Awards Received by PRMA Plastic Surgery

PRMA Named Healthcare Hero – Wins Healthcare Innovator Award

The winners of the Healthcare Hero award were announced this past Friday, recognizing some of San Antonio’s leaders in the health and biomedical fields.

Out of more than 75 nominations, the doctors and staff of PRMA are honored to be the 2013 winners of the Healthcare Innovator award for innovative technology, procedures, programs and services.

The winners were highlighted in the San Antonio Business Journal and will be recognized at the awards reception, May 15th at the McNay Art Museum.

Here are some of the highlights from PRMA’s article in the journal:

• When did the organization hit its stride? In 2005-2006 the practice went from three to four doctors and started utilizing the internet to get the word out about the practice.
• What gets the team up out of bed in the morning? A passion for our patients, for microsurgery and a mission to be the best plastic surgery team in the country.
• Dispel a myth about your field: That plastic surgeons don’t make scars. Untrue! We are just more talented and meticulous at closing wounds. Unfortunately, the scars are sometimes unpredictable.
• What are the organizations plans for the future? To offer our services to more out of state patients, increase awareness of breast reconstruction options, publish our results consistently in surgical journals and continued growth into other areas of San Antonio outside of the Medical Center.
• What accomplishment are you most proud of? The practice has performed over 5,000 breast reconstructions to date. We have extremely high satisfaction rates and have a 99 percent success rate for breast reconstruction outcomes.

Dr. Pisano has been named a San Antonio Healthcare Hero for 2014 by the San Antonio Better Business Journal!

Out of many nominations, Dr. Pisano is honored to be a 2014 winner for Outstanding Physician.

The winners were highlighted in the San Antonio Business Journal and were recognized at the awards reception this evening at the McNay Art Museum.

Here are some of the highlights from PRMA’s article in the journal:

• What gets you out of bed in the morning? Helping women who have had ablative breast surgery.
• What is your biggest lesson learned? To have a vision and to pursue it with dogged determination. People thought Dr. Ledoux and I were crazy when we came to San Antonio wanting to do tissue transplant reconstruction. We pursued our vision; we were persistent. Today, we perform 550-600 tissue transplant reconstructions per year.
• Of what are you a proponent? For passage of the bill circulating Congress that would mandate that patients be informed that breast reconstruction is an option.

PRMA Plastic Surgery is honored to have Dr.Steven Pisano named on the 2015-2016 Best Doctors in America® List. Doctors in more than 40 specialties and 400 subspecialties of medicine appear on this year’s list.

This is a prestigious honor, given to roughly five percent of practicing physicians in the United States as nominated and voted on by their peers.

Congratulations Dr. Pisano!

PRMA Surgeons Named the Best of 2016 by San Antonio Scene Magazine

The results of Scene Magazine’s eleventh annual peer survey for the Best of 2016 Doctors and Dentists are out! We are excited to announce the surgeons of PRMA were all nominated and selected for the Best of Plastic Surgeons!

“It is an honor to be recognized by our peers! We love what we do and it shows,” says PRMA’s Dr. Gary Arishita.

PRMA is dedicated to promoting an environment of compassion, concern and support for every patient and their family. We are one of the leading breast reconstruction practices in the world, routinely welcoming out-of-state and international patients. We specialize in state-of-the-art breast reconstruction techniques that use the patient’s own tissue to reconstruct a “natural”, warm, soft breast. These techniques include the DIEP, SIEA, GAP, and TUG flap procedures.

We have performed over 6,000 tissue flap breast reconstructions to date and typically perform more than 500 DIEP flaps per year.

PRMA’s Dr. Oscar Ochoa awarded United ISD’s League of Legends Distinguished Alumni Award

PRMA’s Dr. Oscar Ochoa has been awarded United ISD’s League of Legends Distinguished Alumni Award!

This award recognizes the achievements of successful graduates and their notable contributions to their profession and community. He was recognized at a dinner held in his honor in Laredo, Texas on Thursday night.

Dr. Oscar Ochoa is a 1992 graduate of United High School. While attending United High School, he was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and lettered in track & field and was named All-District linebacker for the United Longhorns football team. Dr. Ochoa attended and graduated Texas A&M University with a degree in Biomedical Science. After completing his undergraduate degree he went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2001, where he co-authored seminal studies involving ultrasound-assisted lipectomy and treatment of common hand infections. He commenced his surgical training at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in General Surgery. With a strong interest in research, Dr. Ochoa was granted an NIH-sponsored research fellowship to perform basic science studies in skeletal muscle physiology, angiogenesis and immunology in 2005 leading to various scientific articles published in peer-reviewed journals. He subsequently acquired a Masters of Science in Clinical Investigation in 2007 from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Dr. Ochoa completed residency in 2009 and obtained board certification in General Surgery in 2010.

