The award from the American Association of Plastic Surgeons recognizes Rohrich’s career in surgical education, mentorship, academic publishing, and patient care within plastic surgery.
The American Association of Plastic Surgeons (AAPS) named Dallas plastic surgeon Rod J. Rohrich, MD, as the recipient of its 2026 Clinician of the Year Award, recognizing his contributions to plastic surgery through clinical excellence, education, mentorship, innovation, and leadership.
Award Recognizes Clinical and Educational Contributions
The AAPS Clinician of the Year Award honors a surgeon whose career reflects patient care, ethical standards, leadership, and dedication to advancing the specialty. Rohrich was recognized for his academic and educational contributions and his commitment to mentoring future generations of plastic surgeons.
“Receiving this recognition from the American Association of Plastic Surgeons is a tremendous honor,” said Rohrich. “This award reflects not only my journey, but the extraordinary mentors, trainees, colleagues, patients, and family members who have shaped my career and reinforced the importance of giving back through education, mentorship, and patient care.”
Rohrich’s Work in Plastic Surgery
Rohrich is recognized for his work in rhinoplasty, revision rhinoplasty, and facial rejuvenation surgery. He has delivered thousands of lectures internationally, published extensively in peer-reviewed medical literature, and trained hundreds of residents and fellows.
Rohrich served as Editor-in-Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and founded PRS Global Open, an open-access journal focused on expanding global access to plastic surgery education and research.
Acceptance Lecture Focused on Mentorship
Rohrich’s acceptance lecture, titled “Giving Back Matters: Purpose, Mentorship & Impact,” focused on mentorship, leadership, and continued education in plastic surgery.
“Plastic surgery gave me purpose. Teaching gave me responsibility,” said Rohrich. “The multiplier effect of mentorship is extraordinary, one mentor can influence thousands of surgeons, and ultimately millions of patients.”
Current Roles and Background
In addition to his clinical practice in Dallas, Rohrich remains active internationally through lectures, educational courses, publications, podcasts, and surgical symposia focused on patient safety, rhinoplasty, facelift surgery, innovation, and surgical outcomes.
Rohrich is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas and a clinical professor of plastic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. He served as a distinguished teaching professor and chair of the department of plastic surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He trained at Baylor, the University of Michigan, Harvard/Mass General, and Oxford.
Rohrich chairs the Dallas Rhinoplasty Meeting, founded the Dallas Cosmetic Surgery Meeting, and is a founding partner of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute. He has published more than 1,000 peer-reviewed articles and has authored eight textbooks. He is a past president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and has received multiple Plastic Surgery Foundation Distinguished Service Awards.
Photo: AAPS
