Free surgery for survivors of abuse rarely makes headlines. The work of Dr. Andrew Jacono became an exception when a documentary series and a congressional commendation brought it to a wider audience.
The dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York has reconstructed the faces of more than 100 domestic violence survivors without charge. That work runs through FACE TO FACE, a project of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, where he is senior advisor.
On Television
In 2011, Discovery Fit & Health premiered Facing Trauma. The reality documentary followed Dr. Andrew Jacono as he operated on victims of domestic violence and other traumatic injuries. It later aired on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
Viewers saw two stories unfold in each episode. One covered the medical complexity of facial repair. The other tracked survivors through the psychological process of reclaiming their identities. The series shed light on a meeting point of medicine and social justice that tends to be overlooked.
In the Congressional Record
Earlier, in 2006, the Center for the Women of New York honored him with a “Good Guy” Award for advocacy and pro bono contributions. U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy also formally commended him in the Congressional Record for his work on behalf of women’s welfare through surgery and charity.
His fundraising added to that profile. He chaired ABOUT FACE: MAKING CHANGES, a yearly benefit for domestic violence survivors, for nine years.
Recognition has not slowed the work. Dr. Andrew Jacono continues leading international missions that have reached more than 750 children in countries including Colombia, Ecuador, Thailand, and Vietnam. He also trains younger surgeons as Fellowship Director for the academy.
Awards and airtime highlight only a small portion of what he actually does each year. The rest happens quietly, in operating rooms in New York and abroad, for patients who could not have found this care anywhere else. Read this article for additional information.
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