ATTENTION!!! THIS IS A ROUGH DRAFT
(meaning: a work in progress)

A History of Plastic Surgeons in Hawaii 1940 - 2009

Hawaii was a territory starting in 1900 and became a state after world war II in 1959.

 

The history of plastic surgery in Hawaii starts with the first plastic surgeon in Hawaii, This plastic surgeon went by the name of Merton Mack who came in the early 1930's to Hawaii as a plantation doctor.

 

Later Merton like most of the plastic surgeons of his day were not trained as formally as today's plastic surgeons. They attended training as a general surgeon and then completed course work and preceptorships with plastic surgery teachers. This type of training was common at that time as surgery training was not as formal as it is today. However, there was a board to be taken.

 

Most plastic surgeons were general surgeons who had become interested in this area of surgery called plastic surgery. Specialists were rare. Merton was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 1956.

 

The next plastic surgeon to arrive in Hawaii was Leabert Fernandez, he like Merton was a plantation doctor. He completed a general surgery residency at Queens and obtained his plastic surgery training in California. He was born and raised in Hawaii and actually attended Punahou High School. Dr. Fernandez wrote one of the first papers on double eyelid surgery on Asians.

 

In the late forties an ophthalmologic surgeon also became trained in plastic surgery by the name of Vernon Jim. Another Plastic Surgeon arrived shortly after in the 50s was Elden Dykes who unfortunately died a very early death of colon cancer in his later 30's. Another of note during this time was Tom Tavara of which little is known.

The 1960-70's

In 1966 Dr. Victor Hay-Roe arrived as a plastic surgeon, having trained in Hawaii in the general surgery program after plastic surgery training worked at the Honolulu Medical Group. Dr Hay-Roe was followed a few years later by Dr. Robert Flowers who became a staff surgeon at Straub in 1968___orginally. Dr. Penoff arrived early 1972??______as well at Straub Clinic.

The 1980s and 1990's

This generation of Hawaii Plastic Surgeons came in during the 1990's and includes Dr. Clyde Ishii - local born but educated on the mainland, as with Dr. Vincent Nip and Dr. Benjamin Chu. These were all local boys who returned to Hawaii. Transplanted to Hawaii during this time from the Mainland are Dr. Robert Peterson, Dr. Michael Pasquale and Dr.Kevin Dieffenbach who now make Hawaii their home. Dr Gregory Caputy arrived during this time after training under Dr. Robert Flowers.

2000 to present

The newest group of plastic surgeons arrived during these years out of training. This includes Dr. Shim Ching who also did a fellowship with Dr. Robert Flowers like Dr. Gregory Caputy, both from Canada. Dr. Mirzai...