Back in action By PSN staff
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or the first time since September 2019 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, ASPS returned to an in-person meeting in October – and thanks to a hybrid format that encouraged and facilitated virtual engagement for those who couldn’t attend in person, Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2021 in Atlanta proved to be another record-breaking event for the Society. “It was great to be back in-person again,” says ASPS immediate-past President Joseph Losee, MD. “It was a successful and positive experience from every angle and I’m completely happy with the way it turned out.” Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2021, sponsored by Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company; Mentor Worldwide LLC; 3M Health Care; MTF Biologics; Stryker; and Galderma boasted the largest number of registrants to date at 3,691 – 2,420 of whom attended in person, and 1,271 tuning in virtually. With more than 100 live sessions, 50 on-demand presentations and 75 hours of CME provided – not to mention more than 300 on-demand abstracts available – the educational component of the Society’s annual meeting more than lived up to the high standards set in years past. “With the hybrid and on-demand format, it was possible to see almost every educational session,” says ASPS/PSF Vice President of Education Scott Hollenbeck, MD, who added that December 2021
the in-person ingredient is an invaluable part of the annual meeting’s magic. “I had almost forgotten how meaningful it is to see friends and colleagues in person and exchange stories about career and life experiences. These interactions, which often occur in the hallways and at the social events, are of great value and create a sense of community within our specialty. It was really nice to have that back again.”
Patients of Courage This year’s Opening Ceremonies, sponsored by CareCredit, poked a bit of fun at the Zoom meetings so many members became accustomed to over the past 20 months. The extended video skit featured connectivity issues, kids and spouses vying for attention in the background, exaggerated outdoor noise, Dr. Hollenbeck having to insist that he is “not a cat,” and other Society leaders playing up the various technical glitches that defined the past year and a half. After lamenting that he was sick of virtual meetings, and that he wished “we could meet in person,” Dr. Losee emerged on stage in a shirt, tie and sport jacket – along with torn-up board shorts and flip flops. “What are you wearing?” The PSF immediate-past President Gayle Gordillo, MD, asked him. “This isn’t a Zoom call.”
The lighthearted beginning to Opening Ceremonies drew strong laughs from the attendees, but as usual, the Patients of Courage: Triumph Over Adversity Awards program proved to be a highlight. Since 2003, ASPS has honored more than 50 reconstructive plastic surgery patients through the program, which commemorates the bravery and charitable actions of three courageous patients whose lives have been changed or saved through reconstructive surgery. Jada Monet Idokogi was diagnosed with juvenile polymyositis at age 14, which resulted in her suffering from severe calcinosis cutis that affected her abdomen, back, arms and thighs. She underwent extensive excision of all areas of calcinosis through an extensive process that required more than 10 surgical procedures. Jada earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics at the University of Maryland while undergoing experimental, high-dose cyclophosphamide chemotherapy as an inpatient. During her recovery, Jada moved to Houston to pursue her graduate degree, earning a PhD in biostatistics in 2020. Throughout her treatment, Jada remained positive in the face of numerous challenges posed by both the disease and multiple surgical procedures. Now 29, Jada is an inspiring example of perseverance through both her academic achievements and defying the poor survival
odds she initially received from her doctors. Jen Rozenbaum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 at age 41. Her treatment included bilateral mastectomies, staged expander-implant reconstruction and chemotherapy. Following her diagnosis, Jen dedicated herself to providing information and emotional support to women both newly diagnosed and those undergoing cancer treatment. As a professional portrait and boudoir photographer, she turned to photography during her chemotherapy treatments as a tool for healing emotionally and began photographing women who had undergone breast cancer surgery. Now with more than 30,000 Instagram followers, Jen shares images of women after mastectomy and reconstruction to normalize breast cancer bodies and provide an accurate portrayal of recovery. She launched her podcast “Shamelessly Feminine” in 2018 while recovering from breast reconstruction, then published a book in 2020 to share her breast cancer journey. Her photography remains a pivotal platform to help heal and empower those touched by breast cancer. “When Ron Israeli, MD, mentioned nominating me, I was so humbled,” Jen tells PSN. “Taking photos and making videos throughout my journey gave my disease purpose. It allowed me to stay positive and believe that I’m helping others.”
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