Dear AAPPS Members:
The AAPPS continues to make considerable progress in advocating for pediatric plastic surgery. Even though it has only been two months since my last message, we continue to see landmark achievements impacting our specialty.
I am proud to announce that Joe McCarthy has been selected as an Icon in Surgery by the American College of Surgeons. As summarized in the message from ACS, this is one of the highest honors that a surgeon can achieve, as it transcends their particular specialty and recognizes the transformative nature of their career on the practice of surgery. Since the Icons program started in 2014, there have been 52 Icons covering the most notable names in surgery. Dr. McCarthy is the first plastic surgeon to receive this recognition. The Icons in Surgery sessions will take place in-person in Washington, DC. Dr. McCarthy will be honored on Monday, September 28th from 12:45 pm to 1:45 pm. This will consist of a 15-minute video highlighting Dr. McCarthy’s career, followed by comments from Dr. McCarthy and his colleagues in attendance. I encourage those of you who have known Dr. McCarthy to attend this special event.
AAPPS Annual Breakfast and Business Meeting @ PSTM26
Saturday 17, 2026 (time and room to be determined)
Houston Convention Center
The Inaugural Judah Folkman Memorial Lecture will be given by Richard Hopper, the recipient of the AAPPS Achievement Award.
AAPPS Visiting Professorship sponsored by KLS Martin
Inception of this program has provided an excellent opportunity for the AAPPS Visiting Professor to serve as an ambassador for pediatric plastic surgery and revitalize interest in our specialty among current residents. As of 2027, the Visiting Professorship will be named after John Mulliken in honor of his tremendous contributions to pediatric plastic surgery. We anticipate launching a capital campaign to support this program in perpetuity.
FACE
The relationship between the AAPPS and the journal FACE has continued to develop. All AAPPS members now have unrestricted access to FACE through the Members Only area.
The AAPPS will provide relevant updates on pediatric plastic surgery in each issue of FACE, the first of which appeared in the March 2026 issue:
Overview of the New Relationship Between AAPPS and FACE. AAPPS Society Corner. FACE. 2026;7(1):228. doi:10.1177/27325016261421259
A special edition collating the key articles published in FACE in its first five years (2021-2025) that are relevant to pediatric plastic surgery will be released shortly.
Thanks once again to each of you for supporting pediatric plastic surgery and for continuing to serve as members of the key organization supporting our specialty.
Respectfully,
Arun Gosain
President, AAPPS