Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Holds First Annual Brody Lecture and Research Day

On October 18, 2024, The Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery held its inaugural Garry S. Brody, MD, MSc, Memorial Lecture and Research Day at the USC Galen Center.

After a breakfast and welcome speech by Mark Urata, MD, DDS, the division chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the day was filled with presentations and panels on the latest research in the field from current residents and alumni of the program. Topics ranged from facial feminization surgery to patterns in pediatric burn admissions to patient perspectives on alternative payment models.

The keynote speaker, Joan E. Lipa, MD, MSC, is a the newly appointed chair of the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery at the University of Toronto. Her presentation, The Ripple Effect: Waves of Change in Breast Implant Practice, was particularly appropriate to honor Dr. Brody, as his own research in breast implant–associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA ALCL) was pioneering. Dr. Brody put together the first known data set on the condition in 2015.

After the day’s educational events, participants met for dinner to offer personal thanks to the Brody family. The award for Best Resident Abstract was a tie, going to both Erin Wolfe, MD, for “Tranexamic Acid Safely Reduces Blood Loss and Transfusion Requirement in Pediatric Midface Reconstruction,” and Paige Zachary, MD, for Pediatric Burn Admissions are Associated with School Holidays and Lower Home Childhood Opportunity Level”

Garry Brody was a groundbreaking surgeon, teacher, researcher who was instrumental in founding the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery program at USC. He was a creative and tireless innovator who developed and refined new techniques in breast, burn, facial, and hand reconstruction. He was also a dedicated teacher; even after his retirement from surgical practice he continued to mentor rising surgeons at USC until his death in 2021. Dr. Brody also had a deep commitment to serving others, and frequently traveled the world on volunteer missions to help patients in areas affected by war and poverty.

“Dr. Brody did more than help found our division,” said Dr. Urata. “He set a remarkable example as a surgeon, as a researcher, and as a humanitarian. We still feel his influence as a teacher and a mentor. I’m so pleased to be able to honor him. I believe that Brody day will evolve to help our entire field move forward—just like Dr. Brody himself did.”