The Educational and Research Foundation for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery fellowship program provides postgraduate training in facial plastic surgery. The objectives of the fellowship program are to:

• provide an outstanding academic opportunity for the acquisition of specialized knowledge and skills in facial plastic surgery;

• develop trained specialists who will contribute to the ongoing development of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery;

• foster development of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery educators, especially in residency programs; and

• encourage the development of new skills and knowledge in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery through basic research and clinical trials.

The AAFPRS fellowship program is widely respected by the medical community and represents the finest postgraduate program in the world for the training of facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Eligible physicians may apply for 40 positions available each year. Since its beginning in 1969, the program has prepared more than 600 highly specialized experts to be educators and leaders in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. These individuals and their directors have performed a tremendous service to the AAFPRS and the specialty through the development and dissemination of new procedures, improvement of patient care, refinement of surgical techniques and the promotion of confidence and respect in the specialty.

Prerequisites

Applicants to the Fellowship Program must be physicians who are in or have completed an otolaryngology or plastic surgery residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) or board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery or plastic surgery. Applicants must be members of the AAFPRS before submitting an application.

Applicants should not be full-time faculty members holding the rank of assistant professor or higher at the institution where the fellowship will take place.

Applicants with DO degrees may be considered only if they are in an ACGME-accredited residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery or plastic surgery. Applicants with DO degrees that have been accepted into the fellowship program as a fellow will take the final examination administered by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) in order to be eligible to receive a fellowship certificate only. Passing the examination will not of itself meet eligibility requirements for certification in the future by the ABFPRS.

Canadian Applicants

Canadian applicants interested in pursuing a U.S. fellowship should check with the directors whose programs interest them to be certain that the fellowship carries a university appointment with it. In order to get a J-1 or a TN professional visa, an ACGME-accredited University residency program must complete required paperwork -form IAP- for visa officials. The proper paperwork should be completed and a Visa must be obtained before the start date of the fellowship!

Canadian applicants must also meet all other requirements for applying to the fellowship program, including membership of the AAFPRS. It is imperative that these steps as you complete your application and schedule interviews with U.S. fellowship directors.

International Medical Graduates

International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who are eligible to pursue an AAFPRS Foundation fellowship must contact individual fellowship directors for specific information on applying to their fellowship. Although IMG application will not complete a fellowship application for the interview process, they may be required to submit all other information as outlined under application process.

If a fellowship director decides to accept an IMG, the fellowship director must inform the Fellowship Committee of their decision to withdraw from the match that year, as soon as possible, but no later than the Spring Meeting each year. IMG applicants should review the statement at the end of each Fellowship Description to determine which programs accept IMGs for training.

Fellowship Directors are permitted to accept IMGs into their program for any fellowshipyear, however, an IMG cannot participate in the match process unless they meet the prerequisites as outlined above under "PREREQUISITES".

At the completion of the training, IMGs will be awarded an "International Training Certificate".

Fellowship Applicants

Application Process

A completed Fellowship Application; Curriculum Vitae (CV); Operative Experience Report (attached to application) for current calendar year; Future plan statement to include future goals, intentions and why you have chosen facial plastic surgery; official Medical School Transcript; 3 letter of reference (1 must be from Department Chair) and list of programs applying to, which is part of the actual application must be submitted by February 1st.

Please note that a Fellowship Director may request additional information for the interview, which may include additional operative experience report and/or USMLE scores.

Applicants are requested to keep copies of all application information for their records.

All applicants must submit an original of all information plus copies for each Director to whom they are applying. A non-refundable $200 application fee is required; $35 will be applied to register for the match. The fee includes application to 10 programs. All programs listed over 10 require an additonal $15 over-limit-fee (per program). Payment should be made to AAFPRS Foundation by check, money order of credit card (U.S. Funds).

Applicants should complete their applications with the Foundation office no later than February 1st. A $125 late fee will be accessed for any application received after February 1st. The late deadline for applications received after February 1st is March 1st. No applications will be?processed after February 1st without the late fee. No application will be accepted after March 1st.

All interviews should be completed by May 31st of the year preceding the fellowship start date. Applicants are enouraged to interview with Directors whose practice and teaching best supplement their residency training and future practice plans and/or teaching interests. It is the responsibility of applicants to follow up directly with the fellowship director(s) they have selected for an interview.

Candidates are placed each year during the first week in June by a match process. A director who selects an IMG for the position offered in a given fellowship year must withdraw from the match and notify the Fellowship Committee by the Spring Meeting.

Match Process

All applications must come through the AAFPRS Foundation office to be recognized as an applicant of the Facial Plastic Surgery Match. A $35 match fee is included in the $75 fellowship application fee. Payment should be made to the AAFPRS Foundation at the time the application is submitted. The submission of a fellowship application is an agreement to participate in the match. Registration is made directly through the AAFPRS Foundation and should not be submitted directly to the Match Office in California. Once the match office has received the list of registered applicants from the AAFPRS Foundation office, detailed match information, including candidate, director match identification numbers, and rank list forms will be sent to applicants directly from the match office in California.

Fellowship forms available for download:

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