The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) announced that Justin Sacks, MD, MBA, the Director of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at WashU Medicine, will be assuming the role of managing director of ASPS journal portfolio.
In this newly created role, Sacks will provide relief to the increasing demands of the publishing and business aspect of scholarly journals. This role was created to address the demands of the journals Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and PRS Global Open, which are critical to the clinical advancement of the specialty. Sacks currently serves as the ASPS/PSF (Plastic Surgery Foundation) board vice president of finance and treasurer. He will provide financial oversight and lead long-term business strategy for the journals.
“The traditional model of medical journals is changing,” said ASPS President C. Bob Basu, MD, MBA, MPH. “The ecosystem of scientific publishing is rapidly evolving with digital technology and AI, and the expectations of authors and readers are changing with it. Plastic surgery is all about innovation and leading from the front in everything we do, and this new position dedicated to focusing on the business and technology aspects of our journals will keep PRS and PRS Global Open at the cutting edge of publishing now and into the future.”
Sacks, the Sydney M. Jr. and Robert H. Shoenberg Endowed Chair in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, brings a wealth of experience in cosmetic, oncologic, traumatic, and acquired defect reconstruction, coupled with an impressive academic background. Dr. Sacks completed his medical school and plastic surgery residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, followed by a basic science research and Hand fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and a reconstructive microsurgery fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
“I’m excited to have been appointed as the inaugural managing director of the ASPS journal portfolio,” Sacks said. “This new role focuses on driving strategy, operations, marketing, finances, embracing digital innovation, and integrating AI to enhance the publishing experience for authors and readers alike. I am beyond thrilled to collaborate with the incoming PRS editor-in-chief, Samuel J. Lin, MD, MBA, and PRS Global Open editor-in-chief, Jeff Janis, MD, as we chart a bold future for these cornerstone journals in our specialty.”
ASPS is the largest organization of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world, representing more than 11,000 physician members worldwide. The mission of the ASPS is to advance quality care for plastic surgery patients by encouraging high standards of training, ethics, physician practice and research in plastic surgery. As the society embarks on a bold new chapter in plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Sacks’ leadership is expected to drive significant advancements and maintain the high standards of the plastic surgery community’s values.