Important COVID-19 Related Announcements:

Resources During COVID-19
The ACAPS Board has worked diligently to provide Programs, Residents, and Medical Students with COVID-19 related information and resources in one unique spot. Click through and email us if you have any additional questions related to this health-crisis.

Note from the ABPS – Re: Written Board Exams

Due to the desire to keep examinees safe, the written Board exam is rescheduled to October 26, 2020. Read the announcement here.

Note from the ACGME

The common program requirements state:

I.D.1. The program, in partnership with its Sponsoring Institution, must ensure the availability of adequate resources for resident education. (Core)

I.D.2. The program, in partnership with its Sponsoring Institution, must ensure healthy and safe learning and working environments that promote resident well-being and provide for: (Core)

IV.B.1.b) Patient Care and Procedural Skills :
Quality patient care is safe, effective, timely, efficient, patient-centered, equitable, and designed to improve population health, while reducing per capita costs. (See the Institute of Medicine [IOM]’s Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century, 2001 and Berwick D, Nolan T, Whittington J. The Triple Aim: care, cost, and quality. Health Affairs. 2008; 27(3):759-769.). In addition, there should be a focus on improving the clinician’s well-being as a means to improve patient care and reduce burnout among residents, fellows, and practicing physicians.

IV.B.1.b).(2) Residents must be able to perform all medical, diagnostic, and surgical procedures considered essential for the area of practice. (Core)

The ACGME the Plastic Surgery RRC in particular recognize the impact that the COVID pandemic is having on clinical experience. They recognize that the cessation of elective cases will have a noticeable effect on case logs. As such, each program's CCC will continue to evaluate a resident's readiness to advance and/or graduate based on overall competence in plastic surgery. Click here to read more.

Information for Medical Students During COVID-19
ACAPS is in the process of developing resources to help medical students interested in Plastic Surgery adjust to the current lack of away rotations allowed by medical schools. The extent to which the current COVID-19 pandemic will affect visiting sub-internships for fourth year medical students this year and next is unknown. Currently, medical schools are enacting individual policies regulating visiting sub-internships for their students and potential visitors. The Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VLSO or VSAS), which is coordinated by the AAMC, has strongly recommended all medical schools prohibit student patient interactions for a minimum of two weeks starting on March 17, 2020. However, the VSAS application remains open and programs can review applications. Due to the uncertainty of the pandemic, ACAPS recommends that plastic surgery programs wait to notify potential visiting sub-interns until the AAMC has made further recommendations on medical student interactions with patients. Though we cannot give a definitive date when this will happen, we feel that a coordinated approach from all institutions and ACAPS will give our future plastic surgery residents the best opportunity to have an equitable and robust sub-internship experience. We also recommend that students planning to do visiting sub-internships clear this with their Dean’s offices and that of the medical school they wish to visit to be certain that both institutions endorse away rotations during the planned time period.

Payment Information:
Due to the ever evolving COVID-19 health crisis and the physical closure of the association offices, we are unable to accept payments by postal service at this time. Your association team is working virtually, and keeping society operations moving forward. We encourage and thank our members to continue their support of the Society by making their payments online.

Match Rank Deadline and Match Date Moved

The SF Match along with the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons (ACAPS) have approved moving the match rank deadline and match date to allow sufficient time for remote interviews given the worldwide pandemic of the Covid-19 respiratory disease. This change in date is designed to minimize the impact on training and allowing the match to conclude without an extended delay.

The latest information on the match can be found on the SF Match website.

Your feedback is important to the group and to the SF Match. Comments regarding the change can be directed to the emails below.

Sincerely,
SF Match and ACAPS

Dennis Thomatos, Manager, SF Match Email: dthomatos@sfmatch.org

Stan Alger, Executive Director, ACAPS Email: salger@prri.com

2020 Boot Camps Canceled
During the most recent ACAPS/ASPS Boot Camp Joint Committee conference call, the risks, benefits, and alternative options regarding the 2020 Boot Camp Program were thoroughly discussed and debated. Ultimately, it was the decision of the committee to fall on the side of safety for its participants and instructors amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and to cancel the Boot Camp Program for July/August 2020. Currently, the committee is continuing to work on options for educational content for our trainees and preparations for the 2021 Boot Camps. Please visit the ASPS website for additional information.

ACAPS Spring Retreat Cancellation
Providing a safe and healthy environment for our members, guests, staff, and our industry partners at our meetings is always the top priority of the ACAPS. The leadership of the ACAPS has been closely monitoring the events surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak and due to ongoing concerns, as well as the latest guidance from the CDC and our concern for our patients, colleagues and our hospital communities, the ACAPS Spring Retreat and Annual Business Meeting scheduled for May 2, 2020 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL has been cancelled. Communications regarding specific plans for alternative education options and next steps will be forthcoming.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. This was an extremely difficult decision for the ACAPS Board but one which we firmly believe is in the best interests of our members, attendees and patients. Our leadership put together an exciting Spring Retreat and our Board is meeting virtually this week to review future actions. In the meantime, we wish for health and recovery to all those affected.