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Plastic Surgery Integrated Residency

book_2 Learning Mode: Residential
Surgical team in the OR

Program Overview

The MUSC Plastic Surgery Residency Program provides comprehensive training in all aspects of the specialty. Two six-year residency positions are available each year. In addition, a three-year fellowship is run alongside the residency, for a total of 12 trainees.

The Division of Plastic Surgery performs more than 600 inpatient and 1,400 outpatient cases per year, with many community-based cases covered by residents as well. Residents rotate through a variety of clinical settings in five hospitals, including both academic and private practice environments. Six core faculty and several community physicians provide comprehensive training throughout all years of training.

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Training Overview

Through cooperation of the Medical University of South Carolina administration, full-time, part-time and volunteer faculty, the MUSC Plastic Surgery Residency offers a broad-based experience in plastic surgery with exceptional strengths in micro-vascular free tissue transfer, hand surgery, aesthetic surgery and procedures, and reconstructive breast surgery.

All major aspects of the specialty are emphasized, including but not limited to the following:

  • Breast Reconstruction
  • Hand Surgery
  • Craniofacial Surgery
  • Body Contouring
  • Cosmetic Surgery
  • Maxillofacial Trauma
  • Oncologic Reconstruction
  • Trauma Reconstruction
  • Cutaneous Malignancies

In addition, residents receive training in the following surgical specialty areas:

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Transplant Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • ENT Surgery
  • Dermatologic Surgery
  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Oral Maxilla Facial Surgery
  • Surgical Critical Care
  • Surgical Oncology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Surgery Vascular Surgery

The resident rotations are divided into the following eight services:

MUSC 1: Dr. Donna Mullner (Hand, General Reconstructive, Oncologic Reconstruction)

MUSC 2: Dr. Kevin Delaney (Breast Reconstruction, Hand General Reconstruction, Aesthetic)

MUSC 3: Dr. Fernando Herrera (VA, Hand, General Reconstruction, Lower Extremity Reconstruction)

MUSC 4: Dr. Lance Tavana (VA, Hand, General Reconstruction, Urology Reconstruction)

MUSC 5: Dr. Isis Scomacao  (Craniomaxillofacial, Breast General Reconstruction, Hand, Aesthetic)

MUSC 6: Dr. Marcello Hochman (The Facial Surgery Center), Dr. Patrick O’Neill (O’Neill Plastic Surgery), Dr. Jason Ulm (Ulm Plastic Surgery), Dr. Richard Kline (East Cooper Plastic Surgery), and Dr. Rodney Young (Palmetto Plastic Surgery)

MUSC 7: Dr. Gabriel Klein (Microsurgery, Breast Reconstruction, Maxillofacial Trauma, General/Aesthetic Surgery)

MUSC 8: Dr. Rion Tapp (Breast Reconstruction, General Reconstruction, Aesthetic)

Plastic surgery residents participate in:

  • Two weekly conferences
  • Monthly journal club
  • Monthly Grand Rounds
  • Quarterly cadaver labs

In addition, residents have the opportunity to attend two major regional or national meetings each year.

Application

Find key information about the application process and key deadlines to keep you on track.

Application Overview

The MUSC Residency in Plastic Surgery is an integrated program that accepts two medical students through the NRMP. We accept applications through ERAS only. Please refer to the ERAS website and your dean’s office to complete your application to the program.

No supplementary materials outside ERAS are required.

Applications will be reviewed and the interview date will be scheduled around mid-January each year. Each candidate will have personal interviews with the attendings and a chance to speak more informally with residents. On the night before the interview, an informal social event will be held for applicants and residents.

ERAS Website

Questions

Our program coordinator is happy to help at any point in the process.

Stephanie Mackey
Program Coordinator
Plastic Surgery Residency Program
843-792-2098
mackeys@musc.edu

Meet Our Residents

Geoffrey Brown, M.D. PGY-6
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina

Kevin Butler, M.D. PGY-6 
Medical School: Touro College of Medicine

Felipe Molina-Burbano, M.D. PGY-6
Medical School: Mount Sinai Hospital Icahn School of Medicine

Alexander Hoey, M.D. PGY-5
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson

Robert Kane, M.D. PGY-5
 Medical School: New York Medical College 

Alexandra Dominianni, M.D. PGY-5
 Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine

Cassidy Muir, M.D., PGY-5
 Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Stephanie Carpentier, M.D. PGY-3
 Medical School: Virginia Tech Carillon School of Medicine

Tristan Thomson, M.D. PGY-3
 Medical School: State University of New York

Erika Andrande, PGY-2
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina

Justin Taylor, M.D., PGY-2
Medical School: University of Florida

Alexia Lucas, M.D., PGY-1
Medical Schools: College of Medicine at Central Michigan University

Rebecca Williams, M.D., PGY-1
Medical Schools: University of Nebraska Medical Center

