Semin Plast Surg 2005; 19(1): 1-2
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-867105
INTRODUCTIONS TO GUEST EDITORS

Copyright © 2005 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Julia K. Terzis, M.D., Ph.D., and Saleh M. Shenaq, M.D.

Saleh M. Shenaq1  Editor in Chief, Guest Editor , Julia K. Terzis2 , 3  Guest Editor 
  • 1Department of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
  • 2Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
  • 3Microsurgery Program, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 April 2005 (online)

I wish to thank Dr. Julia K. Terzis, recognized worldwide for her contributions to the field of restorative microsurgery and treatment of peripheral nerve paralysis, for serving as guest editor for this issue of Seminars in Plastic Surgery, and the invited authors for sharing their experiences on the topic of obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis.

Dr. Terzis obtained her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and her Ph.D. in neurophysiology of mechanoreceptors from McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

She is professor in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, as well as in the International Institute of Reconstructive Microsurgery in Norfolk, Virginia. She has been director of the Microsurgery Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School since 1981.

Dr. Terzis is the recipient of multiple awards and honors including the James Barrett Brown Award, which was awarded to her twice-initially in 1977 for her work on reinnervation of skin grafts and again in 2000 for her pioneering work on the microsurgical treatment of brachial plexus injuries.

Dr. Terzis is the author of four textbooks and numerous manuscripts and peer-reviewed articles in the field of reconstructive microsurgery. In addition, she has been, over the last 25 years, an invited professor at more than 200 different academic centers around the world.

Dr. Terzis has introduced many new procedures to reconstructive surgery, including the first free pectoralis minor muscle for smile restoration, the “babysitter” procedure for facial reanimation, the first free platysma and pedicle frontalis transfers for eye sphincter substitution, and multiple procedures for depressor complex restoration.

For adult posttraumatic plexopathies, Dr. Terzis introduced the first free vascularized ulnar nerve graft based on the superior ulnar collateral artery and vein, the first vascularized saphenous nerve graft, the selective contralateral C7 technique, and heavily promoted large free muscle transfers for shoulder and elbow animation.

For obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis, she introduced the dynamic scapula stabilization procedure and the selective ipsilateral and contralateral C7 technique and emphasized early surgery to avoid growth retardation in the involved extremity, as well as promoting secondary reconstruction of the upper limb with a combination of free muscle transfers and end-to-side coaptation techniques.

Dr. Terzis was a founding member of the International Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery and one of the founders of the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. She is also a past chair of the Plastic Surgery Research Council and a past president of the International Microsurgical Society. She served as secretary-general of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery from 1999 to 2003 and is currently president-elect of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery.

Dr. Saleh M. Shenaq, editor in chief of Seminars in Plastic Surgery, shares with me the guest-editorship of this issue on obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis and is distinguished by his treatment of obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis patients.

Dr. Shenaq completed his medical education at Cairo University and then completed his residency training in surgery at the Medical College of Ohio. His plastic surgery training was at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He went on to complete a Christine Kleinert Fellowship in reconstructive microsurgery and hand surgery at the University of Louisville.

Dr. Shenaq is professor and chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and is cofounder and surgical director of the Brachial Plexus Center at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. He specializes in plastic and reconstructive surgery, peripheral nerve surgery, and microsurgery.

As is evidenced by his many associations and affiliations with worldwide professional organizations, Dr. Shenaq is one of Houston's most renowned cosmetic and microsurgeons, and for 5 consecutive years, he has been named to The Best Doctors in America. His publications and academic contributions include over 100 scientific articles and 32 book chapters, as well as numerous national and international presentations. Among his many honors, Dr. Shenaq holds The Eileen and John Stanley Endowed Chair in Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery.

Saleh M ShenaqM.D. 

Department of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, 6560 Fannin

Suite 800, Houston, TX 77030

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