Legacy of Excellence Digital Flipbook

LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE: J. REGAN THOMAS, MD PRESIDENT FROM 2010-2011

J . Regan Thomas, MD, was not raised in a family of physicians. In fact, according to him, no one in his family had attended college before he did. But his experience in undergraduate and then medical school at the University of Missouri and the University of Missouri School of Medicine, respectively, made Dr. Thomas realize he wanted to become a doctor and practice facial plastic surgery. His advanced medical training began at Yale University but, “As it turned out, someone dropped out of the ENT program at my alma mater of the University of Missouri, and they contacted me to see if I would be interested in pursuing ENT… a light bulb went off in my head and I said, ‘Yes’,” he explained. Dr. Thomas completed his residency in otolaryngology at the University of Missouri and a fellowship in facial plastic surgery at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He was recruited by Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, to establish a division of plastic surgery, which the school did not have at the time. He was then named vice chair in charge of the adult division where he oversaw all aspects of the otolaryngology program as well as the residency training program. When asked if he had a mentor in his life and career, Dr. Thomas responded, “If I had to pick one individual in my career who had the greatest impact for me [that] was Eugene Tardy, MD, from Chicago, a well-known facial plastic surgeon. I ended up being his first fellow. He was a role model in many respects, both in terms of how he was involved in many aspects of otolaryngology, including emphasizing facial plastic, [and] a role model for me personally.” Dr. Thomas went on to be named chair of the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery

at both Saint Louis University and the University of Illinois Chicago. While his academic career and leadership experience progressed, Dr. Thomas remained active in state medical societies since his time as a resident. He had also become involved with the American Medical Association (AMA), serving as a resident representative, a member of the Young Physicians Section, and eventually on the AMA’s Governing Council. His interaction with local and national organizations led to his involvement with the AAO-HNS/F.

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