{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]],"date-time":"2026-05-29T23:04:26Z","timestamp":1780095866149,"version":"3.54.0"},"reference-count":44,"publisher":"Georg Thieme Verlag KG","issue":"03","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]],"date-time":"2026-03-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1774828800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Arch Plast Surg"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Academic engagement in plastic and reconstructive surgery (PRS) has grown substantially, marked by an increasing number of professional societies, annual meetings, and peer-reviewed journals. While this growth has facilitated innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing, it has also introduced financial burdens. These costs may limit access to academic involvement, especially for early-career surgeons and those without institutional funding. Despite the implications these financial barriers pose for equity, academic engagement, and innovation within the field, the cumulative cost of academic involvement in PRS remains poorly quantified. A cross-sectional review was conducted to assess the financial costs of academic engagement in PRS in the United States. Between January and April 2025, data were collected from official websites of national and subspecialty PRS societies, journals, continuing medical education (CME) platforms, and board-certifying bodies. Annual dues, meeting fees, CME costs, journal subscription, publishing fees, and board-related expenses were compiled. A comparative analysis with five other surgical subspecialties was conducted. Thirty-two major PRS societies were identified. Membership dues ranged from $150 to $1,299. Meeting registration was $250 to $1,495. Journal subscription costs ranged from $44.90 to $1,518, and open-access (OA) article processing charges (APCs) from $700 to $5,334. PRS-board certification costs averaged $9,045. CME cost-per-credit reached up to $600. Among the six surgical specialties in the United States that were included in the comparative analysis, PRS ranked second in baseline academic engagement (BAE) costs after Neurosurgery, averaging $10,109. Academic engagement in PRS carries significant financial burdens that may limit access. Addressing these barriers is essential to maintaining equity and innovation.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1055\/a-2832-6764","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]],"date-time":"2026-03-30T22:54:42Z","timestamp":1774911282000},"page":"287-298","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Costs of Academic Engagement in Organized Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the United States"],"prefix":"10.1055","volume":"53","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0421-4829","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kishan S.","family":"Shah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, United States"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-4955-7696","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Stefan T.","family":"Prvulovic","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, United States"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8064-1534","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"David H.","family":"Song","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, United States"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"194","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]]},"reference":[{"issue":"05","key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"610","DOI":"10.1097\/SAP.0b013e3181bffc5f","article-title":"America's fertile frontier: how America surpassed Britain in the development and growth of plastic surgery during the interwar years of 1920-1940","volume":"64","author":"J F Fraser","year":"2010","journal-title":"Ann Plast Surg"},{"issue":"01","key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000002259","article-title":"The American Association of Plastic Surgeons recent history, with a review of the past","volume":"138","author":"W T Lawrence","year":"2016","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1084","DOI":"10.1097\/SCS.0000000000001683","article-title":"The evolution of organized plastic surgery in the United States and its role as a global partner","volume":"26","author":"R X Murphy Jr","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Craniofac Surg"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"717","DOI":"10.1097\/00006534-199210000-00028","article-title":"Impact of the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery","volume":"90","author":"A L Dellon","year":"1992","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"86S","DOI":"10.1097\/01.prs.0000794892.36710.6c","article-title":"The impact of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: By the numbers","volume":"148","author":"R J Rohrich","year":"2021","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"02","key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.1093\/asj\/sjz156","article-title":"Levels of evidence in plastic surgery research: A 10-year bibliometric analysis of 18,889 publications from 4 major journals","volume":"40","author":"W J Rifkin","year":"2020","journal-title":"Aesthet Surg J"},{"issue":"11","key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e3202","DOI":"10.1097\/GOX.0000000000003202","article-title":"Globalization of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A continent, country, and state-level analysis of publications","volume":"8","author":"A E Liechty","year":"2020","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"626","DOI":"10.1016\/j.amjmed.2024.11.012","article-title":"The $12 billion board certification process: Examination characteristics, revenues, and expenditures","volume":"138","author":"M Singh","year":"2025","journal-title":"Am J Med"},{"issue":"11","key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2600","DOI":"10.1007\/s00268-023-07166-3","article-title":"Financial