March 18, 2011
School of Medicine, Kochi
 

APLAST 2011, a three-day teaching program in plastic and reconstructive surgery was conducted at Amrita’s Health Sciences campus during March 11-13, 2011. Organized by Amrita’s Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in association with Kerala Plastic Surgery Association, the conference attracted around 200 delegates from all over the country.
 

As a comprehensive, evidence-based teaching program, APLAST provided an overview of current concepts.
 

The three-day program covered key topics in plastic and reconstructive surgery including head and neck cancers; reconstruction of the ear, nose, lip, eyelid, breast, trunk; hair transplantation; rhinoplasty; management of burns; brachial plexus injuries; genital reconstruction and extensor tendon injuries.
 

“This program was the first of its kind in the country,” stated Dr. U. Nandakumar, Professor at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. “This instructional course was designed to provide an update to postgraduate trainees and junior plastic surgeons.”
 

Dr. Rajasabhapathy, President of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India inaugurated the tutorials. “Amrita’s unit of plastic and reconstructive surgery is undoubtedly one of the finest units in the country,” he stated. The unit recently began offering MCh in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
 

Dr. Subramania Iyer, Professor and HoD at the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery also spoke.
 

“We began our department as a comprehensive unit of plastic, reconstructive, head and neck, and cleft and craniofacial surgery in 2003. Since then we have grown in all respects. Whatever we have achieved and will achieve is all due to excellent team work in the Department.”
 

Dr. Surajit Bhattacharya, Editor of the Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery spoke about the importance of documentation.
 

“As the editor of Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery, it is my duty to tell you how important it is to document work. A plastic surgery specialist needs to do three kinds of documentation – academic, research and clinical. Documentation is very vital and it is from there that we generate the idea of writing papers. Let the younger generation understand the value of research and the value of documentation.”
 

In addition to Amrita faculty, distinguished speakers and faculty from all over the country elaborated on topics such as cheek reconstruction, pediatric mandibular reconstruction, dental rehabilitation, facial palsy, cleft lip nose correction, breast augmentation, reconstruction in radiated breast, hair restoration surgery and body contouring surgery.
 

These faculty included Dr. Gautam Biswas from Postgraduate Institute, Chandigarh, Dr. Mukund Jagannathan from LTMG Hospital, Mumbai, Dr. Jyotsna Murthy from Sree Ramachandra University, Chennai, Dr. Karoon Agarwal from Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, Dr. Mukund Thatte from Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Dr. D. Mukunda Reddy from Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, Dr. K. Sridhar from Apollo Hospitals, Chennai and Dr. P. M. Saffia from Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.