Philanthropist Hansjorg Wyss Donates $20 Million to NYU School of Medicine to Establish First Named Department of Plastic Surgery in the Country

NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NYU School of Medicine today announced a $20 million gift from international businessman and philanthropist Hansjӧrg Wyss to establish a named Department of Plastic Surgery at the medical school—one of the only fully-accredited, academic plastic surgery departments in the country.

"The gift will be targeted to bolster programs and invest in new technology—all with the goal of bringing the newly-named Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery to the next level of excellence in reconstructive plastic surgery research, education, and clinical care," said Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean and CEO, NYU Langone.

"This type of gift is truly transformational, and will propel the department into its next phase of growth by establishing new clinical trials, academic forums, and advancing surgical animation, among other initiatives," added Eduardo D. Rodriguez, MD, DDS, the Helen L. Kimmel Professor of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, and chair of the department. "NYU Langone has a rich history of developing novel reconstructive plastic surgery procedures to provide superior outcomes for the most complex cases. I am excited for the medical advances that will undoubtedly come about as a result of this tremendous gift."

The Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery has one of the largest residency and fellowship programs in the world, as well as a research program that has made major contributions in transplantation, wound healing, craniofacial biology, surgical simulation, and distraction osteogenesis. It also has the largest academic group of board-certified plastic surgeons in the country, with expertise in reconstructive facial surgery, microsurgery, breast reconstructive surgery, aesthetic surgery, wound care, and hand surgery.

A native of Switzerland, Mr. Wyss is an entrepreneur, visionary and generous philanthropist.  For more than 30 years, he served as CEO of Synthes, Inc., an industry giant in medical research and device manufacturing whose products have helped millions of patients recover from skeletal and soft tissue trauma and injuries.

Mr. Wyss shepherded the sale of the company to Johnson & Johnson and now focuses his efforts advancing the mission of The Wyss Foundation, his family's philanthropic arm. Practical and innovative by nature, Mr. Wyss's philanthropic efforts foster new ideas, new tools, and new collaborations  in areas from medicine, education and the arts to economic opportunity, conflict resolution, and land conservation.

"I am very grateful for the opportunities I've had, and feel I have a duty to repay my good fortune through philanthropic endeavors that expand the reach of human possibility and compassion," said Mr. Wyss. "I can't think of a more responsible way to advance the mission of my family foundation than to support the amazing work of Dr. Rodriguez."

In fact, Mr. Wyss has been a strong supporter of Dr. Rodriguez since 2005, providing funding for Dr. Rodriguez's research efforts and educational initiatives during his tenure at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center. They immediately discovered a synergy in their passion for scientific innovation and for advancing the field of reconstructive plastic surgery to care for patients with severe deformities.

In Maryland in 2012, Dr. Rodriguez performed one of the most extensive face transplants to date on Richard Lee Norris. After this groundbreaking procedure, Mr. Wyss and Dr. Rodriguez were preparing to advance the Maryland program, and continued their discussions on further collaboration when Dr. Rodriguez was recruited to NYU Langone in 2013 as the third chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery. 

About the Hansjӧrg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery:
The Hansjӧrg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery has the largest academic group of board-certified plastic surgeons in the country, with expertise in reconstructive facial surgery, microsurgery, breast reconstructive surgery, cosmetic surgery, wound care, and hand surgery. The Department was founded in 1955 with the support of the National Foundation of Facial Reconstruction to provide comprehensive care for patients requiring treatment. It is housed in a new state-of-the-art facility that contains faculty clinical offices and full service outpatient operating rooms. The faculty in the Hansjӧrg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery hold NYU School of Medicine academic appointments. The Department includes one of the largest plastic surgery residency and fellowship programs in the world as well as a research program that has made major contributions in the areas of transplantation, wound healing, craniofacial biology, surgical simulation, and distraction osteogenesis.

About NYU Langone Medical Center:  
NYU Langone Medical Center, a world-class, patient-centered, integrated academic medical center, is one of the nation's premier centers for excellence in clinical care, biomedical research, and medical education. Located in the heart of Manhattan, NYU Langone is composed of four hospitals—Tisch Hospital, its flagship acute care facility; Rusk Rehabilitation; the Hospital for Joint Diseases, the Medical Center's dedicated inpatient orthopaedic hospital; and Hassenfeld Children's Hospital, a comprehensive pediatric hospital supporting a full array of children's health services across the Medical Center. Also part of NYU Langone is NYU School of Medicine, which since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history, and the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute–designated cancer center. The Medical Center's tri-fold mission to serve, teach, and discover is achieved 365 days a year through the seamless integration of a culture devoted to excellence in patient care, education, and research. For more information, go to www.NYULangone.org, and interact with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Google+. 

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SOURCE NYU Langone Medical Center

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