History of the Institute
| 1951 | Establishment of The National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction (Then The Society for the Rehabilitation of the Facially Disfigured, Inc.) |
| 1954 | First International Tissue Transplantation Conference organized by Drs. J.M. Converse, B.O. Rogers and F.T. Rapaport (N.Y. Academy of Medicine) |
| 1955: | Founding of the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery (IRPS) under the direction of Dr. John Marquis Converse. Pilot clinic established at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. |
| 1956: | Second International Tissue Transplantation Conference. |
| 1957: | Grant from Avalon Foundation provides funds for the Lawrence D. Bell Professorship and clinic facilities. |
| 1958: | Third International Tissue Transplantation Conference. |
| 1960: | Fourth International Tissue Transplantation Conference. |
| 1961: | First graduate of the Plastic Surgery Residency Program Tissue and organ transplantation research that resulted eventually in the founding of the Transplantation Society. |
| 1962: | Fifth International Tissue Transplantation Conference. |
| 1962: | Establishment of the V.H. Kazanjian Visiting Professorship – Dr. Kazanjian initiates lectureships. |
| 1963: | Opening of the Institutes clinic and laboratories at the newly constructed NYU Medical Center. |
| 1964: | Sixth International Tissue Transplantation Conference. |
| 1964: | Publication of the five volume “Reconstructive Plastic Surgery” by J.M. Converse. |
| 1966: | Recruitment of Dr. Robert W. Beasley and the establishment of the Hand Surgery Program. |
| 1967: | Founding of Craniofacial Anomalies Center through the generosity of The Billy Rose Foundation. |
| 1967: | Seventh International Tissue Transplantation Conference. |
| 1969: | First international meeting on craniofacial surgery hosted by the Institute. |
| 1969: | First craniofacial surgery procedure performed by Dr. Converse. |
| 1973: | Publication of Cosmetic Surgery of the Face by Thomas D. Rees, one of the first books published on the subject. |
| 1974: | First infant to undergo craniofacial surgery. |
| 1974: | Award of National Institute of Dental Research Program Project grant on craniofacial anomalies (continued until 1992). |
| 1975: | First microsurgery procedure performed at the Institute. |
| 1976: | Establishment of the Microsurgery Program under the direction of Dr. William Shaw. |
| 1976: | International Craniofacial Symposium hosted at the Institute. |
| 1977: | Publication of “Reconstructive Plastic Surgery” (7 volumes) by Dr. Converse (Editor) and Dr. McCarthy (Assistant Editor). |
| 1977: | Dr. McCarthy appointed Associate Director. |
| 1978: | NFFR helped to encourage the founding of Forward Face, a support group to help patients and their families. |
| 1978: | Post-residency fellowship program initiated to provide in-depth training in hand surgery, microsurgery and replantation hand surgery, craniofacial reconstruction and esthetic surgery. |
| 1978: | Opening of New Bellevue Hospital. |
| 1978: | Replantation cases at Bellevue Hopstial receive widespread media coverage. |
| 1980: | Margaret Milbank Bogert Microsurgery Laboratory dedication. |
| 1981: | Death of Dr. John M. Converse. Dr. Joseph G. McCarthy appointed Director of the Institute and Bell Professor. |
| 1982: | The John M. Converse Library of Plastic Surgery donated by graduates of the residency program. |
| 1982: | Computer Imaging Laboratory developed under the leadership of Dr. Court B. Cutting. |
| 1983: | Variety – The Children’s Charity approved 10 year grant of $1,500,000 to establish The Variety Center for Craniofacial Rehabilitation to help children with facial problems. Led to the establishment of eight interdisciplinary clinics. |
| 1985: | Beginning of annual Aesthetic Surgery Symposium under the leadership of Dr. Rees. |
| 1986: | The Society for the Facially Disfigured changes its name to the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction (NFFR). |
| 1987: | Converse Professorship established. |
| 1989: | First mandibular distraction case (and first craniofacial distraction procedure in the world). |
| 1989: | Steeger Lectureship established. |
| 1990: | Publication of eight volume “Plastic Surgery” (Dr. Joseph McCarthy, Editor). |
| 1992: | Conference on Facial Disfigurement. JM Foundation underwrote costs for this initial conference that was the initial platform for the newly created Psychology Working Group. |
| 1996: | Appointment of Dr. Michael T. Longaker as the first John Marquis Converse Professor in Plastic Surgery Research. |
| 1996: | Center for Development Repair and Regeneration constructed. |
| 1996: | Mortimer J. Harrison Foundation begins financial sponsorship of pediatric patients with craniofacial deformities. |
| 1997: | Opening of the Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Repair. |
| 1999: | Publication of the Distraction of the Craniofacial Skeleton (J.G. McCarthy) – the first text on the subject. |
| 2000: | Establishment of Laboratory of Micro Vascular Research and Vascular Tissue Engineering and recruitment of Dr. Geoffrey C. Gurtner. |
| 2001: | NFFR celebrates 50th Anniversary. Special awards to Dr. Frances C. MacGregor and Dr. J. William Littler. |
| 2001: | Newman Psychosocial Program started. |
| 2003: | NFFR organizes Psychosocial Symposium entitled, Facial Difference: Beyond the Medical Issues. Awards to Senator Tom Harkins and Mrs. Betsy Wilson (MacGregor Award). |
| 2003: | CD Rom on Cleft Lip/Palate surgery by Dr. Court Cutting. |
| 2004: | CDC Initiative to document birth incidence of facial deformities. |
| 2005: | Fiftieth Anniversary of Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. |
