Seminar: Tissue Engineering and Reconstructive Surgery

Abstract:

Plastic surgery is a discipline composed of techniques to alter the shape, position, or amount of tissues in the body.    Often surgical reconstruction requires complete tissue replacement of damage or missing parts.  Current sources of tissue replacement include synthetic materials, non-human organic materials (xenografts), human tissue from other individuals (allografts), or tissue obtained from the individual patient (autografts).  Tissue engineering promises to be an alternative source of autologous tissue individually designed for the patient.   In this presentation we will overview the types of reconstructive surgery problems commonly encountered for which tissue engineering as a potential to provide important solutions and explore how collaboration between surgeons and engineers can change clinical care.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Michael J. Miller is Professor of Surgery and Chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at The Ohio State University.

Dr. Miller received his undergraduate and medical degrees at the University of Massachusetts, graduating in 1982.  He completed general surgery residency training at Berkshire Medical Center in Western Massachusetts followed by plastic surgery training at The Ohio State University.  He finished training with a fellowship in Reconstructive Microsurgery at Tulane University and Charity Hospital in New Orleans. 

In 1990, Dr. Miller joined the faculty at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.  He served there for more than 16 years, contributing the growth and development of plastic surgery, helping to establish a Department that now has an international reputation as a leader in field of cancer-related reconstructive surgery. 

In 2007 Dr. Miller was invited to return to The Ohio State University of Chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery.  He led the transition from a division of Surgery into a separate department, establishing new programs in patient care, education, and research.  He introduced a variety of reconstructive techniques previously not performed in Ohio.  He expanded the residency education program and established new advanced training fellowships in reconstructive microsurgery, hand surgery, pediatric plastic surgery, and aesthetic surgery.  Under his leadership the research program expanded with new areas of investigation and extramural funding.  He was named Department Chair in 2012. 

Dr. Miller is an active clinician, educator, and investigator.  He is a highly sought after reconstructive surgeon for people suffering from disfigurement caused by cancer, trauma, burns, birth defects, and degenerative disorders.  He has trained surgeons from across the country and as far away as Africa and Australia. His research interests include regenerative medicine and advanced technology applications in clinical surgery. He has received numerous honors and awards for his work and is consistently listed by Best Doctors in America and America’s Top Physicians. He serves as a member of the General and Plastic Surgery Device Panel, an advisory committee of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and as a Director for the American Board of Plastic Surgery.  Dr. Miller is author or co-author of more than 200 peer-reviewed articles, invited papers, abstracts, and book chapters. 

Hosted by Professor Vishnu Sundaresan