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Video

Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

(A402) A Qualitative Evaluation of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Programs’ Online Information

Monday, October 13, 2025
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EDT
Location: OTO EXPO, Posters

    Presenting Author(s)

  • Travis Scott Smith, MD

    Medical Resident
    UT Southwestern
    Dallas, Texas, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • HW

    Hallie R. Wilson, BS

    Medical Student
    McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center At Houston
    Missouri City , Texas, United States

  • Ella E. Hawes, B.S.

    Medical Student
    McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
    Houston, Texas, United States

    • Senior Author(s)

  • KK

    Katherine Kao, MD

    McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, United States

Disclosure(s):
Travis Scott Smith, MD: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Hallie R. Wilson, BS: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Ella E. Hawes, B.S.: No relevant relationships to disclose.


Introduction: Otolaryngology residents interested in pursuing Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (FPRS) fellowships commonly use online resources to evaluate prospective programs. A 2019 survey of FPRS fellows as well as surveys of fellowship applicants to other fields have identified key factors that influence applicants' decisions regarding which fellowship programs to apply to. The purpose of this study is to assess the availability and comprehensiveness of information provided by FPRS programs in order to help these programs improve their online representation and provide more desirable information for applicants.

Methods: Program-specific FPRS fellowship websites and the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) program descriptions handbook were evaluated based on 19 factors considered important for prospective fellowship applicants.

Results: 62 ACGME-accredited FPRS fellowships were identified using the AAFPRS fellowship program descriptions handbook. Of these, 34 had websites. On average, the handbook fulfilled 7.6 key factors and program-created websites fulfilled 3.9. When combined, 9.1 key factors were fulfilled. Certain factors were more likely to be found in the handbook: program description (100%), program director (100%), case description (98.4%), research requirement (83.9%), and operative volume (82.2%). Some factors were rarely ( < 10%) found in the handbook but were found on websites: current fellows (56.3%), program coordinator (37.5%), previous fellows (34.4%), and location description (21.9%). Other factors were seldom found in either the handbook or websites: job placement (0%, 9.4%), program accreditation year (0%, 12.5%), work-life balance (4.8%, 12.5%), IMG acceptance (6.5%, 3.1%), and vacation policy (37.1%, 18.8%).

Conclusions: FPRS fellowship websites, along with the program descriptions provided in the AAFPRS handbook, often lack important information that could benefit prospective applicants. Providing more comprehensive details could assist applicants in making more informed decisions when selecting fellowship programs.