Q & A

Michael R. Zenn, MD

Associate Professor, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Q. Where did you go to med school? Undergraduate school?
A. Cornell University Medical College in New York City, NY(’84-’88) and the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA (’80-’84)

Q. How long have you been a Duke physician?
A. Four years. Ten years as a plastic surgeon performing aesthetic surgery.

Q. Where did you work prior to coming to Duke?
A. UNC, for 5 years.

Q. Have you received any awards or honors? Do you sit on any boards or journals? If so, please list them along with a brief description.
A. “Top Surgeon” and “Best Doctor” awards from Ladies Home Journal and Redbook.

Q. What led you into the practice of aesthetic surgery (or the field in general)?
A. The practice of aesthetic surgery is as much an art as a surgical discipline. The varied nature of human form and therefore, the varied nature of the required surgical procedures has always fascinated me and keeps my interests piqued.

Q. What are your areas of specialty and how have things changed since you entered the field?
A. My current interests are cosmetic surgery, breast surgery, head and neck surgery, and microsurgery. Things continue to change with each passing year and I can honestly say I have changed everything that I do since training a decade ago. I keep current by attending national meetings and reading the literature.

Q. Are you involved with any clinical trials or research studies? If so what are you examining?
A. Silicone breast implants part of the national FDA study, examining their safety.

Q. What is the focus of your current research?
A. Blood flow in tissue

Q. How will your research contribute to the field of medicine?
A. Development of new drugs to promote healing and improved blood supply.

Q. What are some things you’ve discovered during the course of your research?
A. One patented drug, preparing for clinical trials.

Q. In a couple sentences please describe what you love about your work.
A. Meeting people and making a difference in their lives. I also enjoy the artistic challenges of plastic surgery and solving tough problems.

Q. Do you have any special stories to tell about your experience as a physician?
A. Every week I have the pleasure of seeing people in follow up who are happy that we met and glad that I was able to do for them what they dreamed of.

Q. What do you think sets Duke Aesthetic Center apart from other Aesthetic practices in the area?
A. The safety and security of knowing they are at Duke and can trust what their doctors tell them. The facility is beautiful and a full time anesthesiologist takes part in their care.

Q. Do you have any personal hobbies or interests that you would be willing to share?
A. Painting, pen collecting, spending time with my family