International Surgeon Performs First Facial Transplant

From France to Florida Hospital, First Surgeon in World to Perform Facial Transplant Speaks to Community

CELEBRATION, Fla., April 22, 2009 - World-renowned transplant surgeon, Dr. Jean-Michel Dubernard, traveled across the globe from France to Florida Hospital, to speak to the community about his experiences performing the first face transplant case in the world. Dr. Dubernard toured Florida Hospital Celebration Health to learn about innovative surgical techniques and how Orlando is establishing itself as a destination for medicine and science.

Jean-Michel Dubernard, MD, specializes in transplant surgery and has been a pioneer in the field, developing techniques to transplant pancreas glands and other tissues. He organized the international team that performed the first successful hand transplant and double hand transplant. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Dubernard assisted to perform the first partial facial transplant on a 38-year-old woman whose face was severely disfigured. Dr. Dubernard attended medical school in Lyon, France and was a Research fellow at Harvard Medical School and a Clinical fellow at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital.

For more information, please contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217.

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