Summer School in Local Flaps in Facial Reconstruction after Skin Cancer Surgery

The Summer School “Local flaps in facial reconstruction after skin cancer surgery” is organized by the Plastic Surgery Unit of the University of Pisa.

The Summer School is structured in a 5-day course characterized by lectures and hands on training covering all the most useful techniques involved in facial reconstruction after skin cancer excision. Each day a different anatomical unit of the face will be covered and the daily schedule will be divided into two sessions:

• Morning: frontal lecture regarding the clinical anatomy of the district and description of the different reconstructive options.
• Afternoon: practical training in the OR during which the participants will be involved in the patient evaluation, the design and planning of the different reconstructive options and assist during surgeries.

Aim

The aim of the Summer School is to give participants the detailed knowledge and expertise needed to achieve the best results in the full range of reconstructive procedures involving local flaps of the face.

The anatomy, physiology and biomechanics of the facial skin and muscles will be addressed and followed by OR experience to evaluate and understand patients’ variability.

Focus on proper skin cancer resection with adequate margins will be followed by the evaluation of multiple reconstructive options.

The decision-making process will be critically explained to the student and the techniques of flap planning, flap harvesting and donor site morbidity will be discussed.

Reconstructive surgery of the nose, lip, eyelid, forehead and ear will be specifically reviewed to give the student a wide spectrum of possible reconstructive options, with a step-by-step approach to each procedure, completed by tips and tricks from leading experts.

Moreover, skin closure options will be reviewed including updates on the latest materials used and the new technologies involved in wound closure.

In conclusion, prevention and treatment of complications will be addressed.

Founded in 1343, the University of Pisa is one of the most prestigious universities in Italy. Famous alumni of the University include Galileo Galilei, 3 Nobel prize winners, and 2 Fields medalists. It is amongst the top 3 universities in Italy (ARWU) . Nowadays the University of Pisa represents a prestigious modern center for teaching and advanced research.

Pisa offers international students the unique opportunity to study and experience the richness of Italian history and culture in a beautiful and stimulating environment. Famous across the world for the Leaning Tower, almost all of its departments are located in the heart of the city. Its strategic geographical location, the international airport, and excellent rail connections offer the possibility of weekend trips to other parts of Italy and Europe.

The Foundation Course is a one-year program taught exclusively in English, which bridges the gap between High School and University studies and it equips students with the appropriate academic grounding for an Italian degree at the University of Pisa. This program is aimed at international students who have 11 or 10 years of schooling and have successfully completed High School and at American students who have not taken Advanced Placement (AP) courses during the last year of High School nor have attended 2 years of College.

Summer Schools are intensive academic courses for international students and also for graduates. They mostly last from 4 days to 6 weeks and take place in an international context, with students and lecturers coming from various parts of the world and all lectures delivered in English. They are characterized by nonconventional teaching formats (workshops, tutorials, excursions, cultural events, business testimonials, etc.) and a multidisciplinary approach. Professors are experts in their areas and have a keen interest in what they do. Summer Schools meet strict academic regulations: each one grants at least 3 ECTS credits and the participants who successfully pass the final exams will receive an official academic transcript.

Contacts:

Università di Pisa Palazzo Modica - Piazza Torricelli, 4 - 56126 Pisa (PI) Italy Information about Foundation Course: studyabroad@unipi.it Information about Summer Schools: support.summerschool@unipi.it