Health Trust. After 12 years practicing in Norway, he spent a year in Queensland, Australia, returning to Yale in April 2025. He is the past president of the Norwegian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the past vice president of the Norwegian Association for Plastic Surgeons, the Norwegian representative to the ASPS Global Leadership Forum, the Section Editor for case reports at Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, and a member of multiple committees within ASPS. Dr. Westvik has a broad plastic surgery practice including breast reconstruction, hand surgery, body contouring and facial aesthetic surgery, and general reconstruction. He is also leading the storied melanoma program at Yale, founded in 1976 by Dr. Stephan Ariyan.   Your host, Dr. Puru Nagarkar, is a board-certified plastic and hand surgeon, and Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.   #PRSGlobalOpen #DeepCutsPodcast #PlasticSurgery #LevelingUp