Dr. jean-pierre
Riou
riou plastic surgery center AGE: 55 HOUSEHOLD: Wife Lori; daughter
Jessica; son Justin LKN TOWN: Cornelius
Dr. Jean-Pierre (JP) Riou grew up in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in New York City. Before becoming a doctor, he worked as a paramedic for NYC EMS, where he became interested in going further into the medical field. He later graduated from NYU Medical School and completed plastic surgery residency at Yale University. During a school dance in the cafeteria of NYU School of Medicine in September of 1984, Dr. Riou met his soulmate, Dr. Lori Schneider. The two married and have two children: Jessica, 21, a junior at UNCC; and Justin, 16, a rising junior at Davidson Day School. Post medical training, the couple moved to Cornelius after falling in love with the Lake Norman area. “We love practicing medicine in the South,” he says, “where our patients are particularly friendly and appreciative.” Dr. Riou’s parents immigrated from a small farm in France to New York City with only a middle-school education, without speaking English, and no money in their pockets. “My father, Marcel, borrowed $5 from a friend coming off of the boat to pay for a taxi,” describes Dr. Riou. His parents instilled in him a strong work ethic and moral values. Smiling, he says, “Despite such modest beginnings, they always had a positive attitude and appreciated life to the fullest.” His parents encouraged him throughout his long years of training, and often brought him food late at night during medical school and residency. His father passed away seven years ago, but his mother, MarieLouise, now in her late 70s, spends most of her days cooking and caring for others. “Being able to volunteer to help others also brings me great joy,” he grins. Dr. Riou has provided pediatric plastic surgery in Ecuador with Operation Smile, helps transport hundreds of bikes during the Christmas season to needy children with the Brawley Drafters Cycling Club’s Bikes for Tykes, and enjoys cooking and serving meals every month at the Mooresville Soup Kitchen. “I also enjoy volunteering for charity bike events (Mooresville Area Cyclists and Rocky River Road Club) that benefit the non-profit organizations in our area, particularly the Ada Jenkins Community Center,” he adds. A strong sense of community is very important to the good doctor and his wife. “Lori and I have always felt passionate about the altruistic nature of providing healthcare to our community,” he explains. Dr. Riou has performed hundreds of mastectomy reconstructions at no cost to the patient. “We have specialized in breast cancer reconstruction and aesthetics for the past 24 years,” he says, “and we admire the strength of our patients as they go through their difficult journey with cancer.” He and Lori (who is a board-certified doctor of neurology and owner of Lakeside Neurology in Cornelius) enjoy the family atmosphere of a small private practice, as opposed to the current trend towards large medical group consolidation … they feel they are better able to provide high-quality, personalized care to their patients, and they exemplify that each and every day.
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26 LKN
| AUGUST 2018
By: Michelle Love