LEXINGTON, KY, June 05, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Martin Jason Luftman, MD, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Luftman celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
With a career spanning over 30 years, Dr. Luftman has spent his entire career as a private practice Plastic Surgeon in Lexington, Kentucky, beginning in 1981. Alongside this role, he was active as the chief of the department of plastic surgery at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington from 1990 to 1996 and the chief of surgery from 1993 to 1994. Throughout his career, Dr. Luftman has also served as a voluntary clinical professor, in Plastic Surgery, at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.
Prior to embarking on his career, Dr. Luftman pursued his education at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1972. While at Brown he also excelled in Track and Field, being named to both the All New England and All Ivy teams in 1972. Earning a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Cincinnati in 1976, he completed his surgical residency at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center through the Wake Forest School of Medicine and the Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education from 1976 to 1979. A diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Luftman concluded his studies as a resident in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the College of Medicine and Life Sciences at the University of Toledo from 1979 to 1981.
He first chose a career in surgery and went into Ear, Nose and Throat as his medical school did not have a plastics department at that time. He completed his surgical training with rotations in plastics -- and that cemented his career decision. He is grateful to his plastic surgery mentors, Drs. John Kelleher and Jim Sullivan, both of whom had a passion for aesthetic surgery in addition to strong interests in reconstruction. Dr. Luftman's family has played a tremendous role in his life. His wife Virginia, a registered nurse with a Masters and PhD in Clinical Social Work, is an Associate Professor in the University of Kentucky Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Luftman credits her with being very instrumental in shaping the balance and importance of family and ensuring that they would have dinner together. Dr. Luftman coached all of his four childrens' soccer teams and he enjoyed it immensely.
Like his mentors he is an accomplished plastic surgeon, who enjoys aesthetic surgery as well as reconstructive work, Dr. Luftman is the author of "Tailored Infolding Pattern (T.I.P.) Procedure in Reduction Mammaplasty", published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal in 1997. He also notably developed the DOX Head Banz for surgical headlamps. To remain abreast of developments in his field, Dr. Luftman maintains professional affiliation with the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and the Kentucky Society of Plastic Surgeons, serving as the President in 1986. Dr. Luftman and his wife Virginia and two of their four children participated in a Reconstructive Surgery Mission trip to Ecuador in 2006 with their good friend Dr. Henry Vasconez. Dr. Luftman helped with Cleft Lip and Palate cases and Microtia. Virginia and the boys used their respective nursing and Spanish translation skills in the clinic. It was a moving and humbling experience caring for wonderful, appreciative families. Of note, the Vasconez family is originally from Ambato, Ecuador and Dr. Henry Vasconez, along with his brother Dr. Louis Vasconez and their sister Beatrice Engel Vasconez, started the mission trips in 1981 and continue this endeavor yearly. They are honored in Ambato with the hospital street being named Vasconez Way.
For excellence in his career, Dr. Luftman has been the recipient of a number of honors and accolades. Notably, he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was presented with an Award for Excellence by the Cincinnati Surgical Society. He is listed in Marquis's Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare 1997 and 1998, Best Doctors in America 1996-1997, 1998-2000, 2001-2002, 2005-2006, 2009-2010, 2013-2014, Best Doctors in America Midwest Division, Life Member National Registry of Who's Who in 1999, Lifetime Member Strathmore's Who's Who, the Guide to America's Top Plastic Surgeons 2007, 2012, 2013, and the Guide to America's Top Surgeons, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
Looking back on a career filled with highlights, he recalls recently seeing the mother of a patient he had cared for 30 years earlier come to see him for aesthetic surgery. Her daughter had a large birthmark over more than half her forehead and Dr. Luftman performed a procedure that was unusual in the late 1980s -- he put a tissue expander in her collarbone area to expand the skin, removed the birthmark on her forehead, and then used the expanded skin to resurface the forehead. She is now a confident young woman, wife and mother.
Another very gratifying experience for Dr. Luftman was when a friend, an orthopedic surgeon, came to consult about his son who had an extreme cleft through his nose, palate and lip. At the time, the boy was 17 years old and had already undergone 30 surgeries prior to seeing Dr. Luftman. Dr. Luftman assembled a team to do the surgery. The boy had an opening for his nose but Dr. Luftman wanted to make a true nose for him. Dr. Luftman used an expander in the boy's forehead to harvest enough tissue to create a nasal covering, used some of the surrounding tissue to line the nose, and harvested some bone from his ribs to create his nasal framework. The morning of the boy's surgery, Dr. Luftman asked him if he were nervous. His answer was 'No' and he joked that he could have anything he wanted for dinner the night before and he had chosen barbecued "spare ribs" because he was having a rib removed for the procedure! Happily, all went well and this young man was thrilled with his new nose.
"These are two experiences that I will never forget," remarked Dr. Luftman.
When he looks back on his work history, he is most proud of his desire to help people. He believes aesthetics is just as important as reconstruction. As he explains it, "People often have a negative self-image which can be helped with surgery. Even minor corrections can be lifechanging. Someone who feels they have a disproportionate or unattractive nose can base their entire self-image on that one feature. Being able to give them a nose that they feel better fits their face and makes them feel better about themselves can change their entire level of self-esteem. That is an awesome accomplishment." Dr. Luftman feels very fortunate to have had five professors who all guided his Plastic Surgery training. One of his mentors emphasized measuring repeatedly while the other emphasized 'eye-balling". He saw both surgeons come out with good results. "There is a benefit to measuring – but the final result has to please the observing eye."
Dr. Luftman hopes to be remembered as a very caring physician who puts patients first. He tries to have time for whatever their needs might be. He tries to be very available and he gives every patient on whom he operates his cell phone number.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to his profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Dr. Luftman has been featured on the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement website. Please visit www.ltachievers.com for more information about this honor.
About Marquis Who's Who®
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #