Before coming to Michigan as chairman of the Department of Surgery, Dr. Charles Child, III had worked closely with plastic surgeons and was cognizant of the contributions to be expected from plastic surgery in patient care and research. It was not until 1964, however, that a section of Plastic Surgery was formulated with Dr. Reed Dingman as section head.
Three permanent staff members, six residents in plastic surgery, and interns and residents rotating from other surgical sections treat patients with congenital anomalies, traumatic and developmental deformities, and cosmetic defects.
Patients are referred to the section by the Michigan Crippled Children's Commission and by physicians in a large geographic area. Teaching is also carried on at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital, the Ann Arbor Veteran's Administration Hospital, Wayne County General Hospital, and the Southern Michigan State Prison at Jackson.
In the seven years since its inception, the Section of Plastic Surgery has expanded services to patients with all types of acquired and congenital deformities, including special clinics in the correction of cleft lip and palate deformities, a maxillofacial prosthetic service, and a hand consultation service.
In 1970-71, over 1,700 plastic surgical operations were performed in our affiliated hospital program, and over 6,000 patients were seen in our clinics.
Fred J. Hodges
The University of Michigan, an Encyclopedic Survey Supplement, Pages 209, 210