barriers to surgical conferences: A cross-sectional analysis of registration fees","volume":"47","author":"N Oiknine","year":"2023","journal-title":"World J Surg"},{"issue":"01","key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"147","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsurg.2021.08.016","article-title":"How does geographic region affect the total and individual costs for medical students applying to the competitive surgical residencies?","volume":"79","author":"A M Gordon","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Surg Educ"},{"issue":"12","key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e4058","DOI":"10.1097\/GOX.0000000000004058","article-title":"Total costs of applying to integrated plastic surgery: Geographic considerations, projections, and future implications","volume":"9","author":"A M Gordon","year":"2021","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open"},{"issue":"01","key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e3317","DOI":"10.1097\/GOX.0000000000003317","article-title":"The cost of applying to integrated plastic surgery residency","volume":"9","author":"B A Sarac","year":"2021","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open"},{"issue":"03","key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"754","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000010605","article-title":"Financial literacy in plastic surgery training: Importance and current status","volume":"153","author":"P J Krasniak","year":"2024","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"02","key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"163","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jamcollsurg.2018.05.002","article-title":"Clinically competent and fiscally at risk: Impact of debt and financial parameters on the surgical resident","volume":"227","author":"S E Tevis","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Am Coll Surg"},{"issue":"05","key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1276","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsurg.2018.03.006","article-title":"The economics of private practice versus academia in surgery","volume":"75","author":"M Baimas-George","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Surg Educ"},{"issue":"05","key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"568","DOI":"10.1097\/SAP.0b013e31820b3cea","article-title":"The independent plastic surgery match: An in-depth analysis of the applicants and process","volume":"66","author":"J G Harper","year":"2011","journal-title":"Ann Plast Surg"},{"issue":"06","key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1441","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000007981","article-title":"Career development in plastic surgery","volume":"147","author":"M K Carbullido","year":"2021","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"01","key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"62","DOI":"10.1177\/00031348251350989","article-title":"Trends in surgical society membership and meeting attendance costs","volume":"92","author":"M Williams","year":"2026","journal-title":"Am Surg"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"525","DOI":"10.1227\/neu.0000000000003452","article-title":"Costs of academic engagement in organized neurosurgery in the United States","volume":"97","author":"M M Covell","year":"2025","journal-title":"Neurosurgery"},{"issue":"06","key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1555","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000006849","article-title":"Do we publish what we present? A critical analysis of abstracts presented at three plastic surgery meetings","volume":"145","author":"M Asaad","year":"2020","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"01","key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"316","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0b013e3181dbc406","article-title":"Transatlantic Innovations: A new approach to international ideas and technology","volume":"126","author":"G RD Evans","year":"2010","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"461","DOI":"10.1097\/SAP.0000000000002932","article-title":"The impact of fellowship training in academic plastic surgery","volume":"87","author":"F M Egro","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann Plast Surg"},{"issue":"09","key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1264","DOI":"10.1177\/1055665619864008","article-title":"American Cleft-Palate Craniofacial Association Annual Meeting: International Medical Graduate's Perspective as a First-Time Attendee","volume":"56","author":"A Abu-Ghname","year":"2019","journal-title":"Cleft Palate Craniofac J"},{"issue":"01","key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"31","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjps.2016.09.022","article-title":"Scientific impact of presentations from the EURAPS and the AAPS meetings: A 10-year review","volume":"70","author":"H Khorasani","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg"},{"issue":"01","key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"353","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000005134","article-title":"Mentorship: A pathway to succeed in plastic surgery","volume":"143","author":"S R Ramanadham","year":"2019","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1087","DOI":"10.1097\/01.PRS.0000080319.87331.9F","article-title":"Mentors in medicine","volume":"112","author":"R J Rohrich","year":"2003","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"366","DOI":"10.1097\/SAP.0000000000003503","article-title":"The impact of socioeconomic factors on the 2022 Plastic Surgery Match","volume":"90","author":"A O Girard","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ann Plast Surg"},{"issue":"10","key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1432","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jsurg.2023.07.007","article-title":"Socioeconomic status diversity of trainees and faculty in residency programs: