The Art of Handling Responsibility

Often do we imagine the life of a plastic surgeon as one swathed in the glitz and glamour of body transformations. But the road to becoming a skilled plastic surgeon is far from glamorous; it’s persistently putting yourself in the shoes of your patient and carrying the weighty responsibility of their health. In Tampa, FL, Dr. Effie Politis from Politis Plastic Surgery, talks about her unique experience as a plastic surgery resident that defined her approach to plastic surgery.

“We were ones that were seeing the patients, diagnosing and doing the surgeries,” reflects Dr. Effie Politis. When stepping into the hallowed halls of a medical residency at Politis Plastic Surgery, it was not about shadowing and observing, but about taking lead, making diagnoses, and conducting surgeries. Unlike with other notable programs like ND Anderson and NYU, the dazzling spotlight was focused squarely on the resident.

Living the Legacy of the First Integrated Class

Dr. Effie Politis was part of the first integrated class, a small group of three residents. “We started the program basically, and we were in charge of showing all the other residents behind us how to do all the cases.” The pioneering residents, not the fellows, were the ones running the surgeries. They were the engine room, the ones who quite literally set the pace, carved the path, and laid out the blueprint for residents who came along after them. It was a seismic shift from the traditional, and it brought a considerable responsibility that Politis relished.

The residents didn’t just perform case studies; they managed the entire process, with Dr. Effie Politis even serving as Chief Resident. “I was chief resident, able to manage all the scheduling, and yeah, it was a big responsibility. You’re in charge of all the education of the residents, making sure they keep on track.” But the responsibility didn’t end at education and schedules; it extended to attending conferences and tumor board meetings, key activities that still play a significant role in Dr. Politis’s practice today.

From Residency to Real Life Practice

In the true spirit of holistic care and unwavering dedication to continuous learning, Dr. Politis still attends multidisciplinary conferences. “I think that’s really important for patient care when you’re talking about oncology.” Her commitment to patient care and her multidimensional approach to treatment have been hallmarks of her practice. The unique experience of her residency has profoundly influenced her approach to patient care in her own practice.

Turning the Page: Politis Plastic Surgery

Dr. Politis, a Tampa, FL plastic surgeon, now heads Politis Plastic Surgery, a clinic known for its patient-centric approach. Here, she puts into practice all that she learned and experienced during her extraordinary residency—taking a hands-on approach, encouraging ongoing learning, and favoring a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

In Tampa, FL, Dr. Effie Politis and her team at Politis Plastic Surgery continue to rewrite the narrative on the practice of plastic surgery. The journey from residency to running her clinic has been enriched by the responsibility, the struggle, the experience, and the victories, all contributing to her unique approach to patient care. Visit Politis Plastic Surgery for a journey beyond the surgeries, into a world where patients truly matter.

References:

• “Plastic Surgery Department | MD Anderson Cancer Center.” https://www.mdanderson.org/research/departments-labs-institutes/departments-divisions/plastic-surgery.html.
• “The Important Role Plastic Surgery Plays In Cancer Treatment.” 13 Feb. 2019, https://www.foxchase.org/blog/important-role-plastic-surgery-plays-cancer-treatment.
• “Reconstructive Surgery | Cancer.Net.” https://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/surgery/reconstructive-surgery.

Transcription:

Hi, my name is Dr. Effie Politis with Politis Plastic Surgery. The difference between our program and some of the other ones in the nation, I will say is that because we’re not like an ND Anderson and NYU, we didn’t have a lot of fellows. So we were the ones that were seeing the patients, diagnosing and doing the surgeries. Whereas in some other programs in the nation, most of the residents go on to do a fellowship because they were holding retractors on residency because the fellows were the ones running the surgery. So we were, I was the first integrated class. So my class of three residents, we were the first fully integrated class. So that means that we started the program basically, and we were in charge of showing all the other residents behind us how to do all the cases. We literally ran the cases. I was chief resident, were able to manage all the scheduling, and yeah, it was a big responsibility. I mean, you’re in charge of all the education of the residents, making sure they keep on track. We always went to conferences. We had tumor board conferences, and this transfers to now. I mean, I still attend multidisciplinary conferences. I think that’s really important for patient care when you’re talking about oncology.