Ask the Residents

Choosing a residency program is an important decision and Washington University Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residents are here to help. Our residents answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the residency program. If you have any questions regarding the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Program, please email Dr. Snyder-Warwick at snydera@wustl.edu or contact our program coordinator, Stephanie Martino, at paule@wustl.edu or 314-362-8028.

An outline of a trophy. What are your goals for this year?
  • When asked, "What are your goals for this year," Anna Rose Johnson, PGY-1 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “To continue developing my clinical skill set and be able to effectively manage patients in the perioperative, inpatient, and postoperative settings. To adjust to living in St. Louis and achieve a healthy work-life balance.”
  • When asked, "What are your goals for this year," Andrew Linkugel, PGY-4 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “I want to narrow my focus in plastic surgery to a specialty for fellowship training (which is hard because I enjoy just about everything).”
  • When asked, "What are your goals for this year," Ema Zubovic, PGY-4 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “As I start the second half of my residency, my goals are to refine my surgical skills, become a successful mentor to students and younger residents, and plan for the next steps in my training.”
An outline of a speech bubble & question mark. What advice would you give medical students applying for residency?
  • When asked, "What advice would you give to medical students applying for residency," Trina Ebersole, PGY-6 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “Show that you’re reading and interested! Work hard! Be yourself and always be available to help!”
  • When asked, "What advice would you give to medical students applying for residency," Ema Zubovic, PGY-4 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “Choose a specialty you love and find a program that will support you personally and professionally. In surgery especially, it’s important to find the right fit for your personality and training goals. Your work environment, colleagues and faculty will shape your residency experience every day. Consider, too, where you will live for those 5-7 years of training, and choose a city that you will be able to enjoy in your free time.”
An outline of a globe and a magnifying glass. What are your research interests?
An image of the Washington University shield. Why did you choose Washington University?
  • When asked, "Why did you choose Washington University," Tina Ebersole, PGY-6 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “I chose Washington University School of Medicine's Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery program because it is exceedingly well-regarded throughout the country, and the operative training here is unmatched! The mentorship provided from faculty is incredible, and my co-residents are the best!"
  • When asked, "Why did you choose Washington University," Anna Rose Johnson, PGY-1 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “I chose Washington University School of Medicine because of the unparalleled clinical experience and diverse faculty, residents and staff who would motivate and inspire me to continue to grow as a surgeon-scientist. The research opportunities in both basic and clinical science are incomparable! I wanted to be part of a program with a strong mentorship model and collegial atmosphere."
  • When asked, "Why did you choose Washington University," Ema Zubovic, PGY-4 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “I chose Wash U for the strong, supportive community and the opportunity to train at a busy, world-class academic medical center. The surgical training here is second to none, and I feel simultaneously challenged and valued by my patients, co-residents, and faculty every day."
An outline of the St. Louis arch and skyline. What's your favorite thing about living in St. Louis?
  • When asked, "What's your favorite thing about living in St. Louis," Anna Rose Johnson, PGY-1 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “St. Louis is a hidden gem! Apart from being an affordable place to live, it offers a myriad of activities (the Zoo, Science Museum, Botanical Garden, to name a few) that I am very excited to explore in the post-COVID-19 era!"
  • When asked, "What's your favorite thing about living in St. Louis," Andrew Linkugel, PGY-4 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “St. Louis has everything I want to do, parks, shows, breweries, restaurants, and they are accessible and affordable. Forest Park's proximity to the hospital is hard to beat."
  • When asked, "What's your favorite thing about living in St. Louis," Ema Zubovic, PGY-4 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “St. Louis has big city perks with the ease of living in a small town. Incredible public spaces like Forest Park are steps away from home and work, and the city is full of world-class arts and culture."
An outline of a doctor. What's your favorite memory from residency?
  • When asked, "What's your favorite memory from residency," Tina Ebersole, PGY-6 plastic and reconstructive surgery resident says, “Some of my favorite memories are going to happy hour and getting dinner with my co-residents at Taste after a full day of cases."
  • When asked, "What's your favorite memory from residency," Andrew Linkugel, PGY-4 plastic surgery resident says, “We have a lot of fun operating together, but my favorite memories have been our Graduation/ Resident Research Days at the end of each academic year. It's sad to see our graduates leave, but it is always a great day to get our whole program together and present our research. Celebrating after the in-service exam is over each year and with co-residents is a close second place."
  • When asked, "What's your favorite memory from residency," Ema Zubovic, PGY-4 plastic surgery resident says, “My favorite experience was our residency retreat float trip in the fall of 2019. We got lucky with amazing weather and it was a special treat to spend an entire day relaxing outdoors as a group."

Read more about the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery on our News page.

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