Division of Plastic Surgery
Plastic Surgery Residency Program
The six-year Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program is an ACGME accredited training program that provides a comprehensive educational opportunity comprised of structural education, research, and clinical experience at our state-of-the-art medical center.
Teresa Benacquista, MD, Director, Plastic Surgery Residency Program
Why our program could be right for you
Since its founding in 1958, the Montefiore Einstein Plastic Surgery program has remained a leader in both clinical care and surgical education. Residents train alongside highly experienced and innovative surgeons while rotating through a diverse range of clinical environments, including a tertiary care center, a Level 1 trauma center, and private practice offices in Manhattan. This structure provides comprehensive exposure to the full spectrum of plastic surgery, from craniofacial surgery and congenital anomalies to microsurgical tissue transfer, nerve reconstruction, muscle reanimation, replantation, and general reconstruction of the face, trunk, breast, and extremities, as well as cosmetic procedures.
Montefiore Einstein’s rich history in plastic surgery is rooted in the pioneering work of Dr. Michael Lewin, whose contributions helped establish one of the world’s oldest continuously active craniofacial centers. The program has achieved notable milestones, including the successful separation of two pairs of craniopagus twins through collaboration between craniofacial and pediatric neurosurgery teams.
Under the leadership of Dr. Berish Strauch, the Division of Plastic Surgery became the first EMS-designated replantation center in the Northeast and a regional pioneer in microsurgery, including peripheral nerve surgery. Dr. Strauch also founded the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery and the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. Today, Montefiore Einstein remains one of only two replantation centers in New York City, and its affiliated burn unit at Jacobi Hospital is one of the two major burn centers in the New York metropolitan area.
Research is a core component of the residency experience, with residents strongly encouraged to participate throughout their training. An annual Research Day provides an opportunity to present findings, share knowledge, and compete for awards recognizing outstanding work.
The program also emphasizes rigorous preparation for the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) In-Service Examination. Weekly didactic conferences include faculty-led lectures and case-based discussions covering preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative management, as well as foundational scientific principles. Residents complete the annual PSEF written in-service examination and participate in formal mock oral examinations to ensure comprehensive readiness for board certification.
What sets Montefiore Einstein apart
At Montefiore Einstein, we are guided by a mission to heal, to teach, to discover and to advance the health of the communities we serve. Comprising 11 member hospitals and more than 300 specialty care sites, Montefiore Einstein provides highly specialized, coordinated care in the New York region, across the country and globally.
Albert Einstein College of Medicine, home to nearly 1,000 students in its MD, PhD and combined MD/PhD programs, is one of the nation’s preeminent centers for research, medical education and clinical investigation. Through the joint efforts of Montefiore Einstein and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Einstein is able to advance research and accelerate discoveries, benefiting patients and ensuring access to state-of-the-art healthcare for all.
- Montefiore’s medical specialties ranked as top 1% in the nation by U.S. News & World Report
- Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein (CHAM) recognized as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded Einstein $192M+ in research funding in 2023, placing Einstein in the top 35 among 154 schools of medicine
- 850+ clinical trials
Catherine C. Skae, MD, Vice President and Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Graduate Medical Education at Montefiore Einstein
Representing one of the top 10 largest medical and surgical training programs in the country, Montefiore Health System and our Albert Einstein College of Medicine provide postgraduate clinical training to more than 1,500 residents and fellows per year. Clinicians across Montefiore Einstein’s numerous educational programs actively mentor and cultivate a new generation of healthcare leaders.
Our mission to improve access and quality of care for our diverse community draws residents and fellows from top medical, dental and PA schools from around the world. We develop and expand programs designed to advance teamwork, communication and decision-making, and our progressive focus on comprehensive care provides an ideal training ground for our residents and fellows.
To make the process of working and training at Montefiore Einstein more seamless, we offer a variety of services for our house staff, physician assistants and interns, including assistance with credentialing and orientation, institutional resources, visas, contracts, HR documents, payroll, notary services and specialty training and certifications.
