Dr. Raj Vyas is a Professor of Plastic Surgery and Neurosurgery at UC Irvine School of Medicine, Vice-Chairman of UCI’s Dept of Plastic Surgery, Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery at CHOC Children’s Hospital, and Director of the UCI/CHOC Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship.
Vyas earned his BS with Honors and Distinction from Stanford University where he was awarded the President’s Award.
He obtained his medical degree from UCLA, where he was awarded the Longmire medal for top medical student and the Stafford Medal for top student in surgery. He trained at Harvard Medical School for Plastic Surgery Residency and completed Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship at New York University’s renown Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Vyas specializes in both pediatric and adult facial surgery. He focuses on reconstruction of congenital, traumatic, and oncologic conditions as well as adult aesthetic facial surgery. He has particular clinical interests in clef/craniofacial surgery, facial movement disorders (e.g. paralysis, synkinesia, spasm), migraine surgery, rhinoplasty, facial aging, and pediatric plastic surgery.
Through his leadership, service, and academic contributions to several national and international plastic surgery, craniofacial surgery, and cleft surgical organizations, Dr. Vyas is an internationally recognized thought leader. He directs several grant-funded global care initiatives and has partnered with multiple governmental, NGO, plastic surgery society and philanthropic organizations to develop safe, sustainable reconstructive surgery in low and middle-income countries around the world. His book, Interdisciplinary Cleft Care: Global Perspectives, is a leading resource for cleft providers and trainees around the world. Dr. Vyas is Co-Director of Research for SHARE (Surgeons in Humanitarian Alliance for Reconstruction Research & Education), the humanitarian and outreach arm of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is Director of Global Smile Foundation’s International Research Fellowship and he organizes GSF’s annual International Comprehensive Cleft Care Workshop (CCCWs) taught by leading global cleft educators and attended by several hundred global cleft learners each year.
Today, Dr. Vyas leads several multi-disciplinary specialty care teams at both UC Irvine and CHOC that focus on a range of facial conditions and disorders. He has expertise in microvascular surgery as well as computer-assisted virtual surgical planning. He is a pioneer in utilizing artificial intelligence and augmented reality techniques to provide remote surgical guidance and better, more precise clinical outcomes. He leads several grant-funded basic science, translational, and clinical research studies, many of which are linked to his passion for building increased global capacity for reconstructive surgery. Dr. Vyas serves as Chair of several impactful committees across several professional societies, has authored over a hundred book chapters and publications, and lectures routinely both nationally and internationally.
Get To Know Dr. Vyas
Philosophy:
Dr. Vyas’s believes every child, adolescent, and adult he treats must fully express their concerns, desires, and goals. Together, patient-specific treatment options are discussed in detail and there is a premium on collaborative, joint decision-making. Surgical plans are aided by the use of technology to provides virtual simulations or 3D models that improve surgical outcomes and efficiency. With a large population of pediatric patients, Dr. Vyas believes a patient’s journey and result are equally important. He prides himself on the quality of these lifelong relationships and is deeply committed to a lifetime of improvement aided by rigorous self-critique and study of surgical and patient-reported outcomes that guide opportunities for improvement.
Personal:
On a personal note, Dr. Vyas grew up in Southern California and enjoys playing tennis and going on hikes with his wife, two young children, and nearby extended family. He is an avid Lakers fan and loves to explore different communities and cultures across the world.
