PRS Global Open Deep Cuts

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

In this "Giants in Plastic Surgery" episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, we sit down with Professor Venkat Ramakrishnan, a globally respected plastic and reconstructive surgeon with over four decades of experience.   Known for his pioneering work in microsurgical breast reconstruction, Prof. Ramakrishnan has performed more than 1,500 DIEP and TUG flap procedures and currently leads the Breast Reconstruction Service at the renowned St. Andrew's Centre for Plastic Surgery and Burns in Chelmsford, UK. His private practice spans Brentwood and Southend-on-Sea, and he continues to be a leading figure in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, as well as a mentor through his fellowship program and professorship at Anglia Ruskin University.   In this conversation, Prof. Ramakrishnan shares the personal and professional journey that led him into plastic surgery, including his decision to train in Australia to build an independent career, rather than follow in the footsteps of his father, a prominent plastic surgeon in India. We explore his international training experience across India, Australia, and the United States, and how these shaped his unique surgical perspective and relentless focus on efficiency in the operating room. He also offers insight into managing work-life balance, a topic particularly resonant for younger surgeons navigating demanding careers.   We round out the discussion with Prof. Ramakrishnan's views on the role of AI in plastic surgery—where he sees both promise and limitations—and reflections on the moment he considers his proudest professional achievement. With warmth, honesty, and a wealth of experience, Prof. Ramakrishnan offers invaluable lessons for surgeons at every stage of their careers. Read a classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Ramakrishnan and co-authors, "The "Needle-splint" Technique: A Method of Accurate Apposition and Eversion during Microvascular Anastomosis": https://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/2020/01000/the__needle_splint__technique__a_method_of.29.aspx   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, recorded live at PSTM 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dr. David Chwei-Chin Chuang discussed his career in nerve surgery, the importance of accurate diagnosis in brachial plexus reconstruction, and how he goes about documenting his evaluations and his surgeries, how he treats patients with aberrant motor reinnervation and synkinesis in the face and upper extremity, his approach to counseling patients before these complex surgeries, how to prevent burnout, and the future of nerve surgery. Dr. Chuang was joined by his nerve fellow Dr. Jing Tay, who provided insights into his experience working with Dr. Chuang, and the differences in the training models he has experienced in Taiwan and England.   Read a classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Chuang and co-authors, "Postparalysis Facial Synkinesis Clinical Classification and Surgical Strategies":  https://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/2015/03000/postparalysis_facial_synkinesis__clinical.7.aspx    Dr. Chuang is a Professor of Surgery at Wan Fang Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan. He earned his medical degree from Kaohsiung Medical College in Taiwan and completed his internship and general surgery residency at the Veterans General Hospital in Taipei. He did a plastic surgery residency under Dr. Samuel Noordhoff at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taipei, followed by extensive fellowship training with Dr. Terzis in Virginia, Dr. Narakas in Lausanne, Switzerland, Dr. Millesi in Vienna, Austria, and Dr. Kondo in Taiwan. He worked at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taipei as a Professor of Surgery until 2024, and then joined the Wan Fang Hospital.   Dr. Jing Tay is a nerve reconstruction fellow working with Professor David Chuang at Wan Fang Hospital. He trained in plastic surgery in Oxford, England, and holds a PhD in Biomedical sciences and an executive MBA. He is the current Chair of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons International Residents Forum and serves as the UK's national trainee lead for the lymphedema special interest group.   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