Richard Lewandowski Explained

Richard Lewandowski
Birth Place:	Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Occupation:	craniofacial surgeon
Education:	University of Queensland Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Eastern Virginia Medical School
Known For:	Being the founder of Operation Smile (Australia)
Awards:	Queensland Great (2004) UQ VC's Diversity Award for Almuni (2012)

Richard Andrew Lewandowski (born 1957 or 1958) is an Australian plastic and reconstructive surgeon.

He is best known for performing reconstructive craniofacial surgery for children and young adults with such issues as cleft lips, cleft palates and facial deformities.^{[1] [2] [3]}

In 1999, Lewandowski founded the Australian chapter of Operation Smile which was established to provide accessible surgery for patients from developing countries.^{[4] [3]}

Life and career

Lewandowski attended Nashville State High School and then studied medicine at the University of Queensland, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 1981.^{[1] [5]}

He then became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1990.^[5]

After completing his plastic surgery training in Australia, Lewandowski relocated to Virginia in the United States to study craniomaxillofacial surgery where he met William P. Magee Jr., the founder of Operation Smile who asked Lewandowski to accompany him to a surgery in Colombia.^[1]

In 1995, Lewandowski achieved a Fellowship Diploma in Craniomaxillofacial Surgery from the Eastern Virginia Medical School.^[5]

Throughout his career, Lewandowski has held numerous senior positions including:^[6]

• Director of Surgery at the Brisbane Mater Hospital
• Chairman and founder of Global Controversies in Skin Cancer Conference
• Chairman of the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital Craniofacial Unit
• Chairman of the Queensland State Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• President of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Society
• President of the Australasian Society of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons
• Chairman of the Greenslopes Private Hospital Plastic Surgery Unit
• Chairman of the Northwest Private Hospital Operating Theatre Committee

As the head of the Australasian College of Surgeons' state trauma committee, Lewandowski regularly spoke publicly about Queensland's poor road toll and deaths of children in quad bike accidents.^{[7] [8]}

In 2022, Lewandowski submitted a thesis to the University of Queensland for a Master of Philosophy degree.^[9]

Honours

In 2004, Lewandowski was named as a Queensland Great.^[10]

Lewandowski was the recipient of the University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor's Diversity Award for Alumni in 2012.^[11]

Notes and References

1. News: Scott. Leisa. 16 December 2018. The Queensland medical specialists delivering life-changing gifts for Christmas. The Courier-Mail. 27 June 2023.
2. News: . 4 November 2003. Operation gives Julian something to smile about. The Age. Australian Associated Press. 27 June 2023.
3. News: Karvelas. Patricia. Patricia Karvelas. 17 December 2013. Letter to Santa: Dr Richard Lewandowski . RN Summer Breakfast. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 27 June 2023.
4. News: . 9 January 2020. Operation Smile founder to speak on Aus Day. CQ News. 27 June 2023.
5. Web site: Dr Richard Lewandowski. . MediLaw Consultants. MediLaw. 27 June 2023.
6. Web site: Dr Richard Lewandowski MBBS FRACS CIME GEPI. . LexiMed Specialists. LexiMed. 27 June 2023.
7. News: Forster. Miranda. 3 August 2015. Calls for sweeping changes to quad bike laws after Queensland deaths . The Courier-Mail. 27 June 2023. The head of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons state trauma committee Richard Lewandowski said major injuries from quad bikes almost doubled between 2010 and 2012. “Quad bikes are inherently unstable and leave very little room for rider error,” he said in a statement. Children, who are often more inexperienced and careless than older riders, can end up dead or disabled.”.
8. News: Sandy. Alison. Kelly. Amy. 23 December 2011. Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson in impassioned plea for Christmas road safety . The Courier-Mail. 27 June 2023. Australasian College of Surgeons' Dr Richard Lewandowski said the increased number of passenger deaths, up from 48 to 70 this year, showed the need for everyone in the car to be responsible..
9. Lewandowski. Richard Andrew. 2022. The impact of surgical interventions on patients with cleft lip and palate: the burden of psychosocial illness in adolescents and young adults with cleft lip and palate. MPhil. University of Queensland. 27 June 2023.
10. Web site: 2004 recipients: Dr Richard Lewandowski. . 2004. Queensland Greats Awards. Queensland Government. 27 June 2023.
11. News: . 23 May 2013. Equity and Diversity Awards celebrate achievements . UQ News. University of Queensland . 27 June 2023. The winner of the 2012 Vice-Chancellor's Diversity Award for Alumni was Dr Richard Lewandowski..