Online Resources in Plastic Surgery Education: A Toolbox for Modern Trainees and Plastic Surgeons

• Published in: Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open Vol. 8; no. 7; p. e2894
• Main Authors: Ali, Kausar, Colchado, Daniel, Davis, Matthew J., Abu-Ghname, Amjed, Winocour, Sebastian, Buchanan, Edward P., Reece, Edward M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-07-2020; Copyright The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All rights reserved; Wolters Kluwer
• Subjects: Plastic Surgery Focus; Special Topic
• ISSN: 2169-7574; 2169-7574
• DOI: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002894

Plastic surgery is a rapidly evolving field that requires novel approaches in providing continuous and dynamic educational resources to address the increasing time and skill demands from residents. Online resources in their various forms, such as books, journals, simulators, and applications, are increasingly used by residents, notably over traditional print and in-person counterparts. In this digital era, it is imperative to understand the scope and utility of online resources that have the potential to revolutionize plastic surgery education. In this review article, we first discuss the current model of plastic surgery education and the challenges of meeting its goals and then suggest reasons by which online resources close this gap. We also offer an exposition on the benefits of distinct types of resources and current trends regarding their use. Our goal is to create a framework within which learners and educators are able to organize online resources in plastic surgery.