Today we’d like to introduce you to Russell Reid.
Russell, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I got started as a surgeon-scientist through mentorship. The son of Jamaican immigrants, I learned from an early age that everything is earned through hard work and teamwork. I was always a curious person and with my mother as a nurse and father as an engineer, my work mission in life became natural: to help ailing patients as a physician who blends cutting edge technology and research in his practice.
From college and medical school, mentors have always paved the way for me and provided me with an environment to maximize my learning. Mentors in medical school (the late Dr. Fred S. Rosen and Professor Michael C. Carroll at Harvard) taught me how to think critically and apply science to the human condition, whereas mentors in residency (Dr. Thomas A. Mustoe, Dr. Bruce S. Bauer, Dr. Pravin K. Patel, and Dr. Gregory A. Dumanian) taught me how to take care of plastic and reconstructive surgical patients.
From my residency, I developed a keen interest in the care of pediatric patients and a love for using surgery to make a congenitally deformed child and their family feel whole. From my residency at Northwestern, I pursued a pediatric plastic and craniofacial surgery fellowship at the esteemed Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
It was there, under the guidance of Dr. Scott P. Bartlett and Dr. Linton A. Whitaker, giants in craniofacial surgery, where I continued to mature and develop my surgical knowledge and skills. Today, I am blessed to have a position at the University of Chicago, where I am daily rewarded by the smiles of children and families who I treat, and the residents and medical students who I now mentor.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road traveled is smooth. Rough patches help us pave new roads and avenues for growth. Personally, I have always been challenged by overcoming differences in the workplace and not bringing home the emotional burdens I face at work home or vice versa. Particularly having children and taking care of children who are afflicted, it is easy to project the suffering you see in the hospital as worry or concern for your own children.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about University of Chicago Craniofacial Anomalies Multidisciplinary Program – what should we know?
The University of Chicago is one of the most highly esteemed universities in the country. It celebrates the most Nobel Laureates past and present among its faculty and in the medical center, it is known for being at the “Forefront of Medicine” in terms of advancing technology and research for patient care. I am a highly skilled surgeon who specializes in pediatric plastic surgery. I have particular expertise in the area of craniofacial and maxillofacial surgery, which includes surgery of the face, jaw, palate, and skull.
An accomplished author, I have published book chapters and several peer-reviewed journal articles on a variety of topics, from craniofacial surgery techniques to wound healing.
My research interests include the regeneration of bone for the repair of complex craniofacial defects, the biology of the skull and facial sutures, and genetic expression in craniofacial development. I also study bone substitutes and the survival of bone-cartilage grafts. I co-direct the multidisciplinary Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic at UCM and am Volunteer Medical Director of Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation. What sets our team apart from others is our integration of science and technology (research) in the care of children who suffer from craniofacial disorders.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My humility and ability to listen to others as well as my compassion for children who are marginalized by their disorders.
Contact Info:
- Address: 5841 South Maryland Avenue
MC 6035 Chicago, IL 60637 - Website: http://www.uchospitals.edu/physicians/russell-reid.html
- Phone: 773=702-6302
- Facebook: @UChicagoMedComer
- Twitter: @UChicagoMed
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