The annual Kansas City Facelift Symposium at Kansas City University (KCU) is an opportunity for anatomy fellows to work alongside faculty, residents and experienced surgeons while observing international experts in the field of plastic surgery demonstrate their skills.
“Our goal has been to bring this national training concept here regionally to focus a high yield anatomical conference looking at the anatomy of the face as it relates to facelift surgery,” said Chris Surek, DO, and KCU alum who started the symposium two years ago. “We bring in international experts to come in and teach us.”
The most recent symposium was held on campus in April. James Zins, MD, a plastic surgeon with the Cleveland Clinic was the featured guest.
“It instills in students who attend the symposium a level of knowledge they wouldn’t get until they are residents,” said Barth Wright, DO, KCU Anatomy Professor. “That’s an enormous help.”
Dr. Surek is a former KCU anatomy fellow who spent hours learning and practicing his skills in the anatomy lab. Now, he is a practicing plastic surgeon in the Kansas City area as well as an anatomy professor at KCU. Dr. Surek feels KCU’s anatomy lab is a perfect location for the symposium.
“We can project the dissections on big screens, interact with everybody and have a productive learning experience for all,” he added.
Dr. Surek hopes the annual event continues to grow and bring in more experts and physicians from around the country and the world.
