About PSF

Q: What is The Plastic Surgery Foundation?
A: As the research and philanthropic arm of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), The Plastic Surgery Foundation (PSF) supports the research and international activities of member surgeons. The PSF works in concert with the Society to fund research, foster the career development of plastic surgeons and support members' volunteer surgical activities and international outreach.

Q: What does The PSF do?
A: The PSF's mission is to improve the quality of life of patients through research and development. The PSF accomplishes its mission by supporting research through a variety of grant programs and facilitating PSF initiated studies. The PSF fosters the education and outreach of plastic surgeons by sponsoring Visiting Professors, International Scholars and Volunteers in Plastic Surgery.

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About the NEPS

Q: What is the National Endowment for Plastic Surgery?
A: The National Endowment for Plastic Surgery (NEPS) is a fund within The Plastic Surgery Foundation restricted to supporting research and to ensuring the future of plastic surgery across the specialty. The NEPS enables The PSF to be proactive in identifying opportunities and responding to the changing demands on the specialty.

While annual donations enable The PSF to fund current initiatives, gifts to the NEPS ensure a predictable stream of revenue that is especially important for research activities that cannot be easily started and stopped. All contributions to the Endowment are added to the principal of the fund, and remain there in perpetuity. Only the income generated by prudent investing of this principal is available to fund projects. You can learn more about how the NEPS is supporting studies from across the specialty.

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Where does the money go?

Q: How will my donation be used?
A: Generous gifts from every ASPS member and our industry partners enable The PSF to;

  • Promote the next generation of researchers through seed grants that allow researchers to test scientific concepts specific to plastic surgery.
  • Support clinically relevant research that demonstrates best practices and better outcomes.
  • Provide research data that assures patients that they are receiving the best treatment.
  • Encourage efficacy through evidence-based medicine.
  • Develop clinical trial research networks.
  • Foster the career development of plastic surgeons through Visiting Professors and the International Scholars Program.
  • Sponsor the overseas volunteer service missions of ASPS member surgeons.

Q: How much money has the Foundation given to research?
A: Visit the official e-newsletter of The PSF, foundation, to meet some of the researchers and learn more about how their emerging and ongoing research will impact plastic surgery.

A: Since 2006, The PSF has funded 195 grants and awarded nearly four million dollars to support research projects across the specialty including:

  • Pioneering approaches to wound healing
  • Investigating innovative technologies
  • Advancing craniofacial surgery and microsurgery
  • Identifying new insights in the use of reconstructive flap surgery
  • Examining nerve autografts
  • Preventing deep vein thrombosis
  • Supporting breast research
  • Studying the effectiveness of fat grafting
  • Enhancing composite tissue allotransplantation
  • Developing meaningful and reliable patient reported outcomes
  • Strengthening the science in facial aesthetics

Q: How does The PSF support the career development of plastic surgerons?
A: The PSF fosters the career development of plastic surgeons by sponsoring Visiting Professors who impact the education of plastic surgeons by sharing their clinical and technical expertise and innovative perspectives on a variety of topics. Since 1977, the Visiting Professors Program has enabled 95 ASPS members' to travel to teaching institutions where they have lectured and held other informal educational sessions.

Contributions to The PSF also support the International Scholar Program which enables plastic surgeons from abroad to come to the United States for three to six months to study at host plastic surgery institutions. Since 1990, the International Scholar Program has funded 72 scholars from 35 countries.

Q: How does The PSF foster international outreach?
A: To support the ongoing international service efforts of plastic surgeons and their volunteer organizations, The PSF established Volunteers in Plastic Surgery (VIPS). Every year, VIPS groups spend weeks away from their families and practices to lend their highly specialized skills to the world's neediest children. Over the past three decades, more than 150,000 children and adults have received medical treatment from dedicated volunteers. VIPS also help equip local doctors with the knowledge and resources they need to provide patients with more effective medical care and encourage self-sufficiency.

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Making a gift to The PSF

Q: How can I support The PSF ?
A: Thank you for your desire to donate to the PSF. You have several options:

  1. You can make your donation using our secure online donation form.
  2. You may send a check in US Dollars to:
    The Plastic Surgery Foundation, 444 East Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005
  3. To donate by phone, call, Individual Giving Associate, Susan Hacker at 800-766-4955.

Q: Is my gift tax-deductible?
A: The PSF is a 501(c) 3 organization. Your gift to the Foundation is fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Q: Can I make a gift in memory or honor of someone?
A: The PSF offers you a way to remember friends and loved ones through a Memorial Contribution or recognize a birthday, anniversary or a major accomplishment through an Honorarium. You can give your memorial or honorary contribution via our online form or by phone, or mail. When making a gift in memory or honor, please include the name and address of the person(s) you would like notified of your contribution.

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The Maliniac Circle

Q: What is the Maliniac Circle? How can I become a Maliniac Fellow?
A: Many individuals have demonstrated their commitment to the future of plastic surgery by joining the Maliniac Circle. Maliniac Fellows have all committed $50,000 or more in cash or securities or have provided a minimum $100,000 deferred gift through such instruments as life insurance, a bequest or trust. For more information about becoming a Maliniac Fellow, contact:

Carol V. Wargo, CFRE, CAE
Chief Development Officer
Phone: 847-228-3358
cwargo@plasticsurgery.org

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Planned and Named Gift Opportunities

Q: How can I include The PSF or NEPS in my will or estate plans?
A: Many ASPS members have provided for the future of plastic surgery by including The PSF or NEPS in their wills and estate plans. A well thought out planned gift can bring significant benefits to you as well as giving you the opportunity to give back to the medical specialty that means so much to you. Through a planned gift, you also may be able to make a much larger gift than you thought possible.

To discuss the variety of planned gift options, Contact Carol Wargo at 847-228-3358 or cwargo@plasticsurgery.org.

Q: Can I create a fund with a major gift for a special purpose?
A: The PSF is dedicated to supporting research grants, fellowships, scholarship awards, and international program activities. You can learn more about the named gift opportunities currently approved for funding within the Foundation on our site.

The Foundation also welcomes the opportunity to work with donors to identify other programs suitable to his or her interests. Call Carol Wargo at 847-228-3358 or cwargo@plasticsurgery.org for more information.

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Share with us: Why  do you support The PSF?
Send your message to us at research@plasticsurgery.org.