The Reed O. Dingman Society is the alumni society of the U-M Medical School Department of Surgery Section of Plastic Surgery. It was founded to honor the immense contributions of Reed O. Dingman, MD, DDS.
Active membership in the society is bestowed upon plastic surgeons trained through the Section of Plastic Surgery Residency Program, faculty, clinical fellows, and those individuals who have a special importance to, or affiliation with the Section of Plastic Surgery Training Program or to members of the Reed O. Dingman Society.
To further perpetuate the ideals of excellence and innovation in plastic surgery, education and research that were so well-exemplified by Dr. Dingman, the Reed O. Dingman Society limits its membership to those who have met very specific criteria. These are detailed in the society's bylaws.
We host an annual dinner during the American Society of Plastic Surgeons meeting. Biennially on odd-numbered years, a 2-day scientific meeting is typically held in June to coincide with resident graduation.
Reed O. Dingman, MD, DDS, established the first Section of Plastic Surgery in the Department of Surgery at the University of Michigan in 1964. He served as head of the section for 12 years before retiring as Professor of Surgery Emeritus in 1976, and he returned to head the section for two more years after the untimely death of William Grabb, MD in 1982.
Dr. Dingman received his DDS degree and a MS degree in Oral Surgery at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and his MD degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. Additionally, he completed a residency in oral surgery at the University of Michigan. He was certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1940. Dr. Dingman completed a surgical internship at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine and trained in plastic surgery under John W. Kemper and Ferris Smith. He was certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 1949.
Dr. Dingman received numerous honors and awards throughout his career, including honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Miami School of Medicine, Clinician of the Year and Honors Award Winner of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, honorary Presidential Citation from the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and Distinguished Alumni award from the University of Michigan.
He was an innovator in the field of plastic surgery, developing new operations in maxillofacial and nasal surgery. He contributed extensively to surgical literature, and he was a world-renowned visiting professor and a member of numerous surgical societies. Dr. Dingman served as President of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, President of the Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation, President of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and Chairman of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
The Reed O. Dingman Lectureship was established in 1986 through a gift from Mrs. Thelma Dingman in memory of her husband. The purpose of the lectureship is to invite plastic and reconstructive surgeons of national or international reputation to lecture at the University of Michigan on topics contributing to the art and science of plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Reach out to the Reed O. Dingman Society's administrators for more information.
