Perry Johnson, M.D., has been named chief of the plastic and reconstructive surgery division in the UNMC Department of Surgery. He replaces Ron Hollins, M.D., who stepped down last year after serving as division chief for the past 26 years.
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Ron Hollins, M.D. |
Dr. Johnson has been associated with UNMC for more than 25 years. After earning his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Kansas, he did his general surgery residency at UNMC in 1990-1991 and an otolaryngology, head and neck surgery residency at UNMC from 1991-1995.
After a two-year residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Johnson joined the UNMC faculty in 1997 as assistant professor. He was elevated to associate professor in 2005 and to professor in 2015. From 2004-2012, Dr. Johnson was director of the residency program for plastic and reconstructive surgery.
“It has been an honor to serve as the chief of plastic surgery at UNMC for the past 26 years,” Dr. Hollins said. “We have made significant progress, but we have the opportunity to advance the division to the next level. I am certain that with Dr. Johnson’s leadership we will achieve even greater success in the future. The organization could not have made a better choice than Dr. Johnson.”
Dr. Mercer also had high praise for Dr. Johnson. “He is a natural leader and an astute clinician,” he said. “As its new chief, he will take the division of plastic surgery to new heights on all metrics. His innovative leadership style will be invigorating and contagious for our organization.
“Dr. Johnson was instrumental in the evolution of their residency program and its gaining immense popularity from potential applicants across the country.”
Dr. Mercer lauded Dr. Johnson for developing a busy practice at Nebraska Medicine’s Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery/Dreams MedSpa and for gaining a national reputation for his work in transgender surgery.
“I am excited for the opportunity provided by Dr. Mercer and Dean (Brad) Britigan to build on the success of the division of plastic surgery under the leadership of Dr. Hollins,” Dr. Johnson said. “I am incredibly grateful to work with such great faculty and staff. It is the people that make the difference.”
Dr. Mercer cited Dr. Hollins for his courage and vision to open the Village Pointe Aesthetic Surgery/Dreams MedSpa in 2009.
“It was an innovative move for their team and the community,” Dr. Mercer said. “To say that it was a success would be a significant understatement.”
Under Dr. Hollins’ leadership, the team not only provided aesthetic surgery, but also performed complex surgical and medical management of adults and children suffering from burns, as well as difficult reconstructions following major resections for cancer and other surgical conditions. This will continue under Dr. Johnson’s leadership.
“We have been fortunate to have Dr. Hollins at the helm,” Dr. Mercer said. “He has steadily improved academic output and created a well-respected and highly sought after residency program in plastic surgery.”
Great thanks to Dr Hollins for all of his hard work and dedication to the division of plastic surgery. He was and continues to be instrumental in my career as a young plastic surgeon.