Microsurgery Fellowships in India

Microsurgery since inception has fascinated generations of young Plastic surgeons with reconstructive inclination. Microsurgical skill-set is like the superpower (that can be acquired) to tap into the world of microvascular tissue transfer- useful in reconstructing complex traumatic defects, head and neck cancer reconstruction, breast reconstruction, hand and face transplants, and more.

Post intended for: Plastic Surgery Residents from India.

Most Plastic Surgery residents are regularly exposed to free tissue transfer and replant in India. Though anastomosis is the fun part and maybe the most important technical determinant of flap survival, there is so much more to learn in microsurgery w.r.t. choice of donor site, preoperative and intraoperative planning, surgical nuances and perioperative management and counselling.

The Reconstructive Microsurgery fellowship post-residency helps learn the above. Listed below are some top Indian and international centres offering microsurgery fellowships.

Note (Disclaimer):

• The fellowship details have been gathered from the official websites and notifications, links to which have been provided with each.
• Some relevant information obtained from past-fellows has also been included.
• The details have been checked at the time of publication of this post— They are subject to change with time! So, if you notice any change (for eg. in- stipend/pay, or notification timing), do let us know below in the comments section below so that we can update them.
• The list is not exhaustive & we need your support to add to it. Please leave additional info in the comment section below or contact us.

Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore

The following two microsurgery fellowships are offered in the post-residency stage:

1. Post-Doctoral Fellowship programmes of the Tamil Nadu MGR Medical University— Duration: 1 year, Seats: 2 per year.
2. Ganga Hospital and Johnson & Johnson Fellowship in Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery— Duration: 2 months, Seats: 2 every year (usually 1 seat is given to Indian national).
3. FNB in Hand and Microsurgery— Duration: 2 years, Seats: 4-5 every year.

All the 3 fellowships are open to MCh/DNB Plastic Surgery and MS/DNB Orthopaedics graduates.

Fees: ~₹15,000 (exam, convocations fees) for (1), Nil for (2), and ~₹85,000 (tuition, exam fees) for FNB (3).

Pattern of cases: The entire spectrum of Ortho-plastic reconstruction of upper and lower extremity trauma; Brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injury; congenital, post-burn deformities and a wide range of hand and wrist conditions, Diabetic foot.

Pay: ₹50,000 per month- post-MS (?higher- Post-MCh… contact institute directly for latest details) for (1); ₹50,000 for the 2 months for (2); minimum ₹35,000 per month as per NBE (~₹44,000… contact institute directly for latest details) for (3).

Notification timing: Around July-August every year.

Contact: Send your CV, list of 2 referees with a passport size photograph to Dr. Raja Sabapathy for (1) and (2), while selection for FNB (3) is through FET-exam conducted by NBE (National Board Of Examination).

Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai

The following fellowship is currently offered: 2-years HBNI fellowship– Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Note: From time to time, a 1-year TMC fellowship is also offered- look for the same in the link below.

Fees: around ₹1.8 lakhs for 2 years that will be deducted in 10 equal instalments from the salary.

Seats: 1-2 every year (Subject to vacancy)- for MCh/DNB Plastic Surgery graduates.

Pattern of cases: Oncoplastic reconstruction following resection of head and neck cancers, skin cancers, breast cancer, sarcoma.

Pay: ₹94,000 per month.

Notification timing: Around July-August every year.

Once advertised, the notification will appear in the link below:

Tata Medical Center (TMC), Kolkata

Microsurgery Fellowship offered: Oncoplastic Reconstructive Microsurgery Fellowship

Duration: 1 year (Can be extended to 2 years)

Seats: 2-3 (subject to vacancy)- for MCh/DNB Plastic Surgery graduates.

Fees: Nil.

Pattern of cases: Reconstruction following resection of head and neck malignancies, skin malignancies (including lymph node dissection and sentinel node biopsy for Melanoma), breast cancer (post-mastectomy), sarcoma (including excision), gynaecological malignancies.

Pay: ₹95,000 per month

Notification timing: Can apply online anytime. Interview timing is notified to applicants based on vacancies- usually around July-August every year (Any mid-term vacancies are also notified)

Contact: Send your CV to Dr. Gautam Biswas or visit the link below to apply online.

Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Center (RGCIRC), New Delhi

Microsurgery fellowship offered: Cancer Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship.

Duration: 1 year

Seat: 1 (subject to vacancy)- for MCh/DNB Plastic Surgery graduates.

Fees: ₹25000/- at the time of joining the course.

Pattern of cases: Reconstructive surgery following resection of head and neck malignancies, skin malignancies, breast cancer, sarcoma.

Pay: ₹1.4 lakh per month (post MCh) for non-sponsored candidates.

Notification timing: October-November every year— Usual last day for submission of application is 31st Nov every year.

Contact: Once applications are open, the prospectus and application form can be downloaded form the link below.

Vedant Hospital, Nashik

Microsurgery fellowship offered: MUHS Fellowship Course in Hand Surgery

Duration: 1 year

Seats: 1-2 (subject to vacancy, MCh/DNB Plastic Surgery or MS/DNB Orthopaedics are eligible)

Fees: around ₹1.3 lakh for the term and exam.

Pattern of cases: Ortho-plastic reconstruction of upper and lower extremity trauma including major replants, free tissue transfers, toe to hand transfers; Brachial Plexus surgery and others.

Pay: ~ ₹70,000 per month.

Notification timing: June-August every year

Contact: Interested candidates may contact Dr. Rajendra Nehete.

All the Indian Microsurgery fellowship mentioned above have one thing in common- ‘quality’ microsurgical management of the ‘quantity’ of cases, that all of us can learn from. Hope you found the post useful do share with your colleagues or juniors who may benefit from it, and do subscribe.

If you have details of more such fellowships or want to suggest a change or add to the information provided above, we would love to hear from you in the comments section below.