American Society of Plastic Surgeons

American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Name	American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Abbreviation	ASPS
Formation	1931
Headquarters	United States
Membership	Board-certified plastic surgeons

American Society of Plastic Surgeons is a professional association representing board-certified plastic surgeons in the United States, promoting standards in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, continuing education, and patient safety. Founded in 1931, the organization has engaged with medical institutions, hospitals, and governmental bodies to influence clinical practice, accreditation, and public awareness. It collaborates with specialty societies, academic centers, and regulatory agencies to advance research, policy, and training in surgical care.

History

The society was founded in 1931 amid developments led by figures associated with Johns Hopkins Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, drawing members from practices in New York City, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. Early efforts paralleled innovations at institutions like Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center where reconstructive techniques advanced following World War I and World War II. Influential surgeons connected to Guy's Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital, Royal College of Surgeons, Guy de Chauliac-era traditions, and interwar developments contributed to formation debates alongside contemporaneous organizations such as American Medical Association and American College of Surgeons. Postwar expansion aligned with research at National Institutes of Health, policy shifts at Department of Veterans Affairs, and accreditation by American Board of Medical Specialties, shaping modern postgraduate training and specialty recognition.

Organization and Membership

The society’s membership comprises board-certified surgeons affiliated with institutions including Cleveland Clinic, Stanford University School of Medicine, UCLA Medical Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and NYU Langone Health, with chapters active in regions such as New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Southwest, and Pacific Northwest. Governance structures mirror nonprofit models used by American College of Surgeons and Association of American Medical Colleges, with executive leadership engaging with partners like American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of England, and European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. Membership categories align with standards set by American Board of Plastic Surgery and cooperate with hospital credentialing bodies at Mount Sinai Health System and Massachusetts General Brigham. The society interacts with patient advocacy groups such as Susan G. Komen, American Cancer Society, and March of Dimes on reconstructive initiatives.

Certification, Education, and Training

Certification pathways reference examinations administered by American Board of Medical Specialties affiliates and examinations influenced by practices at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, and University of Michigan Medical School. Residency and fellowship standards reflect curricula comparable to those at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Boston Children's Hospital, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, and Texas Children's Hospital for pediatric reconstructive training. Educational programs include simulation collaborations with Society of Simulation in Healthcare, workshops parallel to those at Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, and didactic series akin to offerings by American Academy of Dermatology and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for multidisciplinary topics. The society partners with continuing medical education providers used by Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center for maintenance of certification.

Advocacy and Public Policy

The society engages in advocacy on issues intersecting with Food and Drug Administration regulation, reimbursement policies of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and legislative matters considered by United States Congress committees, coordinating with organizations like American Medical Association and American Hospital Association. Policy efforts have addressed device approvals linked to U.S. Food and Drug Administration reviews, patient privacy aligned with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act debates, and disaster response coordination with Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health and Human Services. The society submits position statements informed by guidance from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, engages in advocacy days in Washington, D.C., and collaborates with specialty coalitions including Coalition for Quality Care-style groups and international partners such as World Health Organization on global surgical safety initiatives.

Research, Standards, and Patient Safety

Research programs emphasize outcomes measurement, registries, and evidence syntheses comparable to efforts at Cochrane Collaboration, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and National Quality Forum. The society oversees registries analogous to those maintained by American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program and works with academic centers like Yale School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, and Duke University School of Medicine on clinical trials and observational studies. Standards development references consensus processes similar to Institute of Medicine reports and harmonizes device and implant surveillance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration postmarket pathways. Patient safety collaborations include partnerships with The Joint Commission, American Red Cross, and World Health Organization surgical safety checklists to reduce complications and improve informed consent practices promoted alongside American Bar Association-style legal guidance.

Publications and Conferences

The society publishes journals and resources paralleling the model of Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, and specialty periodicals such as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and collaborates with editors from British Journal of Surgery and Annals of Surgery. Annual meetings and conferences draw presenters from institutions like Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Mayo Clinic, and feature sessions similar to symposia hosted by American College of Surgeons and European Society of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery. Educational content is archived in formats akin to those of National Library of Medicine and disseminated through partnerships with organizations such as Medscape and UpToDate for clinician and public access.

Category:Medical associations based in the United States