The Reed O. Dingman Collegiate Professorship in Plastic Surgery
 |
| William Kuzon and Allen Lichter Photo: Gregory Fox |
William M. Kuzon Jr., M.D., was installed as the first Reed
O. Dingman Collegiate Professor of Plastic Surgery June 8 during an inauguration
ceremony at the Biomedical Science Research Building. Kuzon, a professor of
surgery and section head of plastic surgery, has established a diverse clinical
practice with an emphasis on complex reconstructive surgery for patients with
facial paralysis, defects after oncologic resection and ventral hernias. He
also is an associate research professor in the Institute of Gerontology and
director of the Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program.
The professorship honors Reed Dingman’s (M.D. 1936, Residency
1945) pioneering contributions to the profession of plastic and reconstructive
surgery, as well as his scholarly achievements, his role as a researcher and
his leadership of admiring colleagues. But it especially recognizes his compassion
in caring for thousands of patients throughout his 50-year career, as well as
his commitment to education. He founded the Plastic Surgery Section in the Department
of Surgery and acted as head from 1964-76, and again from 1982 until his death
in 1985.
Two people helped make the Dingman Professorship possible. Harvey Lemmen,
a former president of Meijer Inc., a grocery store chain, underwent more than
a dozen reconstructive operations for a cleft palate, all with Dingman as chief
surgeon. Another major supporter of the Dingman Professorship is Donald
Wallace, M.D., Dingman’s nephew. Wallace earned his Bachelor
of Science and medical degrees at the University, where his uncle encouraged
him to pursue medicine, especially plastic surgery.
ALSO:
The Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Professorship in Metabolism
The Carl Vernon Weller Professorship in Pathology
The R. Jamison and Betty J. Williams Professorship in Otolaryngology
The David A. Bloom Professorship in Urology
