Dr. Austin Hembd: Rohrich Family Excellence in Plastic Surgery Award
By Harriet L. Blake
The San Antonio Spurs once again made the NBA playoffs and you can bet that Dr. Austin Samuel Hembd watched their games. Dr. Hembd was born in Houston but considers San Antonio his hometown. It’s where he attended high school and became a huge fan of the Spurs. His father is a salesman for Sysco Foods and his mother is a registered nurse for an ambulatory surgery center.
Dr. Hembd was fortunate to have a medical connection through his mother. “[It] was a great entry into the [plastic surgery] field once I got interested in medicine as I was able to shadow multiple surgeons that my mom did pre-op work for during high school and undergrad.”
He attended UT Austin, majoring in Human Biology and minoring in Philosophy and Physics before being accepted at UT Southwestern Medical School.
Dr. Hembd said Dr. Shai Rozen, Director of the Facial Palsy Program, has been a key mentor for him, guiding him in procedures and eventually in facial reanimation research. “What attracted me instantly was the degree of problem solving and creative solutions necessary for these complex, often patient-unique deficits,” he said.
As Dr. Hembd spent more time in the department and seeing other patients in clinic and post-operatively, he “felt that patient interactions in plastic surgery were very positive …. I think a large part of this positivity stems from the fact that the goal often involves operating on not only the human body, but on a patient’s perception of themselves.”
He notes that “restoring a patient’s function, appearance and their sense of themselves is a humbling opportunity that the field of plastic surgery offers, and it is truly something that I could work a lifetime at.”
In honor of his dedication and compassion in the field, Dr. Hembd is the 2016 recipient of the Rohrich Family Excellence in Plastic Surgery Award. The award recognizes a student who demonstrates superior dedication and achievement in research and clinical work. It was created to honor Catherine and Claude Rohrich, the parents of Dr. Rod J. Rohrich, Professor of Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Rozen said, “Austin holds many traits that are not often seen in one individual: indefatigable work ethic, ability to commit and deliver even after very long hours of work, highly innate intellect, combined with superb emotional intelligence, sense of humor, and excellent social skills.”
He added that Dr. Hembd’s “pro-activeness, entrepreneurial spirit, and problem-solving attitude have made him an indispensable part of the team often enabling the entire team to proceed to the next level. He has been a constant reminder of the joy of being a teacher in an academic institution where we have an opportunity to interact with the best and brightest of medical students.”
Dr. Hembd says that his time spent on the Parkland Plastic Surgery service during his third year of medical school was amazing. “The way this team, which consisted of Geo Tabbal, Menyoli Malafa, Megan Vucovich, Justin Perez, and Thomas Suszynski, embraced education and a true passion for the field confirmed my desire to be a part of this program.”
When Dr. Hembd isn’t studying, he enjoys watching classic movies and playing tournament paintball with a team of close friends.
Dr. Hembd is happy that he matched at UT Southwestern Plastic Surgery Residency Program. “I am fortunate enough to be learning from the best residents and faculty in the country for the next six years,” he said.
