Duke Health Referring Physicians

I am fortunate to have a profession that allows me to apply my skills to help children and adults who have challenging problems. My areas of clinical focus include cleft lip and palate, craniofacial surgery, functional and cosmetic nasal surgery (rhinoplasty) for adolescents and adults, facial paralysis, vascular malformation, ear surgery, congenital hand abnormalities, and birth-related brachial plexus injury. Often, I am asked how I chose this profession. To me, plastic surgery combines technical challenge with creativity and problem solving. My patients' problems are usually apparent to others and create a layer of issues related to self-esteem. To a child born with a facial disfigurement, surgery provides a change that is needed to grow up and feel like any other kid. In consultation, my job is three-fold: to listen to concerns, to study problems, and to provide accurate, unbiased information about the possibilities. I am motivated only by my patients’ happiness. If I do not feel that surgery will realistically achieve my patients’ goals, I have no reason to recommend it. To a parent, there is no such thing as minor surgery. The same is true for adult patients who are making an important decision for themselves.