THE INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERSHIP CANDIDATE PROGRAM
The International Federation of Facial Plastic Surgery Societies (IFFPSS) is pleased to provide postgraduate observerships in facial plastic surgery. This program has been developed in conjunction with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and those societies’ members of the IFFPSS that have existing fellowship programs and are interested in participating in the observership. The observerships in Facial Plastic Surgery are being offered with the following objectives:
- provide an outstanding academic opportunity for the acquisition of specialized knowledge and skills in facial plastic surgery;
- develop trained specialists who will contribute to the ongoing development of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery;
- foster development of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery educators, especially in residency programs; and
- encourage the development of new skills and knowledge in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery through basic research and clinical trials.
The AAFPRS Foundation fellowship program is widely respected by the medical community and represents the finest postgraduate program in the world for the training of facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons. Since its beginning in 1969, the program has trained more than 900 highly specialized experts to be educators and leaders in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. These individuals and their directors have performed a tremendous service to the AAFPRS and the specialty through the development and dissemination of new procedures, improvement of patient care, refinement of surgical techniques and the promotion of confidence and respect in the specialty. This program in conjunction with the fellowships offered by interested participating societies that currently offer fellowships, within their society, are the basis for the observership programs.
Those postgraduate observership applicants who are eligible to pursue an International Observership must contact the IFFPSS (Executive VP Steve Jurich) for specific information on applying to the observership program. Observership candidates will be required to submit information as outlined (CV, operative experience list, future plan statement, personal references, medical school transcript, Otolaryngology or Plastic Surgery certificate from Residency Director indicating satisfactory completion of training program; and application fees.)
If the observership preceptor decides to accept an Observership Candidate, the director must inform the IFFPSS Executive VP, Steve Jurich, of their decision.
IFFPSS APPLICATION PROCESS
ALL APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION THROUGH THE IFFPSS:
- A completed IFFPSS Observership Application
- A current Curriculum Vitae (CV),
- A future plans statement, to include future goals, intentions and why you have chosen facial plastic surgery (should be 1 page or less),
- An official Medical School Transcript with seal (electronic submission accepted from registrar only)
- Validated credentials that show applicant has completed a formal training program in Otolaryngology or Plastic Surgery in their respective country.
- Applicants need three letters of recommendation:
- Letter of head of your program where applicant trained
- Letter from the leader of applicant country’s society of Facial Plastic Surgery
- Letter from a recognized member of an IFFPSS country.
COUNTRY SOCIETY MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE IFFPSS.
A non-refundable $200 application fee is also required in US funds (must be paid by check, money order, or credit card). The fee off sets administration, communication and certificate production costs. Completed applications must be mailed to:
IFFPSS Administrative Offices
310 South Henry Street; Alexandria, Virginia 22314
All applications will be reviewed by certification and credentials committee of IFFPSS/executive VP in a timely manner.
The applicant will select an observership from the handbook. These can be applied for no less than one month and no more than three months. Preferably the applicant should list three preceptorships, in order of preference and the length of time they would like to attend (1 to 3 months). They should also indicate a preference for the time period of the calendar year. The time period will be up to the discretion of the observership preceptor. After satisfactory completion of the observership program the observership candidate will receive a certificate delineating the period of time of the observership and the observership preceptor, the logo of the IFFPSS, as well as the respective society that the preceptor belongs to i.e.; AAFPRS, EAFPS, SCCPFR (and all other societies members of IFFPSS that have fellowships willing to participate).
OBSERVERSHIP PRECEPTORS
The Observership Preceptors are recognized authorities in the teaching and practice of facial plastic surgery. They are formally affiliated with an accredited postgraduate medical training program. A description of each Observership Preceptor’s practice and areas of expertise is included in the International Observership Handbook. Preceptors are required to provide access to appropriate educational materials, i.e. books, videotapes, as part of their training program.
An Observership Preceptor is the one and only Director of the program who provides the majority of the fellow’s exposure and is responsible for all administrative tasks and decisions regarding the observership.
CERTIFICATES
Applicants will receive a certificate of clinical observership clearly delineating length of time of rotation and that it is an observership. Certificates will be issued only of certified US and International programs and will be issued only to applicants who go thru the IFFPSS observership program, and after receiving a letter from the fellowship program director saying:
- Observer has completed rotation as established
- Behavior has been acceptable and proper
Certificates will contain:
- Logo of IFFPSS and country where rotation was done (AAFPRS, EAFPS, SCCPFR etc)
- Signature of program director and IFFPSS president
- Certificates will only be issued to applicants whose country society is a member of the IFFPSS.
THIS IS NOT EQUIVALENT TO A FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM IN FACIAL PLASTIC SURGERY