C. Bob Basu, M.D., M.P.H. and Gustavo A. Colon, M.D.

I wish to thank Drs. Basu and Colon for serving as guest editors of this edition of Seminars in Plastic Surgery on the topic of “Optimization of Patient Safety in Cosmetic Surgery” and the contributors whose aid and counsel produced the issue that follows.

Dr. Basu is an Assistant Professor in the Plastic Surgery Division of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, where his specialty is breast reconstruction and aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. After graduating magna cum laude from Princeton University, Dr. Basu earned his M.D. and Master of Public Health (M.P.H) degrees from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston.

He completed his residency training in general surgery at The George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and his training in plastic and reconstructive plastic surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Basu's commitment to patient safety and improving surgical outcomes is reflected in his research, which focuses on outcomes analysis in aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.

Dr. Colon has a long and highly respected history in the plastic surgery community. He is an enormously successful plastic surgeon in the New Orleans community, where he is a Clinical Professor at Louisiana State University School of Medicine. He also has an established private practice in New Orleans, where he specializes in aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Colon obtained his B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and received his medical degree from the University of Maryland. He subsequently completed 7 years of postgraduate training at the following institutions: United States Public Health University, Baltimore; United States Public Health Services, New Orleans; and Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans. Dr. Colon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Colon has served on the American Board of Plastic Surgery and numerous plastic surgery societies.