Debra Johnson, MD, a private practice plastic surgeon based in Sacramento, California, has been named president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). In addition, Paul S. Cederna, MD, chief of the section of plastic surgery, professor in the department of surgery, and professor in the department of biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan, was elected president of the Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF). Both took office at Plastic Surgery The Meeting in Los Angeles and will serve for one year.
Dr. Johnson joined The Plastic Surgery Center in 1989 as the first woman plastic surgeon in the Sacramento area. She is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, participates in the Maintenance of Certification process and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She currently serves as vice president for Health Policy and Advocacy for the ASPS and co-chair of the CSPS Legislative Committee. Dr. Johnson is also a past president of the Sacramento Society of Plastic Surgeons and is a former chief of surgery for Sutter Community Hospitals.
“Over the next year, I will lead ASPS in its ongoing effort to inform the public about the breadth of procedures in plastic surgery, as well as the overwhelming importance in seeking a board-certified plastic surgeon,” said Dr. Johnson. “Plastic surgery is not just about enhancing aesthetics, it is about rebuilding people’s lives. The work I do all around the world has shown me that ensuring surgeons are highly trained and board-certified is paramount.”
Dr. Cederna joined the faculty at the University of Michigan in 1999, specializing in reconstruction of complex wounds. He has received grants from the Department of Defense, Army Research Office and the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, and has been the chairman of the Plastic Surgery Research Council, president of the American Society for Peripheral Nerve, president of the Michigan Academy of Plastic Surgeons. He is also on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the ASPS and PSF.