Our Recent Plastic Independent & Integrated Surgery Graduates

2025-2026

Briana McLaughlin, M.D.
Next Step: Hand Fellowship, University of Miami

2024-2025

Jenna Thuman, M.D.
Next Step: Plastic Surgeon, Lasky Clinic 

2023-2024

Donna Mullner, M.D.
Next Step: Hand Fellowship, University of Kentucky 

2022-2023

Sami Tarabishy, M.D.
Next Step: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic Foundation

2021-2022

Georgina Nichols, M.D.
Next Step: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Fellowship, The Plastic Surgery Center

Kiandra Scott, M.D.
Next Step: Plastic Surgeon, Lexington Medical Center

2020-2021

Steven Hermiz, M.D.
Next Step: Plastic Surgeon, Covenant Healthcare 

Busayo Irojah, M.D.
Next Step: Plastic Surgeon, UPMC Memorial Hospital

2019-2020

Daniel Crane, M.D.
Next Step: Plastic Surgery Fellowship, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 

Zachary Young, M.D.
Next Step: Private Practice, Little Rock, Arkansas

Program Directors

Gabriel Klein, M.D., MS

Assistant Professor, Surgery Program Director, Plastic Surgery Integrated Residency
mail kleing@musc.edu call 843-792-6292 View Faculty Profile open_in_new View Provider Profile open_in_new

Gabriel Klein, M.D., MS, is an Assistant Professor of Surgery and fellowship trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon with extensive training in Microvascular Reconstruction. Dr. Klein's practice is focused on restoring form and function to patients who have been affected by cancer, trauma, and chronic wounds. His interests include general reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery, free tissue transfer, limb salvage, lymphedema, and breast reconstruction- including DIEP flap and implant-based reconstructions.

Dr. Klein has a strong dedication toward medical education and research. His research interests include clinical outcomes in breast and abdominal wall reconstruction, for which he has written several peer reviewed publications.
He completed a Reconstructive Microsurgery Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic.

Donna Mullner, M.D.

Assistant Professor, Surgery Associate Program Director, Plastic Surgery Integrated Residency
View Faculty Profile open_in_new View Provider Profile open_in_new

Dr. Donna Mullner is a hand fellowship-trained plastic and reconstructive surgeon who specializes in hand and upper extremity surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, complex limb injuries, and congenital hand surgery. She has advanced expertise in treating conditions such as hand and wrist fractures, nerve injuries and compression (including carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel syndrome), Dupuytren's disease, trigger fingers, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and congenital differences of the hand.

M. Lance Tavana, M.D.

Division Chief and Professor, Surgery Program Director, Plastic Surgery Independent Residency
mail tavana@musc.edu call 843-792-6228 View Faculty Profile open_in_new View Provider Profile open_in_new

M. Lance Tavana, M.D. is the Division Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and fellowship trained, board-certified plastic surgeon with additional board certification in hand surgery. Dr. Tavana specializes in hand and upper extremity surgery.

Since 2012, Dr. Tavana has served as full-time faculty at the Medical University of South Carolina as an associate professor in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is currently the program director for the MUSC integrated plastic surgery residency and is active academically, having authored several book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles as well as presenting on a local and national level. He previously served as the president of the South Carolina Society of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Tavana also serves at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, taking care of our nation's veterans.

He treats all conditions of the upper extremity from the elbow to fingertip, including but not limited to: carpal tunnel syndrome (treating with endoscopic carpal tunnel release); cubital tunnel syndrome; hand/wrist/elbow pain; rheumatoid arthritis; osteoarthritis; fractures; amputations; lacerations: tendon and nerve injuries; congenital conditions; Dupuytren's disease; tennis elbow; and, sports injuries. Dr. Tavana also performs reconstructive surgery for traumatic injuries, cancer reconstruction, and chronic wounds.

FAQ

Benefits and salary are provided by the GME Office. Click here to view the information. 

Click here to discover life in Charleston with MUSC, a city where history, culture, and coastal living enrich teaching, research, and learning.

Residents live all around Charleston and the surrounding communities. You can live downtown, by one of the many beaches or salt marshes, or in a more suburban area. Some residents bike or drive to work from downtown (5 min). Other residents drive in from Mt Pleasant (15-20 min), West Ashley (10-20 min), James Island (10 min), Johns Island (30 min), or North Charleston (10-20 min).

Surgery residents are awarded 3 weeks (21 days) of vacation each academic year. Each vacation is a 7-day block. Residents submit their preferences to the administrative chief before the start of the academic year and all attempts are made to accommodate the preferences. Maternity, paternity, and bereavement leave are granted.

Chief residents finish their training with more than enough cases to meet the training requirement set by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Our graduating residents typically reach over 2,500 cases, which also exceeds the number of cases required by the ACGME.