Dr. Susan Mackinnon: "A Whirlwind of Zen" – A “Giants in Plastic Surgery” Interview

In this “Giants in Plastic Surgery” episode of the PRS Global Open Deep Cuts Podcast, Susan E. Mackinnon MD offers a scientific and spiritual reflection on her paradigm-shifting career as an academic plastic surgeon. Touching on her heritage of strong women, her immediate family and her mentors, Dr. Mackinnon identifies her elements of support and her inspiration to support future generations of academic surgeons.

Read a classic PRS Global Open article by Dr. Mackinnon and co-authors Drs. Domeshek, Novak, Patterson et al.— "Nerve Transfers—A Paradigm Shift in the Reconstructive Ladder:” https://bit.ly/DeepCutsMackinnon

Dr. Susan E. Mackinnon earned her medical degree from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, in 1975 and completed a plastic surgery residency at the University of Toronto in 1980. She went on to complete fellowships in neurosurgical research at the University of Toronto and Hand Surgery at the Raymond Curtis Hand Center in Baltimore before returning to the University of Toronto taking a staff position at Sunnybrook Health Science Centre for almost a decade.

Very quickly, she established an international reputation as an expert in brachial plexus and peripheral nerve surgery in addition to building an extensive portfolio in basic science research investigating the pathophysiology of peripheral nerve injury, regeneration and allotransplantation. She performed the world’s first nerve allotransplantation in 1988 and is considered a leading expert in the field of peripheral nerve surgery. She was awarded the Gold Medal Award in Surgery by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons on Canada in 1988. She briefly transferred her practice to the Toronto General Hospital before being recruited to St. Louis in 1992 where she is currently the Chief, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine and Shoenberg Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. In addition to her work in nerve transplantation, Mackinnon has developed a number of nerve transfer techniques in which healthy nerves are rerouted into areas left paralyzed by damaged ones. Her areas of clinical interest in peripheral nerve surgery include hand, upper extremity and lower extremity injury; carpal tunnel syndrome; tarsal tunnel syndrome; thoracic outlet syndrome; brachial plexus injury; cumulative trauma disorder; nerve compression; facial palsy; and hand and upper extremity disorders and injuries. Susan Mackinnon has been a phenomenal contributor to the fabric of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with leadership positions as President of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, the Plastic Surgery Research Council and the American Association of Hand Surgery. In 2013, she was awarded the Jacobson Innovation Award by the American College of Surgeons. This award honours living surgeons who have developed original and significant surgical techniques. Dr. MacKinnon received the prestigious awards because of her leadership in the innovative use of nerve transfers. Susan joins a list of remarkable individuals including Harry Buncke, Paul Tessier and John Burke who have changed the landscape of surgical practice. Finally, Susan has been a remarkable mentor and source of inspiration to hundreds of plastic surgery trainees.

Your host, Dr. Vimal Gokani, is a senior Specialty Registrar in plastic surgery in London, England.

This episode was produced & edited by Dr. George Adigbli, an academic specialty registrar in plastic surgery in Oxford, England.

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