A pilot study in plastic surgery","volume":"80","author":"H Malapati","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Surg Educ"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S403","DOI":"10.1097\/SAP.0000000000004222","article-title":"Progress with shortcomings: An examination of demographic representation in integrated plastic surgery residencies","volume":"94","author":"M C Becker","year":"2025","journal-title":"Ann Plast Surg"},{"issue":"03","key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"940","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000005354","article-title":"Diversity in plastic surgery: Trends in minority representation among applicants and residents","volume":"143","author":"N Parmeshwar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"726","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bjps.2025.10.038","article-title":"Impact of limited access to plastic surgery journals on clinical and research output in low- and middle-income countries","volume":"113","author":"O Ayoade","year":"2026","journal-title":"J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1385","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0b013e31819f25ff","article-title":"Introducing evidence-based medicine to plastic and reconstructive surgery","volume":"123","author":"K C Chung","year":"2009","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"645e","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000008368","article-title":"Evidence-based medicine in plastic surgery: From then to now","volume":"148","author":"R J Rohrich","year":"2021","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"03","key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"329","DOI":"10.1097\/SAP.0000000000002452","article-title":"The evolving trends in the impact factor of plastic surgery journals: A 22-year analysis","volume":"86","author":"M Asaad","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ann Plast Surg"},{"issue":"03","key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e3808","DOI":"10.1097\/GOX.0000000000003808","article-title":"Dissemination of plastic surgery research: An analysis of PRS and PRS-GO.","volume":"10","author":"J S Nasser","year":"2022","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open"},{"issue":"05","key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1249","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000009016","article-title":"The price of publishing: An investigation of the open access landscape in plastic surgery","volume":"149","author":"P S Yesantharao","year":"2022","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"08","key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"NP275","DOI":"10.1093\/asj\/sjv223","article-title":"Submission bias and the rise of open access journals","volume":"35","author":"A U Gowda","year":"2015","journal-title":"Aesthet Surg J"},{"issue":"05","key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2017.7464","article-title":"Fees for certification and finances of medical specialty boards","volume":"318","author":"B C Drolet","year":"2017","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1002\/chp.20048","article-title":"It is time to study the costs and benefits of regulating continuing medical education in the United States","volume":"29","author":"P E Mazmanian","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Contin Educ Health Prof"},{"issue":"07","key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"715","DOI":"10.1093\/asj\/sjaf034","article-title":"Increasing private equity investments in plastic surgery practices in the United States: Analysis of trends and consolidation","volume":"45","author":"R Dhawan","year":"2025","journal-title":"Aesthet Surg J"},{"issue":"04","key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"428","DOI":"10.1093\/asj\/sjad384","article-title":"The looming future of private equity in plastic surgery","volume":"44","author":"E C Shaffrey","year":"2024","journal-title":"Aesthet Surg J"},{"issue":"09","key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2230243","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2022.30243","article-title":"Characterization of National Medical Societies' accessible resources to support underrepresented minority and female trainees","volume":"5","author":"L A Kandi","year":"2022","journal-title":"JAMA Netw Open"},{"issue":"02","key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000012198","article-title":"Unmasking inequality: The current state of health disparities research in plastic surgery","volume":"157","author":"I A Snee","year":"2026","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"},{"issue":"01","key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"226","DOI":"10.1097\/PRS.0000000000009763","article-title":"Plastic surgery diversity, equity, and inclusion mentorship program and workshop: A single institution's experience","volume":"151","author":"M Reghunathan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Plast Reconstr Surg"}],"container-title":["Archives of Plastic Surgery"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.thieme-connect.de\/products\/ejournals\/pdf\/10.1055\/a-2832-6764.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]],"date-time":"2026-05-29T22:48:51Z","timestamp":1780094931000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.thieme-connect.de\/DOI\/DOI?10.1055\/a-2832-6764"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]]},"references-count":44,"journal-issue":{"issue":"03","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,29]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1055\/a-2832-6764","archive":["Portico","CLOCKSS"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["2234-6163","2234-6171"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2234-6163","type":"print"},{"value":"2234-6171","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published-other":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]]},"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,30]]}}}