Built on a Foundation of Education and Excellence
For more than 50 years, Emory has trained generations of plastic surgeons and made significant contributions to the specialty. To date, the Emory Division of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery has trained over 150 plastic surgeons, produced over 15 division chiefs, and the program's faculty and trainees have authored multiple seminal textbooks and innumerable manuscripts.
Several of our alumni have become recognized as the field's greatest pioneers in the 20th century,1 and that achievement maintains Emory continued place at the center of some of the biggest advances in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
1. Hultman CS, Friedstat JS. "The ACAPS and SESPRS surveys to identify the most influential innovators and innovations in plastic surgery: No line on the horizon." Ann Plast Surg. 2014;72(6):S202-7.
The Development of a Clinical and Academic Powerhouse

The founding of the Division of Plastic Surgery in 1971 included the creation of its independent residency program. As the inaugural division chief from 1971-1992, Dr. Maurice Jurkiewicz promoted a strong sense of collegiality which has permeated throughout the division's history, and was known as a powerful role model and inspirational teacher. Two of his early protégés, Drs. Stephen Mathes and Foad Nahai, created the ground-breaking classification and textbook associated with muscle flaps at Emory in the late 1970s. Five of his first 29 residents would go on to assume division chief positions and spread the Emory educational model nationwide.
As chief from 1992-2001, Dr. John Bostwick continued to grow the division and further established Emory as a clinical and academic powerhouse. He led with a genuine and caring personality as well as an eye toward innovation. Through refinements in autologous flaps and immediate breast reconstruction, he became widely recognized and authored the formative book on breast surgery in 1990, Plastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery. In 1995, he co-authored Endoscopic Plastic Surgery, the first book of its kind to describe the burgeoning field, with Drs. Nahai and Felmont Eaves. Under his leadership, Emory was central to early work in endoscopy in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
Dr. T. Roderick Hester brought a focus on aesthetic surgery to the division. After he and Dr. Nahai established Paces Plastic Surgery — a thriving aesthetic practice and top-tier fellowship training program — Dr. Hester returned to Emory and served as division chief from 2002-2009. Under his guidance, Paces joined Emory Healthcare and became the Emory Aesthetic Center, the primary location where our residents gain experience in aesthetic treatments.
Dr. Grant Carlson grew the division even further during his tenure as division chief from 2010-2024. His dual training and expertise in plastic surgery and surgical oncology allowed for Emory to continue as a leader and innovator in the field of reconstructive breast surgery. With Dr. Albert Losken, the integrated Plastic Surgery residency program was founded in 2015 and now provides the most diverse, broad, and comprehensive clinical experience in the program's history.
After having served as the program director of the residency for over twenty years, Dr. Albert Losken was appointed as chief of the division in 2024. He has maintained resident education as one of the utmost priorities of the division, and with Dr. Paul Ghareeb have expanded the integrated program to three residents per year. With strong, stable leadership over the history of the division, Emory Plastic Surgery is well positioned to build on its tradition of excellence and continue to educate residents as one of the premier training programs in the country. We urge you to consider joining the Emory family as we prepare for and contribute to the future of plastic surgery.