Drastic Times Call for Plastic Measures

My 2nd week of immersion was very similar to Dan's, as we observed the same set of surgeries, rounds, and outpatient procedures. It has been extremely fascinating to follow a plastic surgery team. Despite the common assumption that plastic surgery is predominantly for aesthetic purposes, nearly every surgery and patient we have seen has required plastic surgery as part of their medical treatment. From post-tumor resection reconstruction to nerve and skin repair, plastic surgery is clearly an critical specialty with a variety of applications. This has also gotten me excited to contribute to the research in this field. Dan and I have observed several of the projects being researched in the Spector labs, and they all have significant clinical value. One of the problems I am currently working on is the formation of a composite collagen hydrogel featuring alternating sections of high-density and low-density collagen for the purpose of cell recruitment. These hydrogels have potential as dermal replacements for natural neovascular cell invasion, which would provide a valuable alternative to current skin graft procedures. It has truly been an experience to see plastic surgery in action.