Research and Scholarship
Residents are expected to submit an abstract to the Senior Residents conference in their Chief year and to attend at least two scientific meetings a year. They are provided with funding from the institution's GME office and matched funding from the section. Once these funds are exhausted, the resident's expenses are covered if the resident has a scientific paper accepted for presentation at the meeting.
Faculty research
Each of our faculty is committed to a full-time academic practice. Our faculty attend at least two or more professional meetings a year and participate by presenting papers, giving instructional courses and/or participating in national or regional society committee work.
Dr. Carolyn Kerrigan is a trustee of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and a trustee of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons. She served as President of the Plastic Surgery Education Foundation from 2006-2007. In 2010, she was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by the Plastic Surgery Education Foundation. She is a member of the Association of Academic Chairmen in Plastic Surgery (AACPS), past director and secretary treasurer of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. She serves as a senior examiner and evaluator for the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Current research interests
- A Detailed Analysis of Level I Evidence (Randomized Controlled Trials and Meta-Analyses) in Five Plastic Surgery Journals
- Profit and Efficiency Analysis of Performing Carpal Tunnel Surgery in the Operating Room Versus the Clinic Setting in the United States
- A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing the Harmonic Scalpel to Electrocautery for Breast Reduction Surgery
- The Effectiveness of Research Questionnaires as a Tool in Predicting the Diagnosis and Treatment Strategies of Common Hand Pathologies
- Measuring Patient Satisfaction with Breast Surgery: Development and Validation of a Patient-Based Outcomes Instrument
- Study of the Safety and Effectiveness of the Mentor Contour Profile Gel Mammary Prosthesis in Subjects Who Are Undergoing Primary Breast Augmentations, Primary Breast Reconstruction or Revision
- An Evaluation of Dupuytren's Contracture Treatment Outcomes
Dr. Dale C. Vidal is a member of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgery. She regularly serves as an oral board examiner and written examination committee member for the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). Dr. Vidal has a Master's degree in Outcomes Research and her areas of interest include decision making for preference-sensitive conditions and the use of the Internet in conducting outcomes studies. She is currently the principal investigator of a multi-million-dollar research grant from the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making (FIMDM) implementing shared decision making into clinical care across several specialties at DHMC.
Current research projects
- National Web-Based Outcomes Assessment Program for ASPRS/PSEF Breast Reduction
- Integrating Decision Support into the Care of Women Facing Adjuvant Treatment Choices for Early Stage Breast Cancer
- What Does Decision Coaching Add to the Quality of Decision Making in High Stakes Preference Sensitive Care? A Randomized Trial of a Decision Aid and Decision Aid with Coaching in Coronary Artery Disease Treatment Choices
- Helping Patients with Spinal Stenosis Make a Treatment Decision: a randomized study assessing the benefits of health coaching
Dr. Mitchell Stotland obtained a master’s degree from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Care Policy and Clinical Practice in 2007. He is a member of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Education Committee, the ASPS Coding and Payment Policy Committee, the ASPS Bylaws Committee, and the New England Society of Plastic Surgeons’ Executive Committee.
Current research projects
- Perception of faces; social stigma associated with facial difference
- Shared-decision making in craniofacial surgery
- Surgical device development
