Plastic Surgery

Division of Plastic Surgery

Clinical

Growth in the division this year focused mainly on the reconstructive practice and aesthetic services. Additionally, the division increased its clinical footprint by offering an innovative surgery developed by Dr. Gregory Dumanian called Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR). This procedure results in a significantly greater reduction of phantom limb pain for amputees and has the potential to revolutionize treatment for these patients. Dr. Sumanas Jordan is leading the development of a comprehensive program for patients seeking transgender care at Northwestern’s downtown campus. As part of this program, the division now offers gender affirmation procedures. Research

Dr. Jordan received a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield to study the impact of coordinated care for transgender patients. As part of this project, focus groups yielded insightful information about healthcare experiences for this patient population. The division received research funding for Targeting Muscle Reinnervation (TMR). This award funded the development of 12 training courses for surgeons interested in learning more about the procedure. The courses, led by Drs. Dumanian, Ko, and Jordan, included observing a TMR case, didactic teaching and cadaver training. Dr. Kim has been instrumental in the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF)’s study, “A Prospective, Randomized, Multi-Center, Clinical Study Comparing Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Prosthetic, Acellular Dermal Matrix Assisted, Immediate Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction.” This study compares two types of acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) currently used in immediate post-mastectomy prosthetic breast reconstruction. Dr. Kim and his team have become one of the highest enrolling sites for this nationwide clinical trial.

Left to right: Dr. Sofia Aronson (Resident) Dr. Noopur Gangopadhyay (Lurie) Dr. Jennifer Bai (Resident) Dr. Aaron Kearney (Resident)

Top, left to right: Dr. Mohammed Alghoul, Dr. Marco Ellis, Dr. Robert Galiano, Dr. Jason Ko Bottom, left to right: Dr. John Kim, Dr. Gregory Dumanian, Dr. Sumanas Jordan

Dr. Galiano is working closely with Scarless Laboratories, Inc. on their wound healing and scar appearance study. This assesses pre-abdominoplasty surgical excisions and postoperative scar appearance in subjects undergoing abdominoplasty. Furthermore, it analyzes a novel buffer to determine if it aids in the improvement in scar appearance and wound strength. Additionally, Dr. Galiano and his lab received funding to assist on the DOD awarded project “Restoration of the Functional Aesthetic Craniofacial Envelope and Extremities (ReFACE) Regernation” with Harvard Medical School. The Galiano lab will complete animal studies specially designed to evaluate the efficacy of amiloride and celecoxib that are already in clinical use systematically. Dr. Seok Hong, Research Associate Professor, was awarded a Department of Defense subcontract for his work to identify topical formulations of statins that deliver effective drug concentrations to the dermis of the animal mode in the hopes of determining therapeutic options for the reduction of scarring.

Education

The integrated residency program continues to attract a strong group of applicants. New residents include Drs. Brandon Jackson and Kareem Termanini who both completed medical school at Georgetown University School of Medicine. Additionally, Simon Moradian joined the program as a PGY-3. The graduating residents accepted the following advanced fellowships: Jennifer McGrath is doing a craniofacial fellowship at Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C. Steven Lanier is completing an orthopedic hand fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis.