Department of Surgery Faculty

Howard T. Wang, MD

Assistant Professor and Chief
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Program Director, Plastic Surgery Residency Program

Division: Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Email: wanght@uthscsa.edu

Board Certifications:
American Board of Plastic Surgery
American Board of Surgery (General Surgery)

Education:
1995, MD, Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
1991, Biology, Biology (with Distinction in all Subjects), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Postgraduate training:
2003-2003, Post Doctoral Fellowship, Hand Surgery, Kleinert, Kutz and Associates, Louisville, KY
1997-1999, Post Doctoral Research Fellowship, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY
2002-2005, Plastic Surgery Residency, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
1999-2002, General Surgery Residency, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY
1996-1997, General Surgery Residency, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY 1995-1996, General Surgery Internship, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY

Research interests: Various

Research funding:
National Endowment for Plastic Surgery and the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation - $49,911. Oct 2008. "Neovascularization of bony construct using adipose tissue-derived stem cells".

Clinical interests: Plastic Surgery

Publications:
Okoro SA, Wang HT, Levine RA. Percutaneous Preoperative Implant Deflation: The Treatment of Breast Stretch Deformity and Implant Malposition. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2008 October; [Epub ahead of print]

Okoro SA, Barone CM, Bohnenblust M, Wang HT. Breast Reduction Trend Among Plastic Surgeons. A National Survey. (In Press: Plastic Reconstructive Surgery 2008 Nov).

Bohnenblust M, Steigelman MB, Wang Q, Walker JA, Wang HT. An Experimental Design to Study Adipocyte Stem Cells for Reconstruction of Calvarial Defects. (In Press: J Craniofac Surg Nov 2008).

Wang HT, Barone CM, Kahlenberg M, Rousseau D, Berger J, Daum A, Steigelman M, Ortegon D: Aesthetic Outcomes in Breast Conservation Therapy. Aesthetic Surg J 28 (2): 165-170, 2008.

Follmer KC, Prichard HL, Decroos FC, Wang HT, Levin LS, Klitzman B, Olbrich KC, Erdmann D: Combined Bone Allograft and Adipose-derived Stem Cell (ASC) Autograft in a Rabbit Model. Ann Plast Surg 58(5):561-5, 2007.

Wang HT, Erdmann D, Olbrich KC, Friedman AH, Levin LS, Zenn MR: Free flap reconstruction of the scalp and calvarium and implications of co-morbid conditions: a review of 22 patients. Plast Reconstr Surg 119(3):865-72, 2007.

Follmer KC, Decroos FC, Prichard HL, Wang HT, Erdmann D, Olbrich KC: Effects of Glutamine, Glucose, and Oxygen Concentration on the Metabolism and Proliferation of Rabbit Adipose-derived Stem Cells (ASCs). Tissue Eng. 12(12):3525-33. 2006.

Ravin AG, Gottlieb NB, Wang HT, Meade RA, Humphrey JS, Schwarz KW, Levin LS, Tyler DS, Erdmann D: Impact of the Veterans Administration medical system on plastic surgery residency training. Plast Resconstr Surg 117 (2): 656-660, 2006.

Wang HT, Hartzell T, Olbrich KC, Erdmann D, Georgiade GS: Delay of TRAM flap reconstruction improves flap reliability in the obese patient. Plast Reconstr Surg 116(2): 613-618, 2005.

Wang HT, Sunil TM, Kleinert HE: Multiple unusual complications following extensive chronic sarcoid tenosynovitis of the hand - A report. J Hand Surg (Am.) 30(3): 610-614, 2005.

Wang HT, Fletcher JW, Erdmann D, Levin LS: Use of the Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap for upper extremity reconstruction. J Hand Surg (Am.) 30(4): 859-864, 2005.

Wang HT, Erdmann D, Fletcher JW, Levin LS: Anterolateral thigh flap technique in hand and upper extremity reconstruction. Tech Hand Upper Extrem Surgery 8(4): 257-261, 2004.

Wang HT, Sax HC: Incidental appendectomy in the era of managed care and laparoscopy. J Am Coll Surg 192: 182-188, 2001.

Awards:
Ross Resident Research Symposium 1999
Rochester Surgical Society: Award in Honor of J. Raymond Hinshaw, M.D., 1999

In the news:
Interviewed by Plastic Surgery News for the March 2009 issue - Exploring the promise of stem cells for reconstruction: With his research team (David Sahar, MD, and Stacy Stephenson, MD, Plastic Surgery Residents), Dr. Wang is investigating neovascularization of bony constructs using adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs). The goal is to generate tissue in vitro from a donor site and, ultimately, be able to implant this bony construct back into the patient for reconstruction. Ultimately, Dr. Wang hopes that this research will lead to new reconstruction options for patients. Read article (4-8-09)

Biosketch: Dr. Howard T. Wang, Division Chief, Residency Program Director, and Assistant Professor for the Division of Plastic Surgery. His interest is in microvascular reconstruction of the lower extremity, head and neck and breast of which he has extensive training.

Dr. Wang comes to us from Duke University Medical Center where he has completed a Residency in Plastic Surgery . While at Duke, Dr. Wang spent 6 months as a Fellow in Hand Surgery at Kleinert, Kutz, and Associates in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to this, he completed a General Surgery Residency at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. He is board certified in General Surgery.

His education began at Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with numerous honors that included Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board Honor Society, Golden Key and Robert C. Byrd Scholarship as well as being on the Dean's List for six semesters. Following graduation, he attended Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he received his Doctor of Medicine in 1995.