Foad Nahai, MD

By Al Aly, MD, Past President, ASERF (Spring 2015 ASN)

The ASERF board selected Foad Nahai, MD as recipient of the 2015 ASERF Career Achievement Award.

Dr. Nahai is currently the most well recognized name in plastic surgery the world over. It would be safe to say that there are no practicing plastic surgeons alive that have not been affected by Dr. Nahai in some way. His contributions span the entire specialty of plastic surgery, starting with his seminal textbook, “Reconstructive Surgery: Clinical Atlas and Basic Techniques.” co-edited with his late dear friend Stephen Mathes. This book is the basis for all of modern day muscle flap surgery. His contributions in aesthetic surgery are no less impressive with what many consider the best aesthetic surgery textbook entitled “The Art of Aesthetic Surgery: Principles and Techniques.” It is a complete and encyclopedic look at aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Nahai has been involved in plastic surgery leadership for over 20 years. He was the educational “czar” for aesthetic surgery for a decade and presided over the two largest aesthetic surgery societies in the world: The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS). Finally, since Dr. Nahai took over the helm of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (ASN), it has become the leading aesthetic surgery journal in the world.

Just as important as his accomplishments in literature and leadership, Dr. Nahai has personally educated hundreds of residents and fellows, helping guide the careers of many very well-known, and not so well-known plastic surgeons.

Although this is a mere fraction of what Dr. Nahai has accomplished, it is his kind and gentle nature that truly impresses his friends and colleagues. Although many individuals have contributed to plastic surgery, Dr. Nahai is one of the few who has contributed to the specialty with such immensity and breadth, certainly worthy of this honor. For more than 35 years, he has crisscrossed the globe educating his peers and colleagues, running a busy practice, creating new surgical procedures and volunteering thousands of hours for organizations such as ASAPS.