The Plastic Surgery Foundation Names Michigan Physician, Kevin Chung, MD New President

SAN DIEGO -- Kevin C. Chung, MD, the Charles B. G. De Nancrede professor of surgery, plastic surgery and orthopaedic surgery at the University of Michigan, was today named president of The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF). Dr. Chung took office at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the annual scientific meeting of The PSF and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), in San Diego and will serve for one year.

Founded in 1948, The PSF's mission is to improve the quality of life of patients through research and development in plastic surgery. The Foundation supports research through a variety of grants and clinical trial networks. In addition to grant funding, the PSF also supports humanitarian surgical missions and international educational opportunities.

"As president of The PSF, I will foster and promote creative and groundbreaking research ideas so board-certified plastic surgeons can continue to bring advanced techniques and procedures to the forefront to better serve patients," said Dr. Chung. "Additionally, The PSF will increase education and access to care for patients through its advocacy work, while promoting our international volunteering efforts, patient safety programs and outcomes research projects."

Dr. Chung holds positions within numerous medical and specialty societies. Prior to being named president-elect of The PSF in 2012, he served as vice president of research for the ASPS. He is currently the secretary/treasurer for the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a director for the American Board of Surgery. He is chairman of the AO North America Hand Education Committee in charge of hand surgery educational programs for the U.S. and Canada. He is a council member and is the director of research for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH).

Dr. Chung is a leading expert in hand and upper extremity reconstructive procedures. His research on the rheumatoid hand and distal radius fracture are currently being funded by the National Institutes of Health. Among Dr. Chung's long list of grants and awards is the honor of being the first recipient of the Weiland Medal from the ASSH. The award honors a hand surgeon whose research advances the specialty. Additionally, he was recognized as Researcher of the Year by the American Association of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Chung graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta in 1987, and then went on to complete his general surgery residency at the University of Texas in San Antonio. He finished his plastic surgery training at the University of Michigan in 1994 and completed a hand surgery fellowship the following year at the Curtis National Hand Center in Baltimore. He also earned a master's degree in research design and statistical analysis from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, during his training as a Robert Wood Johnson clinical scholar. He became board-certified in plastic surgery, with an added qualification in hand surgery, in 1997.

In addition to his duties as the deputy editor for the Journal of Hand Surgery, editor for Hand Clinics, and outcomes section editor for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Chung has published over 330 peer-reviewed journal articles, 200 book chapters and 14 textbooks.

Dr. Chung, his wife and his son live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Reporters can register to attend Plastic Surgery The Meeting, or arrange interviews with presenters, by contacting ASPS Public Relations at (847) 228-9900, media@plasticsurgery.org or in San Diego, Oct. 11-15, at (619) 525-6330.