Few surgical careers manage to credibly occupy both ends of the spectrum from high-end cosmetic work to remote field medicine. Dr. Andrew Jacono has built exactly that kind of practice, maintaining a New York-based facial plastic surgery center while leading international missions and serving domestic violence survivors through pro bono reconstructive procedures.

The foundation for this dual commitment was laid in medical school, when Dr. Jacono observed the life-changing effect of surgery on a young girl with a cleft lip and palate. The experience convinced him that surgical skill, once developed, creates an ethical responsibility to extend care beyond patients who can pay for it.

Domestic Violence Recovery

Dr. Andrew Jacono serves as senior advisor to the FACE TO FACE project of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, through which he has performed facial reconstructions for more than 100 domestic violence survivors. The program provides pro bono surgical care to individuals dealing with the physical consequences of abuse.

His work in this space reached a broad audience through the 2011 television series Facing Trauma, which aired on Discovery Fit & Health and later on the Oprah Winfrey Network. The show documented his reconstructive work with abuse survivors and others dealing with traumatic facial injuries, bringing public attention to a type of care that rarely receives media coverage.

The Center for the Women of New York recognized Dr. Jacono’s contributions with a “Good Guy” Award in 2006. Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy formally acknowledged his work in the Congressional Record. Over nine years, he also led ABOUT FACE: MAKING CHANGES as chair, an annual effort to raise funds and support for survivors of domestic violence.

Children’s Missions Across Developing Regions

Internationally, Dr. Andrew Jacono has provided surgical care to more than 750 children in countries including Colombia, Ecuador, Thailand, and Vietnam. He works with Healing the Children, the HUGS Foundation, and THAI Children, typically conducting two missions annually. Conditions treated include cleft lip and palate, microtia, facial tumors, and burn scarring, each of which can severely limit a child’s access to education and social participation.

To fund these missions, Dr. Jacono has completed climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro, Cotopaxi, and Mount Elbrus. His academic positions at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and North Shore University Hospital, combined with his role as Fellowship Director for the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, allow him to embed humanitarian values in the training of future surgeons. Read this article for more information.

 

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