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Maliniac Circle welcomes youngest member
By Lauren Kulchawik

The Maliniac Circle is an opportunity for all ASPS members – at any stage of their careers – to make a donation to PSEF to support future research and educational programs.

Stephen Ronan, MD, an ASPS candidate-member, exemplify the fact that it is never too early, or too late, to become a Maliniac Fellow.

Stephen Ronan, MD

At age 32, Dr. Ronan is the youngest member to join the Maliniac Circle. He hopes that other young plastic surgeons will follow his lead in making a deferred contribution to PSEF.

“I think it’s a duty of every plastic surgeon to support the future of plastic surgery,” Dr. Ronan says. “It makes sense for everyone to join. It’s relatively inexpensive for young surgeons to make this commitment through a life insurance policy.”
Dr. Ronan and his wife, Leslie Ronan, formerly a pharmacist, fully agreed that their deferred contribution would be directed to a worthy and noble specialty. Dr. Ronan believes strongly in the society’s ideals for membership: board-certification and years of surgical training. If he could direct his contribution toward a particular cause, he says, “I might suggest that we do a better job of educating the public about the difference between a [board-certified] plastic surgeon and a ‘cosmetic’ surgeon.”

Dr. Ronan grew up in northern California and attended University of California-Davis as an undergraduate. For 10 years, he attended the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) in Richmond, where he obtained his medical degree and completed his general and plastic surgery residencies. He was the first resident to study in the MCV’s integrated general and plastic surgery residency program under ASPS mentors Austin Mehrhof, MD, chair of plastic surgery at MCV, and I. Kelman Cohen, MD, founder of the program.

As he neared the end of his residency, Dr. Ronan made an enduring commitment to fund the future of the specialty – he not only chose to join the Maliniac Circle, but also to make a similar contribution to his training program through MCV’s Heritage Foundation.

“If all of us make this a priority, imagine the cumulative effect of this type of funding – it’s staggering,” he says.

Dr. Ronan considers his father, who died last year from esophageal cancer, to be one of the most powerful influences in his life. “[My father] was a tremendous individual,” Dr. Ronan says. “He taught me to be strong and persevere. I learned his lessons well. He has been the individual with the largest impact on what makes me, me. He was aware of and supported my decision to make contributions to both the Maliniac Circle and the Heritage Foundation.”

Currently working in private practice with his partner in Danville, Calif., Dr. Ronan specializes in aesthetic surgical procedures, such as breast augmentation, body contouring and various types of face lifts.

Dr. and Mrs. Ronan are the new parents of two children, a 22-month-old son and a 2-month-old daughter.

To contribute to PSEF or the National Endowment, call Carol Wargo, chief development officer, at (847) 228-3358.

Copyright 2002 The American Society of Plastic Surgoons. Reprinted with permission for one-time use.

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