The perioperative management of systemic breast cancer therapies is an increasingly important aspect of planning for breast cancer surgery and reconstruction. This commentary compares two recent sets of recommendations and explains why treatment decisions often need to be tailored to the individual patient. By highlighting differences in methodology and clinical considerations, we emphasize the importance of individualized perioperative planning and close collaboration between surgeons and oncologists. Continued research will help refine these strategies and improve care for patients undergoing breast reconstruction.

Background: Professional development is relevant to physicians at all stages of one's career, including early in practice. Specialty society membership offers opportunities for personal and professional growth and collaboration in many realms, including clinical practice, education, research and leadership. For early-career plastic surgeons, engagement in professional societies can facilitate career development as young surgeons navigate decision making and challenges at the start of their practices. The purpose of this article is to provide information regarding opportunities for early-career involvement and growth in professional societies related to plastic surgery. Methods: We sought to collate a single resource for early-career plastic surgeons as they hone their “brand” and seek additional engagement with their field. After web-based searches and seeking expert opinion from a variety of plastic surgeons, we generated a list of professional organizations and relevant opportunities. Results: For each professional organization, we created tables with programs and corresponding descriptions in the categories of leadership development, mentorship, research, and financial awards and scholarships. We identified dozens of opportunities for early-career plastic surgeons, from leadership committees to advocacy groups to grant funding. Conclusions: Regardless of practice type, given the many advantages of pursuing opportunities within and supported by professional societies, we advocate for engagement of early-career plastic surgeons in these organizations.

Background: The electronic medical record (EMR) has many benefits but has been shown to be a source of burnout for physicians. Data suggest that female physicians in ambulatory medicine spend more time using the EMR than male physicians, though this has yet to be studied in the surgical setting. This study aimed to analyze EMR usage patterns between male and female plastic surgeons at a single institution. Methods: Thirteen attending plastic surgeons at a single institution were included in this study. EMR usage data were extracted from Epic from December 2021 to December 2022. Extracted variables included time spent on messages, precharting, notes, orders, the in-basket feature, and total usage during and outside the workday. Demographic analysis was performed, and a univariate regression model was used to compare variables between groups. Results: Three surgeons were women, and 10 were men. Female plastic surgeons spent 18.9 seconds longer on each message in the EMR (P < 0.05) and 5.52 minutes longer using the in-basket feature compared with male surgeons (P < 0.05). Additionally, female surgeons spent 15.3 more minutes on notes (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Female plastic surgeons spend significantly more time on messages with patients and staff and spend more time in notes than their male counterparts. In our study, these differences reflected nearly 2 additional hours/wk spent on EMR usage. Because workload related to the EMR may contribute to burnout, institutions can work with physicians to recognize time spent on required documentation and identify ways to improve efficiency.