In this episode of the Resident Review Plastic Surgery Podcast, hosts Nick Oleck, Hannah Langdell, and Tori Wickenheisser have the honor of interviewing Dr. Ed Chang, the ASRM Godina Fellow for 2024. Dr. Chang, a professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center, shares insights from his extensive experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery, including breast reconstruction, lymphedema surgery, and complex head and neck reconstruction.

The conversation begins with Dr. Chang discussing the prestigious Godina Fellowship, its selection process, and his travel plans for the year, emphasizing the importance of visiting Slovenia to honor Marco Godina. He also highlights his philosophy of visiting former trainees to see their contributions to the field.

Dr. Chang delves into his clinical practice, describing a typical week that includes a variety of microsurgical procedures. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a diverse skill set and the value of teaching and mentoring fellows. The discussion also covers the collaboration between plastic surgeons and ENT specialists in head and neck reconstruction, with Dr. Chang offering advice on maintaining these crucial relationships.

The hosts and Dr. Chang explore the use of alternative flaps in reconstructive surgery, with Dr. Chang sharing his experiences and preferences for different flaps, including the pap flap and the ulnar artery perforator flap. He candidly discusses his challenges with the MSAP flap and the importance of having a broad armamentarium of options.

Lymphedema surgery is another key topic, with Dr. Chang explaining his approach to lymphaticovenous anastomosis (LVA) and the combination of LVA with lymph node transfer. He stresses the importance of ensuring patency in anastomoses and shares his thoughts on post-operative care and monitoring.

The episode concludes with Dr. Chang offering advice to aspiring Godina Fellows and micro fellowship applicants, emphasizing the importance of humility, continuous learning, and genuine care for patients. He encourages future fellows to challenge historical paradigms and strive to improve patient care.

Overall, this episode provides a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for plastic surgery trainees and professionals, highlighting Dr. Chang’s dedication to the field and his commitment to teaching and mentorship.