01/22/2019
What being Board Certified and Re-Certified means to me:
Itās surprising how few people ask me whether or not I am Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. Plastic surgery is a specialty where various physicians advertise but the public typically isnāt aware there is rigorous training required to be certified as a Plastic Surgeon. For me it took the following before I was even eligible for board certification:
Four years of College
Four years of Medical School
One year Multi-specialty Internship
Five years of General Surgery Residency
Three years of Plastic Surgery Fellowship
Board Certification was a primary goal of mine from the time I entered my Plastic Surgery residency. Thirteen years after I graduated from college I began my practice and sat for my Plastic Surgery Boards through the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Since then Iāve been re-certified every 10 years, not only keeping up with current literature but going through a comprehensive review of all aspects of the field, passing written exams , presenting examples of patient cases to the Board and confirming my good standing at the various hospitals where I have privileges.
These years of training might sound exorbitant, but the training I received contributed to my fundamental knowledge base and added a level of experience that prepared me for my career. I trained at numerous hospitals around the country, some with more prestigious names than others, but the ones that gave me the most genuine experience were the inner city hospitals that were always short on staff and gave residents unique opportunities to have hands on experience. Places like LA County Hospital, New York St. Vincentās Hospital, Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia, Cook County in Chicago, Loyola University and Childrenās Hospital in Chicago where I learned everything from microsurgery of the hand, how to repair complex congenital facial deformities, facial fractures, reconstructive surgery and various cosmetic procedures.
Though there are always physicians who claim they can treat your desired needs, only a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon can address the complex nuances of plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
Armed with this extensive training and 26 years of experience practicing in the Austin area, my skills are fine-tuned. Iāve probably addressed just about every deformity, complication and challenge and have strived to offer the most natural results for my patients. Consequently. Iāve built my practice primarily through word of mouth referrals from colleagues and prior patients who refer their friends.
If you are considering plastic surgery, make sure that your surgeon is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (www.abplasticsurgery.org) and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (www.plasticsurgery.org).