Henry K. Kawamoto, MD, DDS, to Lead 2023 Trustees Talk
The 2023 Trustees Talk will feature Henry K. Kawamoto, MD, DDS, past director emeritus of craniofacial (skull-jaw-face) surgery for UCLA’s Craniofacial Clinic, and a clinical professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
The ASPS Trustees have long recognized the importance of mentoring in the development of plastic surgeons. The Trustees are delighted to welcome Dr. Kawamoto who will share the lessons learned and skills gleaned from his own mentors over the course of his career through his talk, “Honing the Edge.”
Honing The Edge
Friday, Oct. 27, 2023
3:00 - 3:30 p.m.
ACC, Ballroom F, Level 4
About Dr. Kawamoto
Kawamoto's specialty was performing reconstructive surgery on children’s faces after correcting disfiguring skull and facial defects stemming from birth, disease, or trauma.
After joining UCLA in 1975, Dr. Kawamoto became the first L.A. plastic surgeon trained in the craniomaxillofacial specialty. Dr. Kawamoto began the UCLA Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship more than 30 years ago.
During his nearly four decades in practice, Dr. Kawamoto has earned international respect from his peers — and the deep gratitude of thousands of patients and their parents.
Dr. Kawamoto was the first Los Angeles plastic surgeon trained in craniomaxillofacial surgery by Dr. Paul Tessier in Paris, France.
He devoted his entire career to training craniofacial surgery fellows across the United States and worldwide. He headed the craniofacial surgery component of UCLA's Division of Plastic Surgery until he accepted an appointment as Professor Emeritus at the end of 2013.
Dr. Kawamoto, who was born and raised in southern California, began his career at the University of Southern California's School of Dentistry. During his second year of dental school, he observed an operation on a classmate to reduce his prognathic jaw. That captured Dr. Kawamoto’s attention, and his journey to medicine began with taking the required pre-med courses at night.
He attended USC's School of Medicine, followed by his first venture to the East Coast, where he started the general surgical program at Columbia Presbyterian (CPMC) in NYC. He was drafted in his second year and served as a U.S. Army Medical Corp captain during the Vietnam conflict. Dr. Kawamoto spent his time doing general surgery, followed by 13 months on the oral surgery/ENT service.
Dr. Kawamoto has been recognized with numerous medical, dentistry, plastic surgery, research, teaching, and civic awards; and has served on several surgery-related industry boards, including the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Additionally, he has been named in more than 200 scientific articles.