The Plastic Surgery Foundation Names Seattle Physician, Nicholas B. Vedder, MD, New President

CHICAGO – Nicholas B. Vedder, MD, Chief of Plastic Surgery; Vice Chair, Department of Surgery University of Washington, Seattle, was today named president of The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF). Dr. Vedder took office at Plastic Surgery The Meeting, the annual scientific meeting of The PSF and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), in Chicago 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.

"Improving patients’ lives is at the heart of everything we do, and over the next year, I will work to enhance collaboration among plastic surgeons to advance the research that leads to better patient care and patient outcomes," explained Dr. Vedder. "Since plastic surgery is constantly evolving to meet the goals of our patients, it is absolutely critical that the ASPS board-certified plastic surgeons are contributing to and learning about the research that strengthens the future of our specialty. The future of Plastic Surgery is defined by innovation. By contributing to and engaging with the PSF, members are contributing to the future of their specialty."

Dr. Vedder holds positions within numerous medical and specialty societies. Prior to being named president-elect of The PSF in 2013, he served as Vice President, Academic Affairs & International Service for ASPS and The PSF. He also served as President of the American Association for Hand Surgery, Chair of the Plastic Surgery Research Council, and Chair of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Additionally, Dr. Vedder is a Governor of the American College of Surgeons.

Dr. Vedder's research techniques have been recognized by the National Institute of Health through their prestigious James A. Shannon Director's Award. He is the recipient of six Golden Scalpel Awards for best reconstructive case of the year from the Washington Society of Plastic Surgeons. His skill and expertise have secured him positions on such notable lists as Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, The Best Doctors in America, America's Top Physicians, and Seattle's Top Docs.

Dr. Vedder graduated with distinction from Stanford University with a B.S. in biology. In 1981, Dr. Vedder received his medical degree from Case Western Reserve. He completed a residency in surgery at the University of Washington in 1986 and then began a research career with a NIH Research Fellowship at the University of Washington from 1986 to 1988 investigating the molecular interactions during reperfusion injury. Dr. Vedder completed a Plastic Surgery Residency at Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital in 1990.

He completed a Hand Surgery Fellowship at the University of Washington in 1991. Dr. Vedder's research interests involve the investigation of leukocyte-endothelial interactions and ischemia-reperfusion injury. Dr. Vedder had an NIH funded research laboratory examining the mechanism of reperfusion injury and novel methods of controlling this process through modulation of adhesion interaction between leukocytes and endothelium and ran several multi-center clinical trials in this novel treatment.

Dr. Vedder has contributed to numerous journal and review articles, book chapters, essays and videos; and has been invited to lecture regularly at national and international conferences.