American Society Of Plastic Surgeons Names Sacramento Physician Debra Johnson, MD, New President
First Woman Plastic Surgeon in Sacramento is Lifelong Healthcare Advocate Around the World

CHICAGO, IL – Debra Johnson, MD, a private practice plastic surgeon based in Sacramento, CA, was today named president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), the world's largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons and foremost authority on cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Johnson took office at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the Society's annual scientific meeting, in Los Angeles and will serve for one year.

"Over the next year, I will lead ASPS in its ongoing effort to inform the public about the breadth of procedures in plastic surgery, as well as the overwhelming importance in seeking a board-certified plastic surgeon," noted Dr. Johnson. "Plastic surgery is not just about enhancing aesthetics, it is about rebuilding people's lives. The work I do all around the world has shown me that ensuring surgeons are highly trained and board-certified is paramount."

Dr. Debra Johnson joined The Plastic Surgery Center in 1989 as the first woman plastic surgeon in the Sacramento area. Dr. Johnson received both her MD degree and her plastic surgery residency training at Stanford. She also took a cosmetic surgery fellowship at Clinica Planas in Barcelona, and a fellowship in hand and microsurgery at the Institut Francais de la Main in Paris.

Dr. Johnson is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and participates in the Maintenance of Certification process, which assures ongoing learning in the specialty. She is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Johnson is a member of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, a prestigious organization of the thought leaders in plastic surgery.

Dr. Johnson is well known for her leadership in plastic surgery. She currently serves as Vice President for Health Policy and Advocacy for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. She also serves on various committees, and is the co-chair of the CSPS Legislative Committee. Dr. Johnson is also a Past President of the Sacramento Society of Plastic Surgeons, and is a former Chief of Surgery for Sutter Community Hospitals.

Dr. Johnson's practice includes all aspects of cosmetic surgery, including the face, breast, and body. She performs post-mastectomy reconstruction, as well as other reconstructive procedures. As Co-Director of the Sutter Cleft Lip, Palate, and Craniofacial Anomalies Panel, Dr. Johnson cares for children born with facial deformities.

A big believer in "paying it forward", Dr. Johnson devotes at least four weeks per year to providing free reconstructive surgery in developing countries. She has traveled the world over the past quarter century, giving children born with birth defects, or suffering from burn scars, a chance at a more normal life. She teaches other surgeons how to care for these children, so that more can be helped. As Vice President of the CSPS Education and Research Foundation, Dr. Johnson works to provide free plastic surgery to the children of California who have no other resources.

A lifelong advocate for patient safety, Dr. Johnson received the California Society of Plastic Surgeons Presidential Award for Exemplary Service. Dr. Johnson and her husband, Mario Gutierrez, live in Curtis Park. They have two wonderful adult children. They have been planting vines and remodeling a "fixer-upper" in Napa in hopes of one day enjoying a sustainable retirement.