Sean Cantwell is a plastic surgeon and hand surgeon who offers a spectrum of reconstructive plastic surgery procedures for the face, body, and extremities. Dr. Cantwell was born in Orange County, where he remained through high school.
After graduating as valedictorian, he received a scholarship to attend the University of California, Los Angeles. He graduated with a 4.0 GPA and received Summa Cum Laude honors. Dr. Cantwell was then one of fewer than 2% of applicants accepted to the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine (the most competitive medical school application in the country), where he received two additional scholarships. Dr. Cantwell joined the Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency program at Mayo Clinic, where he spent six years learning the breadth of plastic surgery under giants in the field. While at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Cantwell published multiple studies in scientific journals. His work has been recognized by numerous national awards.
Dr. Cantwell was also honored with a national teaching award by the American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons. His exceptional efforts during residency resulted in the Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship Award, an award that honors the top six trainees out of the 18,000 total trainees across the Mayo Clinic enterprise; Dr. Cantwell was the only surgeon to be given the award his year.
Dr. Cantwell’s education culminated with focused training in hand and microsurgery at Mayo Clinic, considered one of the greatest hand surgery fellowship training programs in the world. There, he received the Alice B. Jensen award, provided to the most outstanding hand fellow.
Dr. Cantwell has always felt that Southern California is home. After completing training, he traded the long Minnesota winters for the near-constant sunshine of the west coast. He is grateful to be a part of the UCI Plastic Surgery family.
“The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered.” -Dr. William Mayo
The greatest lesson Dr. Cantwell learned during his eleven years of training at Mayo Clinic is that the patient’s needs come first. This value is his guiding principle in all clinical activities. It represents a binding promise to each patient he treats . Respect, integrity, compassion, teamwork, and excellence are inherent to this value and form the foundation of Dr. Cantwell’s relationship with each of his patients.
“I try my best to be a guide, offering patients every reasonable option available to them. I hope to be their partner, sharing in moments of decision making.”
Dr. Cantwell believes that collaboration with his patients is essential to identifying the best ways to care for them. He wants to learn about your goals, your expectations, and your preferences. He feels that the care of each patient is unique, and that your care should be tailored to you.
“Safety is my highest priority in every operation I perform.”
Part of the oath taken by every new medical student is “primum non nocere,” a Latin phrase compelling physicians to practice nonmaleficence. Dr. Cantwell feels that this represents the physician’s most important obligation to his or her patients.
Thorough medical histories and physical examinations, and nuanced discussions of the risks, benefits, and alternatives to treatment help Dr. Cantwell provide his patients with the safest possible care.
Educational Background:
B.S., Physiological Science
University of California , Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA
M.D.
Mayo Clinic School of Medicine Rochester, MN
Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN
Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship Mayo Clinic
Rochester, MN
