About Dr. Shulzhenko
Dr. Nikita O. Shulzhenko is currently a Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery fellow at the University of Pennsylvania/Fox Chase Cancer Center. He completed his Integrated Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (2019-2025), where he served as Chief Resident (2024-2025). Dr. Shulzhenko's clinical interests include microvascular reconstruction, lymphedema treatment, lower extremity reconstruction, and gender-affirming surgery. His research focuses on microsurgical techniques, nerve regeneration, and innovative surgical training models and has presented his work at multiple national conferences. He has received numerous honors including the esteemed Rutgers "Clinical Chief of the Year" and GME Professionalism Awards. Dr. Shulzhenko is dedicated to advancing the field through clinical excellence, research innovation, and surgical education.
Education
2024 - 2025
Chief Resident, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
2020 - 2025
Residency, Integrated Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey
2017 - 2018
Research Fellowship - University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Medicine and Public Health
Madison, Wisconsin
(PI: Samuel O. Poore, MD, PhD)
2014 - 2017, 2018 - 2019
MD - University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Medicine and Public Health
Madison, Wisconsin
2010 - 2014
BA - Northwestern University (Chemistry)
Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences
Evanston, Illinois
Societies
2024 - present
World Association Against Infection in Orthopaedics and Trauma (WAIOT) - Resident/Fellow Affiliate
2022 - present
American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM) - Candidate Member
2019 - present
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) - Residents and Fellows Forum Member
2021 - present
Plastic Surgery Research Council (PSRC) - Candidate Member
2021 - present
Migraine Surgery Society (MSS) - Resident/Fellow Member
2020 - present
Robert H. Ivy Pennsylvania Plastic Surgery Society (RHIS) - Resident/Fellow Member
2020 - present
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) - Residents and Fellows Forum Member
2020 - present
Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons (NESPS) - Resident/Fellow Affiliate
Awards
May 2025
American Board of Plastic Surgery, Written Exam - Pass, 1st Attempt
2023 - 2024
Excellence in Clinical Performance: "Clinical Chief of the Year"
Division of Plastic Surgery, Rutgers NJMS – Annual Division Awards
2023 - 2024
Rutgers GME Professionalism Award
Learning & Work Environment Subcommittee, Rutgers NJMS
2021 - 2022
Excellence in Academic Achievement
Division of Plastic Surgery, Rutgers NJMS – Annual Division Awards
2020 - 2021
Excellence in Resident Medical Documentation
Division of Plastic Surgery, Rutgers NJMS
Annual Peer Resident Accolades
April 2018
Cannon Student Scholar, 97th Annual Meeting
American Association of Plastic Surgeons
Research
Dr. Shulzhenko's research portfolio spans microsurgical innovation, nerve regeneration, surgical education, and reconstructive outcomes. His collaborative work on the "blue-blood" chicken thigh model for microsurgery training has been widely adopted in surgical education programs. He has investigated novel applications of nimodipine and botulinum toxin A for traumatic nerve regeneration following microsurgical repair. Additional research areas include perforator-based flap reconstruction, gender-affirming surgery outcomes, lymphedema treatment, and the application of artificial intelligence in plastic surgery. Dr. Shulzhenko has served on editorial boards as an ad hoc reviewer for premier plastic surgery journals including Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and PRS Global Open. He has also contributed service to national committees including the ASPS/PSF Volunteers in Plastic Surgery Steering Committee and the PSRC Technology/Communications Committee.
Publications
Peer-Reviewed Original Papers (Selected)
- Ignatiuk, A; Chow, A; Shulzhenko, NO; et al. Secondary Autologous Fat Grafting as a Novel Method to Improve Pain and Appearance of the Residual Fingertip After Amputation. Eplasty. 22:e48, 2022.
- Tran, BNN; Didzbalis, C; Chen, T; Shulzhenko, NO; Asaadi, M. Safety and Efficacy of Third-Generation Ultrasound-Assisted Liposuction: A series of 261 Cases. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. 46(5):2310-2318, 2022.
- Schultz, JJ; Naides, AI; Bai, D; Shulzhenko, NO; Keith, JD. Pathologic Evaluation of Breast Specimens in Transgender Chest Masculinization: Incidental Findings and Effect of Prior Chest Binding and Androgen Therapy in 74 Consecutive Patients. Transgender Health. 6(6):353-357, 2021.
- Odorico, SK; Shulzhenko, NO; Zeng, W; et al. Effect of Nimodipine and Botulinum Toxin A on Peripheral Nerve Regeneration in Rats: A Pilot Study. Journal of Surgical Research. 264:208-221, 2021.
- Naides, AI; Schultz, JJ; Shulzhenko, NO; Keith, JD. Chest Masculinization for Gender Affirmation: Analysis of Technique and Outcomes in 72 Double Incision Chest Contouring Procedures with Free Nipple Grafting. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 9(3):e3459, 2021.
- Soteropulos, CE; Shulzhenko, NO; Nayar, H; Poore, SO. The Effect of Perforator Skeletonization on Pedicled Fasciocutaneous Flaps of the Lower Extremity: A Systematic Review. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. 36(9):634-644, 2020.
- Kim, H; Dingle, AM; Ness, JP; et al. Cuff and sieve electrode (CASE): the combination of neural electrodes for bi-directional peripheral nerve interfacing. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 336(108602), 2020.
- Shulzhenko, NO; Zeng, W; Albano, NJ; et al. Multispecialty Microsurgical Course Utilizing the Blue-Blood Chicken Thigh Model Significantly Improves Resident Comfort, Confidence, and Attitudes in Multiple Domains. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. 36(2):142-150, 2019.
- Christie, B; Shulzhenko, NO; Poore, SO; Afifi, AM. Divulge the Bulge: An International Survey of Abdominal Donor Site Morbidity in Free Autologous Breast Reconstruction. Journal of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery. 53(5):265-270, 2019.
- Hesse, MA; Israel, JS; Shulzhenko, NO; et al. The Surgical Treatment of Adult Acquired Buried Penis Syndrome: A New Classification System. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 39(9):979-988, 2019.
- Dingle, AM; Zeng, W; Ness, JP; et al. Strategies for interfacing with the trigeminal nerves in rodents for bioelectric medicine. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 324:108321, 2019.
- Zeng, W; Shulzhenko, NO; Dingle, AM; Poore, SO. Precise One-Suture Needle-Guided Technique for Window Creation in Supermicrosurgical End-to-Side Anastomosis. Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery. 34(4):e1-2, 2018.
- Zeng, W; Shulzhenko, NO; Feldman, CC; Dingle, AM; Poore, SO. Blue-Blood Infused Chicken Thigh Training Model for Microsurgery and Supermicrosurgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open. 6(4):e1695, 2018.
Book Chapters
- Capella, JF; Colon, AF; Shulzhenko, N. "Body Contouring Secondary to Massive Weight Loss." A Comprehensive Guide to Male Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, 1st Edition. Springer, July 2024.
- Luthringer, M; Shulzhenko, NO; Capella, JF. "Chapter 36: Upper Limb Contouring." Plastic Surgery (Volume 2 – Aesthetic Surgery), 5th Edition. Elsevier, December 2023.