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John Persing, MD

Irving and Silik Polayes Professor Emeritus of Surgery (Plastic); Section Chief

Contact Information

John Persing, MD

Mailing Address

  • Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

    PO Box 208062

    New Haven, CT 06520-8062

    United States

Appointments

Biography

Dr. John A. Persing is a doubly Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Neurological Surgeon. He is passionate about improving the quality of life of children born with craniofacial defects and individuals affected by cancer, trauma, deformities, and aesthetic concerns. He believes that all people deserve a chance at a better life, regardless of economic and world boundaries.

Dr. Persing earned his medical degree from the University of Vermont in 1974. He has been President of the Plastic Surgery Foundation, the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, the Association of Academic Chairmen of Plastic Surgery, the American Association of Pediatric Plastic Surgeons, among others, and served as Chair of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is past President of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, and received the Clinician of the Year Award in 2010, as well as the James Barrett Brown award for the best journal article published in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery in 2015.

Dr. Persing has a focus on improving the quality of patients’ lives regardless of whether this is a cosmetic or reconstructive concern. His clinical interests are craniofacial deformities, vascular malformations, and cosmetic surgery of the face and body.

Connecticut Magazine named Dr. Persing among the best in the state in its annual "Top Doctors" issue in the 2016 edition, along with America's Best Doctors (Castle-Connolly) and Who's Who in Medicine.

Learn more about the Section Chief of Yale Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Education & Training

  • Resident
    Hospital of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (1982)
  • Registrar
    Freedom Fields Hospital, Plymouth, England (1980)
  • NIDR Sponsored Research Fellow
    University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (1977)
  • Resident
    Hospital of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA (1976)
  • MD
    University of Vermont (1974)
  • Resident
    Hospital of the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (1974)

Certifications

  • Board Certification
    AB of Neurological Surgery, Neurological Surgery (1986)
  • Board Certification
    AB of Plastic Surgery, Plastic Surgery (1985, recertified: 2016)

Activities

  • Operation Smile - Medical Advisory Board & Volunteer Surgeon
    Marrakesh, Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Morocco; Chinandega, Chinandega Department, Nicaragua; Rajkot, GJ, India; Amman, Amman Governorate, Jordan; Shanghai, Shanghai, China; Empangeni, KZN, South Africa; David, Provincia de Chiriquí, Panama; Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy; Bogotá, Bogota, Colombia; Casablanca, Grand Casablanca, Morocco; Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil 2003
    A charitable organization that provides craniofacial care worldwide.
  • Interplast - Board of Directors & Volunteer Surgeon
    Iquitos, Loreto, Peru; Manaus, AM, Brazil; Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia; Yerevan, Yerevan, Armenia (1986-2003)
    Interplast, an agency that sends physicians around the world to do charitable work.
  • Virginia Children's Connection
    Giridih, JH, India (1986-1992)
    Volunteer Overseas Program, Founding Director
  • Pro Bono Surgical Work
    Virginia Beach, VA, United States 1986
    Dr Persing performs pro bono surgical work, which makes up some 35 to 40 percent of his practice at the Yale Craniofacial Program. His passion to help has brought him to Argentina, Armenia, Bolivia, Brazil, India, Jordan, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, South Africa, among other countries to provide treatment for children with cleft lip and cleft palate.

Honors & Recognition

AwardAwarding OrganizationDate
James Marquis Converse LecturerAmerican Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons2016
ASMS National Meeting Best Paper Presentation (Carolyn Chuang)American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons2016
Best DoctorBest Doctors List of America2015, 2016
Connecticut Magazine Top DoctorsConnecticut Magazine2015, 2016
ASMS National Meeting Best Paper Presentation (Jenny Yang)American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons2015
James Barrett Brown AwardAmerican Association of Plastic Surgery2015
ASMS National Meeting Best Paper Presentation (AJ Forte)American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons2014
Distinguished Academic Achievement AwardUniversity of Vermont, College of Medicine2014
PresidentPlastic Surgery Foundation2010
Best DoctorBest Doctors in New York Region2010
Clinician of the YearAmerican Association of Plastic Surgery2010
ASMS Distinguished Service AwardAmerican Society of Maxiollfacial Surgeons2007
ChairAmerican Board of Plastic Surgery2005
PresidentAssociation Academic Chairmen of Plastic Surgery2004
PresidentASMS American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons2003
PresidentAmerican Association Pediatric Plastic Surgery1995
Bern Spiesel AwardASMS American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons1991, 2010
Donald D. Matson AwardAmerican Association of Neurologic Surgeons1981

Departments & Organizations