Russell Ettinger New Program Director of Plastic Surgery

Dear Surgery Synopsis Readers,

Approximately six months ago, Dr. Jeffrey Friedrich announced his intention to step down as UW Department of Surgery Plastic Surgery Residency Program Director. He accomplished an amazing 12-year tenure as Program Director, taking us from a “coordinated” residency of three residents/ year (total nine) to currently the largest integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program in the world—it includes 30 ACGME-accredited residency positions and was recently ranked first nationally on Doximity. In addition to expanding the program, Dr. Friedrich has immensely improved the program experience so our trainees truly receive the very finest training in all aspects of Plastic Surgery of any other program. I am so incredibly proud and grateful for what he has done.

Following Dr. Friedrich’s announcement to step down, we formed an internal search committee to select his successor. This committee was chaired by Dr. Kari Keys, and included representatives from all the UW Plastic Surgery sites – Drs. Craig Birgfeld, Otway Louie, Erin Miller, and Jeff Friedrich (I was not involved). The committee received open applications, interviewed candidates, received input from many residents, and had multiple meetings to successfully achieve consensus. I attended the committee’s concluding meeting and was incredibly impressed with their sincerity, inclusiveness, professionalism, and their thoughtful deliberations—taking all aspects into account. Their consensus recommendation was to appoint Dr. Russell Ettinger as the next Program Director, a recommendation I wholeheartedly accepted.

“I am incredibly excited and grateful to be taking on the role of Program Director for UW Plastic Surgery,” expressed Dr. Ettinger. “There is a long-standing tradition of excellence in clinical training that I intend to build on for both our current and future residents. I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Friedrich for his years of dedication and contributions to the program over his 12-year tenure as Program Director.” Drs. Shannon Colohan, Kari Keys, and Craig Birgfeld, agreed to continue as associate program directors (APD) in what we hope will be an expanded role for our APDs going forward—I thank them all most sincerely.

Thank you everyone for your input and support in this most critical transition for our amazing residency program. Thank you, Jeff, and congratulations, Russell. You have some big shoes to fill!

Nicholas B. Vedder, MD, FACS
Professor of Surgery & Orthopaedics
Jamie Hunter Endowed Chair
Chief of Plastic Surgery University of Washington