We are pleased to introduce our newest National Secretaries, highlighting their insights on the significance of their roles and what it truly means to be part of the #ISAPSFamily. Join us in celebrating these dedicated individuals and the vital contributions they bring to our community!

Thank you to all our National Secretaries, your dedication makes a difference.

Stanley Valnicek (MD), Canada

ISAPS: Canada is known for its high standards in healthcare and patient care. How can Canadian plastic surgeons share these values internationally, and how can ISAPS help amplify their voice?
VALNICEK: Canada has a combination of an excellent educational system, coupled with strong universal health care and a robust private cosmetic community.  The Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery annual meeting is always an excellent mix of presentations by Canadian and international experts, and well worth attending.  The majority of cosmetic surgery in Canada is still done by Canadian Royal College-certified plastic surgeons, and this allows for strong and unified standards of care as well as effective education and balanced regulation.  ISAPS shares these values, and Canadian plastic surgeons are becoming more involved in the international community through ISAPS meetings and publications.
ISAPS: Finish this sentence: Being a National Secretary presents a unique opportunity to ...
VALNICEK: ... introduce more Canadian aesthetic plastic surgeons to the international community.  I would love for more of my colleagues to attend ISAPS meetings and submit articles to the journal. The best way for all of us to move forward is to broaden our experience and education thanks to the incredible innovative advances of our global community in other regions of the world.

Angelos Karatzias (MD), Cyprus

ISAPS:  You have a Master of Science (MSc) in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair from the University of Cardiff. How does this technique relate to aesthetic plastic surgery? 
KARATZIAS: Aging itself can be understood as a process of incomplete wound healing. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors continuously cause cellular and tissue damage, and our body is constantly trying to “heal” this damage. From this perspective, the biology of wound healing is directly linked to the biology of aging. My MSc in Wound Healing and Tissue Repair has therefore been a fundamental part of my practice, as it allows me to understand how the body works, how it heals itself, and how these processes can be optimized in aesthetic plastic surgery. This knowledge is crucial not only for improving healing and minimizing scarring but also for addressing the underlying mechanisms of aging and enhancing the outcomes of both surgical and non-surgical procedures.. 
ISAPS: Finish this sentence: Being a National Secretary presents a unique opportunity to ... 
KARATZIAS: ... connect colleagues, foster collaboration, and represent the interests of our national community within ISAPS, ensuring that global advances in aesthetic plastic surgery are shared, adopted, and further developed locally. Coming from a small country like Cyprus, this role is especially important to me, as it allows me to help my country evolve, support my colleagues, and create meaningful connections with peers worldwide to continuously improve the standard of plastic surgery in Cyprus.

George Sulamanidze (MD), Georgia

ISAPS: Georgia has a rich cultural heritage and unique aesthetic ideals. How can ISAPS help Georgian surgeons share their perspectives and techniques on the global stage? 
SULAMANIDZE: Georgia’s unique position between Europe and Asia allows our surgeons to combine the best traditions of both regions and adapt techniques for patients from diverse backgrounds. Tbilisi has already become a meeting point for global experts through the annual “Kolkhida” Congress, which has gathered over 1,500 doctors worldwide over almost 20 years, and where several ISAPS symposiums have been successfully held. This October, we will host the ISAPS Presidents’ Meeting for the first time. With ISAPS’ support—through participation in these events and encouraging more Georgian surgeons to join the society—we can strengthen our role on the global stage and expand our professional community. 
ISAPS: Finish this sentence: Being a National Secretary presents a unique opportunity to ...  
SULAMANIDZE: ... showcase the expertise of Georgian plastic surgeons on the international stage while learning from the world’s leading specialists through ISAPS’ global network. 

Nimrod Friedman (MD), Israel

ISAPS: Israel is known for its medical innovation and technology. How can Israeli plastic surgeons leverage this innovation globally, and what role can ISAPS play in that?  
FRIEDMAN: Being a National Secretary presents a unique opportunity to share with the world the significant impact of Israeli innovation on modern plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine. Israel has always been known as a “start-up nation,” and our field is no exception. Just think about technologies opening new doors in regenerative medicine, or next-generation fillers designed for natural, long-lasting results. Combining HA with CaHA has redefined the idea of hybrid injectables, giving both immediate volume and long-term collagen stimulation. Israeli companies have brought advanced IPL and RF to clinics around the globe, pushed fractional RF microneedling to the next level, and innovated with ultrasound treatments. These aren’t just local inventions—they’ve become part of everyday practice for surgeons worldwide.

So how do we leverage this globally? This is where ISAPS comes in. By giving Israeli surgeons and innovators the stage through congresses, live demos, cadaver workshops, and online education, ISAPS helps turn local breakthroughs into trusted global standards. It also connects us with colleagues, researchers, and industry leaders everywhere. In short, ISAPS is the bridge that allows Israeli creativity to have a worldwide impact.

Luis Picard Ami (MD), Panama

ISAPS: What does ISAPS offer that is of most interest to potential members from your National Society? 
PICARD AMI: ISAPS offers a remarkable opportunity for Panamanian surgeons to engage with and learn from the world's foremost plastic surgeons, as well as the chance to enhance their skills and expand their professional network.

ISAPS: Finish this sentence: Being a National Secretary presents a unique opportunity to ...
PICARD AMI: ... to interact with the brightest and most fun plastic surgeons in 
the world.

 
Patricia Gutierrez-Ontalvilla (MD), Spain

ISAPS: As you transition from Assistant National Secretary to National Secretary, what, in your opinion, does ISAPS offer that is most valuable to plastic surgeons?
GUTIERREZ-ONTALVILLA: Having served for eight years as Assistant National Secretary, I have experienced firsthand the value that ISAPS brings to plastic surgeons: a true global family. Beyond world-class education and training, ISAPS creates meaningful connections, mentorship opportunities, and a supportive network that inspires us to grow as surgeons and as individuals. This human and scientific exchange is, to me, the most valuable gift ISAPS offers.
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GUTIERREZ-ONTALVILLA: ... continue serving my colleagues, to strengthen the bridge between ISAPS and Spain, and to ensure that our national community both benefits from and contributes to the society’s global mission.

Tung Dinh Nguyen (MD), Vietnam
ISAPS: Vietnam’s aesthetic surgery field is developing rapidly. How can ISAPS facilitate knowledge exchange and bring the latest techniques and research to Vietnamese surgeons?
NGUYEN DINH: I believe the ISAPS Visiting Professor Program is a great way to share knowledge, and by regularly sending international faculty to teach in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and offering live surgery demonstrations, for example, endoscopic facelifts, hybrid breast augmentation, advanced lipofilling techniques etc. Virtual and remote learning are also excellent for distributing information, including the ISAPS Video Library and the Mentorship Program.

ISAPS: Finish this sentence: Being a National Secretary presents a unique opportunity to ...
NGUYEN DINH: ... to serve as a bridge between Vietnamese aesthetic surgeons and the international ISAPS community, facilitating two-way knowledge exchange and bringing the latest techniques and research into daily clinical practice in Vietnam. At the same time, it allows Vietnam to share its unique clinical experiences with the world. It is a role that combines leadership, mentorship, and collaboration, ensuring that our surgeons remain connected to global advances while contributing meaningfully to the international aesthetic surgery community.

Click below to meet the rest of your country's representatives!