Montefiore Einstein by the numbers
0.8 million+
patient interactions annually
0.1 million+
patients annually, representing the largest network in the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley
240+
specialty care locations, with more coming soon
32,000+
employees
Home to notable programs and our Centers of Excellence
Moses Campus is the main campus of our premier academic medical center. As a 726-bed hospital, Moses brings state-of-the-art care to the community it serves. Through the breadth of specialties and services provided at Moses, our fellows gain incredible exposure to a vast range of pathologies, from general medical care to more complex cases.
An academic hospital adjacent to our Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Einstein Weiler Hospital is a 421-bed private hospital located in the Pelham Parkway section of the Bronx, adjacent to Albert Einstein College of Medicine. This location offers innovative gynecological and family planning services, patient-centered primary and specialty care at the Montefiore Medical Group Comprehensive Family Care Center, cancer screening and care and more. Weiler Hospital is also a New York State-designated Regional Perinatal Center and a New York State-designated Stroke Center.
An ambulatory surgery center and specialty care location
The Hutch is a 12-floor patient center, multi-disciplinary diagnostic and treatment center located across from the Einstein Division. It is a modern, efficient setting for ambulatory surgeries and home to state-of-the-art operating rooms, PACU bays, and advanced imaging center, on-site laboratory services and pharmacy, together with primary and specialty care specialties. This facility provides an integrated end-to-end patient experience for the large Bronx population.
A partner teaching hospital designated as a Level 1 trauma center
A 457-bed hospital housing the only burn unit in the Bronx, Jacobi Medical Center (JMC) is a member of NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health system in the country. Residents train within the hospital’s Ambulatory Care Pavilion, which features 120,000 square feet of outpatient care facilities, including general dermatology, pediatric dermatology and dermatologic surgery clinics.
A world-renowned faculty
Current Residents
An unmatched diversity of experience
As a premier academic medical center serving the Bronx, Westchester and the Hudson Valley, Montefiore Einstein offers its postgraduate trainees comprehensive exposure to a broad diversity of patients and pathologies. The diverse range of experience available prepares our postgraduate trainees for future careers in their chosen field, be it in the research or clinical and/or non-clinical setting.
Faculty and scientists at the forefront of research
Live and work close to the best of everything
The Bronx, New York City’s northernmost borough, is a culturally rich neighborhood placed at the intersection of Manhattan and its surrounding regions. Our postgraduate trainees typically live in hospital housing or off-site in nearby Riverdale, Lower Westchester or Manhattan, and have access to an unmatched diversity of experiences beyond the program itself.
In the Bronx, with its ample parks and gardens, you’ll learn first-hand why it’s known as “the City’s Greenest Borough.” The neighborhood offers plenty of local food, art, sports and culture, and is just a subway ride away from Manhattan’s famed theaters, museums and attractions.
As a resident of the Tri-State region, you’ll have unmatched access to the city’s cultural offerings, not to mention the bounty of outdoor excursions that are available just beyond. Day-trips and weekend excursions to the Hudson Valley, Catskills, Long Island or New Jersey provide ample opportunities for swimming, hiking, biking, skiing and other seasonal activities.
Drag map or zoom to explore things to do in the Bronx, Manhattan and beyond.
Residency Application Information
We follow the ERAS and NRMP timeline and requirements.
Resident selection is based upon merit as judged by academic achievement, letters of support, professionalism, communication skills, research participation and personal characteristics including motivation and integrity.
Applicants selected for interviews will be offered one of two available interview days in December or January. The visit extends for a full-day session and consists of multiple interviews.
Applicants selected for interviews will also be provided with the opportunity to informally meet and interact with residents from the program the evening prior to their scheduled visit. This social event is designed to allow prospective residents the chance to meet current residents, ask questions, learn about the program, and glean a bit of insight into what residency at Montefiore Einstein entails.
Have questions? Get in touch.
Agneta Gustafsson
Program Manager, Plastic Surgery
agustafs@montefiore.org
Learn more about the Montefiore Einstein Division of Plastic Surgery