This special series on “The Modern Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon – Collaborator, Innovator, Leader” is edited by Dr. Johnny Ionut Efanov, from the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Johnny Ionut Efanov, MD CM, FRCSC
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Dr. Johnny Ionut Efanov currently practices as a full-time consultant in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) in Montreal, Canada.

After completing his Medical Doctorate at McGill University, he enrolled in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency program at Université de Montréal. During his training, he also graduated from the Clinician-Investigator Program, in which he completed a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences. His thesis defense on an economical analysis comparing vascularized allotransplantations of the hand and myoelectric prostheses was awarded on the Dean’s List with Honors. His project was also selected as a grant recipient by the prestigious Fonds de Recherche du Québec en Santé (FRQS).

Upon completing his residency and becoming a board-certified plastic surgeon from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Dr. Efanov undertook further subspecialisation in the Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Fellowship at the National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore. During his year of fellowship, he developed advanced skills in reconstructive techniques for the upper extremity and collaborated on several research projects.

As a surgeon, Dr. Efanov particularly enjoys helping patients afflicted with upper extremity injuries as well as reconstructing oncological defects, including breast cancers, lower extremity sarcomas and head and neck skin cancers. As a scientist, his current research focuses on 3D printing, nerve surgery and randomized controlled trials for elective hand procedures. As of September 2022, he has authored 44 publications in peer-reviewed journals and presented his research work in 29 conferences at the national and international stages. He has also contributed as a reviewer for Annals of Translational Medicine and several other journals.

Series outline:

1. Updates in Peripheral Nerve Surgery
2. A Treatment Algorithm for Reconstruction of Soft Tissue Defects in the Hand
3. Current Trends for Finger Replantation
4. Revisiting the Reconstructive Ladder for Lower Extremity Reconstruction
5. The Role of Reconstructive Microsurgeons in Liver Transplantation 
6. State of the Art Free Flap Options for Reconstruction of the Head and Neck
7. Aesthetic and Reconstructive Principles in Genital Surgery
8. Contemporary Refinements in Autogenous Breast Reconstruction
9. Implant-based Breast Surgery and Capsular Formation – When, How and Why 
10. Demystifying Vascularized Lymph Node Transfers and Lymphatico-Venous Anastomoses

Disclosure:
The special series “The Modern Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon – Collaborator, Innovator, Leader” was commissioned by the editorial office, Annals of Translational Medicine without any sponsorship or funding. Johnny Ionut Efanov is serving as the unpaid Guest Editor for the special series.