Fellowship
Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
The Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a one-year, non-ACGME-accredited program that accepts one fellow per year.
The Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship is a training opportunity that covers the breadth of academic facial plastic surgery. It is accredited by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS).
Program Overview
Fellows will be exposed to both reconstructive and cosmetic cases of the face, head and neck. Depending on the fellow’s specific interests, there will be opportunities to enrich learning within craniofacial surgery (cleft lip and palate), oculoplastic surgery, and advanced head and neck reconstructive surgery. Because this fellowship incorporates all areas of reconstructive and cosmetic facial plastic surgery, the fellow will be able to tailor their training to their individual interests and career aspirations.
Learn More about the Fellowship
The fellow will be appointed as a clinical instructor and blend learning with clinical responsibilities within all realms of facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.
One of the unique features of this program is the multidisciplinary nature in which the fellow can spend time with colleagues in plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery and cosmetic dermatology.
The weekly schedule will be tailored to the fellow’s needs, but would include a half day of fellow cosmetic clinic, one to two days per month of facial nerve clinic and one to two days per month of academic facial plastic surgery clinic. The remainder of the time will be spent between the Hershey Medical Center campus and Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center enriching their skills in the operating, both as a primary and first-assist surgeon. Autonomy will vary depending on the complexity of the case and overall training progression of the fellow.
In addition, the fellow will have opportunities to observe craniofacial cases, in addition to, oculoplastic cases depending on scheduling.
Interested applicants can find the full application details on the AAFPRS Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery webpage and submit the application with all required materials.
Applications should be submitted by Feb. 1 of the academic year two years prior to the fellowship; for instance, applications for fellowships starting July 2024 will apply in 2022-2023.
Humanitarian outreach trips not only provide critical care for patients who may travel for days to receive treatment, but are also a deeply fulfilling endeavor for our attending physicians and fellows. The Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery has completed surgical mission trips to Peru, Ecuador, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.
Current Fellow
Flora Yan, MD
Fellow, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship
Leadership and Contacts
Carlin Luz
Residency and Fellowship Coordinator, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Supporting Your Training
Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Meet Jeffrey Schott, a real-life Santa whose world changed when facial paralysis took away his smile. Thanks to expert care from Dr. Jessyka Lighthall and the Penn State Health Facial Nerve Clinic, Jeffrey found his smile and his holiday spirit again.
Dr. Aniruddha Parikh, 2025 fellowship alumnus, presented with certificate from Dr. Jessyka Lighthall during graduation ceremony held at Hershey Gardens.
Dr. Jessyka Lighthall, Director of the Facial Nerve Clinic at Penn State Health, shares insights on the unique care offered in central Pennsylvania. Established in 2016, the Penn State Health Facial Nerve Clinic uniquely integrates multidisciplinary facial nerve care in one convenient location.
Wendy Jackson shares her cancer journey and experience receiving care from the multidisciplinary team at Penn State Health.
Dr. Edgar Del Toro Diez, 2026 fellowship alumnus, presented with certificate from Dr. Jessyka Lighthall during graduation ceremony held at Hershey Gardens.
Mission trips not only provide critical care for patients, who may travel for days to receive treatment, but are also a deeply fulfilling endeavor for our attending physicians and trainees.
Esteem Penn State Health Cosmetic Associates offers a full range of noninvasive, minimally invasive and surgical cosmetic procedures.
Residents participate in cleft palate simulation course under the guidance of cleft-trained faculty members.
