Current Issue

Awards and Presentations

Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence Awards

Congratulations to Nina Ringelman for her induction into the Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence (MCACE) as the winner of the Annual ‘Clinical Excellence Award for Non-Physicians’. This honor is awarded to one non-physician in each Department who exemplifies clinical excellence.

Congratulations to Dr. Scott Sylvester for his election into the Miller Coulson Academy of Clinical Excellence (MCACE) as a winner of the Frank L. Coulson, Jr. Award for Clinical Excellence! This honor is awarded annually to one resident in each program who exemplifies clinical excellence. 

The MCACE defines clinical excellence as achieving a level of mastery in the following 6 areas as they relate to patient care: i. communication & interpersonal skills, ii. professionalism and humanism, iii. diagnostic acumen, iv. skillful negotiation of the healthcare system, v. knowledge, vi. scholarly approach to clinical practice, and exhibiting a passion for patient care, and explicitly modeling this mastery to medical trainees.

Josh Puthumana Fulbright Award

Congratulations to Josh Puthumana who received the Fulbright-Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation Award for Graduate Studies in Science and Technology for academic year 2024-2025! This award is a reflection of his leadership and contributions to society. It is made possible through funds appropriated annually by the US Congress and in many cases by contributions from partner countries and private parties. The 12-member board that selects and supervises Fulbright recipients is presidentially appointed. 

The Fulbright program is devoted to increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Fulbright is the world's largest and most diverse international educational exchange program. As a Fulbright scholar Josh will join the ranks of many distinguished program participants. Fulbright alumni have become heads of state, judges, ambassadors, cabinet ministers, CEOs and university presidents as well as leading journalists, artists, scientist and teachers. They include 62 Nobel Laureates, 89 Pulitzer Prize winners, 80 MacArthur fellows and thousands of leaders across the private, public and nonprofit sectors. Since its inception in 1946, more than 400,000 Fulbrighters have participated in the program.

PSTM23

We finished PSTM23 with 46 presentations/posters. Great work from our students, research fellows and residents! Please see the additional awards below.   

• Maclsaac, MF, Wright, JM, Halsey, JN, Rottgers, SA. Barriers to obtaining orthodontic care for patients with orofacial clefts: A survey of orthodontists and families. Outstanding Paper Presentation Award, Craniomaxillofacial Session #8

• Hassan B, Hricz N, Er S, Yoon J, Resnick E, Liang F, Manson PN, Yang R, Grant MP. Development and Validation of a Risk Calculator for the Prediction of Postoperative Diplopia Following Orbital Fracture Repair in Adults.  Outstanding Paper Presentation Award, Craniomaxillofacial Session #11.     

• Aslami ZV, Weitzner AS, Padovano WM, Rowley EK, Ghergherehchi CL, Wu E, Suresh R, Lee EB, Tuffaha SH. Peripheral nerve injury as treatment for muscle spasticity: understanding mechanisms and improving surgical interventions. American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Plastic Surgery the Meeting; Oct 2023; Austin, TX. | DOI: 10.1097/01.GOX.0000992196.49362.d9. Top Scoring Medical Student Abstract, Outstanding Paper Presentation Award, Hand session #2

• Rowley E, Zamore Z, Padovano W, Aslami Z, Weitzner A, Lee E, Tuffaha S. Preliminary results: Autologous fascia nerve wrap as an adjunct to primary epineurial repair. American Society of Plastic Surgeons: Plastic Surgery The Meeting; October 2023; Austin, Texas. Outstanding Paper Presentation Award, Hand Session #3

Johns Hopkins Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Update

An update from Dr. Richard Redett, chairman of the Johns Hopkins Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery:

Plastic and reconstructive surgery has had a long and distinguished history at Johns Hopkins.  We are one of a few institutions worldwide where the specialty acquired its form and essence through the practice of its pioneers.  In 1896, Harvey Cushing performed the first surgical repair of a cleft lip and palate at Johns Hopkins and for more than a century, the division of plastic surgery was home to leading figures in the specialty, including John Staige Davis (considered by many to be America’s first plastic surgeon), Milton Edgerton, Jack Hoopes, Paul Manson, Andy Lee and many of our Alumni.

The division became a department in 2010 and W.P. Andrew Lee, M.D., was appointed the first Milton T. Edgerton, M.D., Professor and Director of the Johns Hopkins Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The department set forth under the motto of “Teamwork, Collaboration, Mentorship, and Innovation,” and that continues to guide our approaches in patient care, resident and fellow training and cutting-edge research. Over the past year and a half, we have focused on expanding the research portfolio, strengthening our multidisciplinary clinical programs and enhancing the residency and fellowship programs.

The Department continues to strive for excellence and has consistently promoted innovation and collaboration in patient care, education and research.  We have 25 amazing faculty, 30 residents, 8 fellows and many staff with diverse interests and areas of expertise.  Our faculty have some of the most innovative minds and pioneering spirits in plastic surgery, and through their efforts, our Department has seen an exponential increase in translational discoveries through tissue engineering, peripheral nerve regeneration, neuro-cranial technology and vascularized composite allotransplantation, opening up an entirely new array of treatment options for complex reconstructive problems.  Building on our decade of safely and effectively performing some of the most complex vascularized composite allotransplants, we are collaborating with other departments to expand our program to include novel transplants for patients with complex reconstructive challenges.

The Department will continue to achieve national recognition through a focused investment in research, education and clinical care.  Our vision includes strengthening our translational, basic science and clinical research programs that are integrated with patient care.  We will further develop our specialized centers of excellence that represent the strengths of our Department including breast, burns, transgender, peripheral nerve and hand, Neuroplastic surgery, craniomaxillofacial surgery and vascularized composite allotransplantation.  Our Department will 1) be heavily invested in outcomes measurements, 2) be a model for collaborative interdisciplinary research and 3) be viewed as a leader of best practice for delivering plastic and reconstructive surgery care in an academic medical center.  We will strive to build an exemplary and diverse faculty and staff and who support the institutional core values of excellence and discovery, leadership and integrity, diversity and inclusion, respect and collegiality.  Our goal is to continue to build innovative models of resident education and patient care and further strengthen our cutting-edge research programs to best serve all of our communities.

This is an exciting time for plastic and reconstructive surgery at Johns Hopkins. We have a rich tradition and history and have built a strong foundation under past leadership.  Our combined Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Plastic Surgery Residency is one of the premiere training programs in the country and we will continue to work hard at attracting the best and brightest residents who will become the next generation of surgeon leaders.  

Even through the current unprecedented time of COVID 19, I am proud of what we have accomplished together and confident that the actions we take over the next 5 years will be pivotal in shaping a bright future and long-term outlook for the Department.  I am confident that strong leadership and most importantly, fostering the development of a group of diverse, innovative and energetic surgeons, residents and staff who share our vision and core values will allow us to build one of the leading plastic and reconstructive surgery department in the country.

I am honored to serve as the Director of this outstanding Department and look forward to updating you on our progress.