Dr. Jong-Woo Choi (J.W. Choi) was born in 1970 and raised in Seoul, South Korea. He earned his M.D. degree from Yonsei University in 1996 and completed his residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. from the University of Ulsan College of Medicine and a Master of
Medical Management (MMM) from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (USC), USA.
Dr. Choi is a renowned microsurgeon and craniomaxillofacial surgeon, currently serving as Professor and Chair of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea. His career has been dedicated to restoring deformities and healing patients through not only advanced microsurgical but also craniofacial techniques. By integrating both subspecialties, he has positioned himself at the forefront of complex reconstructive surgery.
Internationally recognized for his pioneering contributions, he has performed over 1,700 microsurgical head and neck reconstructions, including dynamic tongue and pharyngeal reconstructions using various perforator flaps. Dr. Choi has advanced the field of orthognathic and craniofacial surgery with innovations such as surgery-first orthognathic procedures without presurgical orthodontics and single-piece cranioplasty without bandeau techniques, supported by numerous SCI publications.
Dr. Choi is also an active researcher, focusing on bone regeneration using BMP-2, 3D-printed scaffolds, and stem cells, alongside advancements in computer simulation and 3D printing. In 2024, he achieved a world-first success in developing a sarcoma organoid, published in the Journal of Oncology and Hematology (Impact Factor 30.0), marking a milestone in personalized cancer treatment. He has contributed to several authoritative textbooks, including the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions of Asian Facial Cosmetic Surgery within Plastic Surgery, edited by Peter Neligan. Dr. Choi has received numerous accolades from the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons (KSPRS), including five Best Paper Awards (2005–2010) and the title of “Young Plastic Surgeon of the Year” in 2008. He is a frequent invited speaker at more than 5 to 10 international meetings annually.
His international experience includes fellowships and visiting professorships at leading centers such as the AOCMFS Fellowship in Hanover, Germany (under Dr. N.C. Gellrich), and visiting roles at Stanford University, Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland, and MD Anderson Cancer Center, working with renowned surgeons Sabine Girod, Eduardo Rodriguez, and David Chang.
Dr. Choi has served as Secretary General of the International Society of Simulation Surgery (ISSIS) and held key scientific leadership roles in Korea’s major craniomaxillofacial societies, including KSPRS, the Korean Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (KCPCA), and the Korean Society of Simulation Surgery (KSSIS).
He is the immediate past Chair of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Asan Medical Center, the largest hospital in South Korea. Dr. Choi currently serves on the editorial boards of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Annals of Plastic Surgery, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, and Archives of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, where he is also the Section Editor for Craniofacial Surgery. He is the current President of the Society of Korean Computer Simulation Surgery and President-Elect of the Korean Society of Head and Neck Oncology.
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