Jeffrey Ascherman



Jeffrey A. Ascherman, MD is an Associate Professor of Clinical Surgery and the Site Chief for the Division of Plastic Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, where he has been an active member of the full time-faculty since 1995.

Dr. Ascherman graduated from Harvard University in 1984 with a B.A. degree in Engineering Sciences, and received his M.D. in 1988 from Columbia University where he was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. In addition to his expertise as a surgeon, Dr. Ascherman is well known for his frequent humanitarian missions to China and elsewhere to operate on underprivileged children who suffer from birth defects, burns, and trauma. The humanitarian missions to China, which occur about once a year, are funded by by The Children of China Pediatrics Foundation (CCPF). CCPF is a non-profit organization created by individuals who have adopted children from China in the past (CS Plastic 2006). During each ten day stay, Dr. Ascherman works with orphanage hospitals in remote Chinese towns to conduct reconstructive surgery on children who suffer from facial malformations and other birth defects which often prevent the Chinese children from being adopted. In addition to the surgeries, Dr. Ascherman lectures and trains local surgeons so that they can continue the treatment once the visiting group leaves.

Dr. Ascherman’s research activities have focused on improving methods of reconstruction for breast cancer patients, aggressive treatment for sternal wounds, and new techniques to stimulate bone formation. He recently completed a clinical study of breast reconstruction techniques--confirming the safety and effectiveness of the pedicled TRAM flap method (CS Research 2006). A separate study compared implant breast reconstruction in women who have had and have not had radiation therapy (CS Breast 2007).

Dr. Ascherman has published articles on a wide variety of plastic surgery topics that have appeared in the major plastic surgery journals. He has also presented his research at national and international conferences. Dr. Ascherman is involved with numerous research grants, including an NIH grant on which he is a co-investigator.

Selected Publications

 * Implant reconstruction in breast cancer patients treated with radiation therapy. Ascherman J, Hanasono M, Newman M, Hughes D. Plast Reconstr Surg. 117:359-365; 2006.
 * Abdominal wall morbidity following unilateral and bilateral breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flaps: An outcomes analysis of 117 consecutive patients. Ascherman J, Seruya M, Bartsich S. Plast Reconstr Surg. In press.
 * Management of sternal wounds with bilateral pectoralis major myocutaneous advancement flaps in 114 consecutively treated patients: Refinements in technique and outcomes analysis. Ascherman J, Patel S, Malhotra S, Smith C. Plast Reconstr Surg. 114:676-683; 2004.
 * Cranial reossification with absorbable plates. Ascherman J, Knowles S, Marin V, Prisant N, Hu G, Chiu D. Plast Reconstr Surg. 107:763-768. 2001.