INSIDE AAHS/ASPN/ASRM 2026: Stanford Plastic Surgery Recap

January 22, 2026

Stanford Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery faculty and collaborators contributed across the scientific program at the AAHS/ASPN/ASRM 2026 Annual Meeting held January 12-20, 2026 in Chula Vista, CA. The division presented research spanning microsurgery, breast reconstruction, nerve regeneration, and advanced imaging, while also taking on national leadership roles.

2026 Program Highlights:

AWARDS & HONORS

  • Arash Momeni, MD was elected Vice President of ASRM during the annual meeting.
     

PANELS & PRESENTATIONS

  • Catherine Curtin, MD participated as a panelist and speaker in ASPN sessions focused on multidisciplinary approaches to persistent nerve pain and surgical management of overlooked compressed nerves.

  • Arash Momeni, MD gave a keynote in a panel discussion titled “Is Obesity a Contraindication to Autologous Reconstruction?”

  • Anita Mohan, MD presented on the development of a large animal swine model to study nerve regeneration in facial transplantation research, addressing key translational challenges in regenerative microsurgery.

  • Dung Nguyen, MD presented on innovations in breast reconstruction, lymphatic surgery, and regenerative microsurgery, including work on omental-based reconstruction techniques and lymphatic interventions with implications beyond traditional reconstructive indications.

  • Robin Wu, MD presented findings demonstrating comparable outcomes between pediatric and adult microsurgical reconstruction using a propensity-matched national cohort analysis, contributing to outcome-driven decision-making in reconstructive surgery.

  • Pooja Yesantharao, MD presented multiple studies focused on advanced imaging and physiologic monitoring in microsurgical breast and extremity reconstruction, as well as research examining systemic and metabolic factors influencing reconstructive outcomes.


ALUMNI IMPACT 

  • David Cholok, MD (former Stanford Plastic Surgery Resident) presented research applying machine learning to predict neurologic outcomes and neuropathic pain following nerve injury and limb amputation.

  • Farrah Liu, MD  (former Stanford Plastic Surgery Resident) presented work examining physiologic and patient-reported outcomes in microsurgical breast reconstruction, contributing to a deeper understanding of postoperative recovery.

  • Katie Liu, MD (former Stanford Hand Fellow) served as a session moderator, offering a basic science perspective to complement clinical discussions during the meeting.

     

The next AAHS/ASPN/ASRM Annual Meetings will be held January 26–February 2, 2027, at the JW Marriott Turnberry in Aventura, Florida.