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| Dr. Mark A. Melendez |
DERBY - Griffin Hospital welcomes Dr. Mark M. Melendez, an accomplished and
fellowship-trained plastic surgeon with extensive experience in advanced
breast reconstruction techniques
for breast cancer patients.
Melendez comes to
Griffin Hospital after completing plastic surgery residency training
with the renowned Long Island Plastic Surgical Group and fellowship
training in reconstructive micro vascular surgery at
the prestigious Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
He will also be a
member of the practice of Griffin-affiliated plastic surgeon John F.
Reilly, MD FACS, in Shelton.
Melendez is dedicated
to providing the highest levels of plastic surgical techniques in breast
reconstruction and will work closely with The Hewitt Center for Breast
Wellness at Griffin Hospital and its medical
director, Dr. Denise Barajas, a breast surgeon.
He is trained in
perforator flap breast reconstruction which avoids taking any abdominal
muscle or connective tissue by using small blood vessels which are
reconnected to the blood supply in the chest with a
microscope.
The most common perforator flap procedure Melendez
performs is the DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap, in
which excess skin and fat along the lower portion of the abdomen are
used to create a new ‘natural’ breast after a mastectomy.
He also offers SIEA (Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery) and TUG
(Transverse Upper Gracilis) flaps as well as tissue expanders, implants,
and fat grafting for breast reconstruction.
He will perform
the microvascular procedures in tandem with
Dr. Reilly at Griffin Hospital.
Melendez is also experienced in micro vascular surgery, reconstructive, cosmetic, and peripheral nerve surgery.
Melendez graduated
with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Binghamton University and
Bachelor of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Long Island
University. He also received a Masters in Business
Administration, graduating as the valedictorian from Harriman School of
Business at Stony Brook University.
He received his medical degree with
honors from Ross University School of Medicine and completed seven
years of general surgery training at Stony Brook
University Medical Center, including a two year clinical research
fellowship program supported by the National Institutes of Health.
Upon graduation from
general surgery residency in 2010, he established an annual research
grant award in memory of his grandmother, Esther Rentas, who succumbed
with leukemia at 76, to foster residents
in pursuing basic and clinical surgical research.
He has authored
several publications in peer-reviewed journals, four book chapters, and
presented at numerous national/international plastic surgery
conferences. He has also volunteered on international missionary
work to Ecuador and Vietnam operating with a team of specialists in
reconstruction surgery on adults as well as children.
For more information about Melendez or to make an appointment, call 203-924-2900.
The Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at
Griffin Hospital, 350 Seymour Ave., offers patients a comprehensive range of personalized
breast care and wellness services.
For more information about the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness, call
203-732-1300 or visit griffinhealth.org/cbw.
This is a press release from Griffin Hospital.
