Nebraska Medicine has a new clinical program: aesthetics and reconstruction. The program will focus on a special group of services provided to patients from a multidisciplinary approach.
Those disciplines include plastic and reconstructive surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery (ENT), dermatology and dermatologic surgery, oculoplastic surgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery and others.
The overall objective of the program will be to bring these disciplines together to focus on coordinated patient-care services, education and research.
A triad leadership model has been established for the new program. Perry Johnson, M.D., chief of the UNMC Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Wes Heckman, M.D., facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, and Courtney Frost, UNMC administrator for plastic and oncological surgery, will serve as the program’s clinical and administrative leaders. Tom Macy, vice president of operations, will serve as the executive sponsor on behalf of Nebraska Medicine.
“Traditionally, these services have existed without a formal program and a way to collaborate,” Frost said. “Our goal is to work together as a group to prioritize and align our strategic goals, allowing us more efficient and coordinated outcomes. I am excited about the potential partnerships with our clinical colleagues as well as expanding those within the teaching and research areas.”
“Dr. Heckman, Courtney and I are excited to start putting the program together,” Dr. Johnson said. “With the available resources we have at Nebraska Medicine as well as high-quality expert providers, we will achieve significantly greater success in the arenas of reconstruction and aesthetics. We will accomplish much more working together and getting on the same strategic page as opposed to working independently. We welcome any thoughts or suggestions.”
The leadership triad will begin their work by establishing executive and advisory committees for the program. From there, those groups will begin the work of developing an overall program strategy followed by specific initiatives aimed at developing Aesthetics and Reconstruction as a signature program for Nebraska Medicine and UNMC.
“Functioning as clinical program will allow this team to further enhance the work they do with cancer and trauma patients while also offering innovative elective services to patients in our community,” said Cory Shaw, chief operating officer – senior vice president for Nebraska Medicine.