Scott Spear, MD

The Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation is pleased to announce that Dr. Scott Spear was posthumously awarded the 2018 Career Achievement Award. The presentation took place at the Member Business Meeting held during The Aesthetic Meeting 2018 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, Sunday, April 29.

Quite simply, Dr. Spear was an icon in the field of aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, widely viewed as one the brightest and most creative thinkers in the specialty. Of his many accomplishments, he may be best known for being a pioneer and tireless advocate for nipple-sparing mastectomy that has revolutionized reconstructive breast surgery. Dr. Spear was instrumental in helping to end the longstanding FDA restrictions on the use of silicone gel breast implants and provided creative solutions for improved outcomes in primary and secondary breast implant surgery.

Dr. Spear was a gifted and innovative educator. As the founding Chairman and longtime chief of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Georgetown University, he helped mentor and train multiple generations of residents and fellows over many years. Dr. Spear was a fixture as a speaker at Aesthetic Society annual meetings and sponsored symposia, and authored many papers and textbooks on all aspects of aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery. Among his favorite accomplishments was the creation of the Royal and Ancient Society of American Plastic Surgeons (RASAPS), a think tank of many of the nation's top plastic surgeons who, in lieu of a conference room, have used the world's most popular golf destinations as their office to discuss how to innovate and improve the specialty.

Dr. Spear was about family and friendships. This will be his greatest legacy and the gift that he shared with so many. When he passed away suddenly on March 16, 2017, he was survived by his wife Cindy, daughters Alexandra and Geri, and son Louis. (Cindy will be present at the ceremony to receive the award in New York.)