WERE it not for his tendency to be sea sick, Richard Baynosa would have been a successful marine biologist.
But the Filipino-American learned to channel his passion for the life sciences and eventually became a successful surgeon. He is now one of the top level plastic surgeons at the University Medical Center (UMC) in Las Vegas , NV . In this hospital, the young physician does complicated surgical procedures that only he is qualified to do in the Silver State .
“I originally wanted to be a marine biologist, but then I found out that I get sea sick,” Dr. Baynosa told Asian Journal, noting that as a child, he enjoyed his science classes more than any other subject.
“I decided that I could combine my enjoyment of the sciences and actually help other people, (if I) pursue medicine, and ultimately surgery,” he said in the interview.
He added, “Originally, I was attracted to trauma surgery (because of) the excitement of saving lives and the unpredictability of the surgeries.”
But because recent diagnostic and therapeutic interventions have resulted in fewer operations in hospitals, the doctor chose plastic surgery as his sub specialty.
“It is one of the few surgical specialties in which everyone can judge your work because the operations are often external and visual, leaving minimal room for error,” he said.
It is this seeming penchant for perfection that guided this physician since the beginning of his medical career.
Dr. Baynosa finished his Bachelor’s degree in Physiological Sciences with honors from the University of California Los Angeles . He immediately proceeded to the university’s School of Medicine in San Diego for his medical degree. He then completed a general surgery residency in Las Vegas at the University of Nevada , School of Medicine in 2003.
The young physician went on to do numerous studies and research work focusing on microsurgery and plastic surgery.
Of the large body of research work he has done so far, he singled out one he completed at the University of Ghent in Belgium as the most memorable.
“The achievement that I am most proud of is being accepted into the perforator flap and super-microsurgery fellowship,” he said.
This fellowship gave Dr. Baynosa the opportunity to train under Dr. Phillip Blondeel, a pioneer of the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction.
The DIEP is a type of reconstructive surgery where blood vessels, skin and fat are removed from a woman’s lower abdomen. These tissues –collectively called flap- are then transplanted using microsurgery to the woman’s chest to “rebuild a breast” which have been removed as part of cancer treatment. Because no abdominal muscle is removed from the patient, they experience less pain after surgery and they enjoy a faster recovery.
Due to the complexity of this type of surgery, very few hospitals in the US offer DIEP breast reconstruction.
In the state of Nevada , Dr. Baynosa is the only plastic surgeon who is qualified to do this type of breast reconstruction surgery.
Of plastic surgery, Dr. Baynosa thinks it is essential in improving the lives of individuals. It is not just a branch of surgery that deals with “form and function,” he noted.
“I like to think that plastic surgery deals with quality of life. Ultimately patients are profoundly appreciative if you can improve their quality of life,” he added.
Last July, the Filipino-American physician was appointed medical director of UMC’s Advanced Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine Center of Excellence.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is traditionally used to treat patients who have suffered a diving injury. With state-of-the-art equipment, this is now also used to help heal burn wounds.
As head of this department, his administrative tasks include increasing the community’s awareness of the top level physicians, staff, and facilities that the unit is able to provide.
“We plan to conduct educational and awareness lectures for community physicians and patients to (inform them) of the potential benefits of HBO (hyperbaric oxygen) treatment,” he said.
HBO treatment is used for outpatient conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers and radiation injury to bones and soft tissue, he noted. It is also used for certain emergency treatments, which is not available anywhere else in Las Vegas .
In addition, Dr. Baynosa is also responsible for preparing the department for Level I accreditation from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society.
This accreditation is recognition of the highest level of service that a hospital’s hyperbaric treatment department provides. Dr. Baynosa said UMC’s Hyperbaric Medicine Center already provides twenty-four availability for all types of emergencies including decompression sickness and carbon monoxide poisoning.
“If successful, we will be the first and only center in Nevada to achieve Level I accreditation,” he said.
The Fil-Am surgeon’s recent appointment is a testament to the respect that he has earned in his profession.
Aside from his passion for medicine, he noted it was his proclivity to work hard that allowed him to reach his achievements at a young age. To this he credits his Filipino roots, particularly, his family as inspiration.
“The most important Filipino values that have helped me reach my goals are the traits of hard work and utang na loob,” he said.
“My mother, in particular, worked extremely hard in coming to America by herself and succeeding in a career in accounting,” he added, noting that this is despite supporting family members in the Philippines because his grandfather was killed fighting during World War II.
When she became a US citizen, she petitioned for her spouse, Dr. Baynosa’s father, who was equally hard-working, and who gave financial support to his six siblings as their parents died while the siblings were young.
“Knowing how hard my parents worked and the sacrifices they endured helped me to always continue to do my best throughout college, medical school, and residency,” Dr. Baynosa said.
“I’ve always felt a profound gratitude and indebtedness to my parents for all of their hard work and sacrifices in order to improve the lives of myself and my sister,” he added.
This deep gratitude translates to pride that the Fil-Am surgeon feels about his Filipino roots. At the same time, it is a strong tie that binds him to his family as well.
He and his wife –a surgical breast oncologist in Las Vegas- fly to Santa Rosa , Laguna regularly to visit his maternal and paternal relatives who live there.
“We try to make it a point to go back home to visit once a year, particularly so our two year old daughter can get to know all of her family and be proud of her heritage,” he said.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Weekend Oct. 22-25, 2011 Sec A pg.10)
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