The Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency offers a vibrant and supportive environment where residents receive top-notch training in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery. With a focus on ethical practice, technical excellence, and collaborative research, we are dedicated to preparing our residents for successful careers and fellowship opportunities in the field.
About the Program
Director: Salim Mancho, D.O.
To all prospective applicants or those seeking more information about a career in plastic surgery, welcome to our program's website! Hopefully, it can give an overview of the vibrant and welcoming community we have shaped here in Dayton, Ohio. The history section can provide more details about the origins of our program, but most recently we have expanded our complement to two residents per year, starting with the class of 2026. We are excited about upcoming additions to the program including new faculty and clinical rotations as well as opportunities for research and collaboration. We hope to meet you during one of our outreach events or at interviews to give you a chance to witness our community and culture for yourself.
Our Mission
The mission of the Wright State University Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program is to train residents to become outstanding plastic surgeons. Our program defines outstanding as a plastic surgeon who practices ethically with sound clinical judgment and superior technical skill. Our faculty will support residents to excel in their desired niche in plastic surgery practice. Our residents will be competent to treat reconstructive or cosmetic plastic surgery patients. In addition, for those residents desiring fellowship training, our program will support our trainees to achieve the desired training. Our program will constantly seek opportunities to collaborate with basic and clinical scientists at our institution to advance the practice of plastic surgery in our community to provide the most advanced care to the patients we serve.
History
The Wright State University School of Medicine was established in 1973 by the Ohio General Assembly. From about 1979 to 1998, a Wright State University Plastic Surgery Residency Program existed under the direction of Drs. Thomas Graul, Ralph Snider and James Apesos. This program trained many outstanding plastic surgeons. However, the loss of a sponsoring institution with the closure of St. Elizabeth's Hospital was instrumental in the voluntary withdrawal of the training program in 1998.
Dr. R. Michael Johnson subsequently re-established the Wright State Plastic Surgery Residency Program with the assistance of Premier Health Partners (PHP), the parent company of Miami Valley and Good Samaritan Hospitals. PHP recommended an investment be made by the institution to fund a plastic surgery residency program to help with the long-term specialty service needs of the community. It was understood by the institution that the residents would not supply this service need. The presence of a residency training program would result in some graduates remaining in the area to increase the specialty workforce.
The residency program director has a unique experience and vision for the balance between the institutional needs, surgical education and the available resources within the local area. This is due to the fact that he has worked within this institution as a resident, in private practice in plastic surgery and in academic plastic surgery practice. Due to this long term commitment to the Dayton area, the program director has direct knowledge of the talents of the individual surgeons. This knowledge and vision, combined with the support of Wright State to improve the level of scholarship, led to the development of a proposal for a plastic surgery residency. This proposal was accepted by PHP.
An investment in the scholarship of discovery was identified as a need for a strong residency program in plastic surgery. The addition of Andrea Hoffmann, Ph.D., led to the development of a basic science research program. Increased collaboration with basic scientists at the medical school is seen as a positive experience for both the university and the Division of Plastic Surgery.
Review of the institutional and program requirements of the ACGME was undertaken to decide if an adequate, broad based experience in plastic surgery could be provided in this community. Adjunct clinical faculty members were contacted in each area of the specific program requirements to ensure a broad based experience. All clinical faculty have had prior teaching experience, and all chosen faculty agreed to participate in the program.
All of these pieces of the puzzle were in place-institutional support, basic research program and full-time and clinical faculty with broad based clinical experience. It was felt the time was right to resurrect plastic surgery training in Dayton, Ohio.