After completing General Surgery residency, Dr. Ochoa continued his training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Harboring a keen interest in microvascular reconstruction, Dr. Ochoa performed over 100 free tissue transfer reconstructions during his comprehensive training. Spending a significant portion of his training at world renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Dr. Ochoa learned cutting-edge surgical techniques used for varied types of breast reconstruction. He completed residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in June 2011 and joined Plastic Reconstructive and Microsurgical Associates (PRMA) in San Antonio the same year in addition to becoming Director of Research for PRMA. Dr. Ochoa became board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery in 2013 and has achieved the prestigious status of fellow with the American College of Surgeons (FACS).

“The League of Legends Distinguished Alumni Program recognizes exceptional graduates of our District who have set themselves apart by making extraordinary contributions to the communities they serve,” said United ISD Superintendent Roberto J. Santos.

Dr. Ochoa is actively conducting various research projects involving breast cancer and has given numerous research presentations at national and regional scientific meetings, including the Surgical Forum at the American College of Surgeons meeting in 2006. He has been the recipient of numerous research awards including the prestigious Cronin Award at the Texas Society of Plastic Surgery meeting in 2010. He is an active member in numerous local/regional and national plastic surgery societies as well as leadership/education committees focusing on treatment and delivery of breast cancer care.

Dr. Ochoa is a contributing member of the HELPS organization which organizes and conducts medical mission trips to Guatemala providing much-needed surgical treatment for patients with congenital deformities and various types of conditions requiring reconstruction. Dr. Ochoa is happily married to Rebecca Ochoa and the proud father of 4 children, Kayla (20 years old), Avery (12 years old), Aiden (9 years old), and Ansley (3 years old).

“What an honor,” Dr. Ochoa expressed when notified of this honor. “It is truly humbling to do something I love and give back at the same time.”

Dr. Arishita has been named a San Antonio Health Care Hero as an Outstanding Physician for 2016 by the San Antonio Business Journal!

He was honored yesterday evening during the award ceremony held at the Pearl Stables.

Dr. Arishita was surrounded by his family and friends along with his fellow surgeons and nurse to celebrate his accomplishments—a true testament to his incredible compassion and dedication as a physician.

The San Antonio Business Journal asked him three questions upon being recognized as a 2016 Healthcare Hero. Here is what Dr. Arishita had to say…

• Who was your mentor, and what was his or her impact on your life? I have had many mentors throughout my life but my Father had the most profound impact upon my life. He was not a medical person, but he was the person in our family that provided the care and comfort when we were ill. He showed me that to be an excellent physician, I would need to be a caring person.
• Tell us about a significant event that makes you reflect: “This is why I do what I do.” I was a 4th year medical student and had assisted with a latissimus flap breast reconstruction surgery. When we saw the patient the next day, she burst into tears after we removed the dressings. We were worried that she was unhappy until she explained that she had felt so deformed that her husband had not seen her undressed for the past 3 years. At that moment, I felt that I had found my purpose.
• What would you like to be remembered for as a Health Care Hero? I served in the military for 25 years before joining PRMA Plastic Surgery where I care for women fighting breast cancer. I have had the honor of serving with some truly outstanding medical providers. I am not a hero, but I have had the privilege to care for many valiant heroes. They have shown me true courage.

We are so proud of you Dr. Arisitha! Your heart and dedication to your patients does not go unnoticed or unappreciated. Thank you so much for being such a valued member of the PRMA team! We are blessed to stand and applaud you for this truly deserved award!

Dr. Ramon Garza III Named a 2017 Rising Star by San Antonio Scene Magazine

San Antonio doctors recently nominated their choice for up and coming doctors under the age of 35.

We are happy to extend our biggest congratulations to Dr. Ramon Garza III for being named a 2017 Rising Star!

“Dr. Garza is a truly kind and skilled surgeon,” says Dr. Pisano. “We are honored to have him on our team!”

“My experience with PRMA has and continues to be compassionate, warm, very informative, and very attentive. Dr. Garza more than met my highest expectations.He was exceptional in his care for me and was available at all times giving me peace of mind during my recovery,” says PRMA patient Sarah

We couldn’t think of a more deserving doctor! Congrats Dr. Garza!

PRMA Surgeons Named 2017 Best Doctors by San Antonio Scene Magazine

The results of the San Antonio Scene Magazine’s annual peer survey for the Best of 2017 are out!

Voted by their peers, the surgeons of PRMA have been chosen as the “best of” in the Plastic Surgery category!

“We are truly honored,” says PRMA’s Dr. Oscar Ochoa. “We all have a heart for rebuilding lives after breast cancer. It is great to have the support of our peers.”

PRMA strives to educate and support every patient and their family during their breast reconstruction journey. We are one of the leading reconstruction centers in the world. We specialize in state-of-the-art breast reconstruction techniques using the patient’s own tissue to reconstruct a natural, warm, soft breast. These techniques include the DIEP, SIEA, GAP, and TUG flap.

We have performed over 7,000 reconstructions to date and typically perform more than 600 DIEP flaps per year.

Way to go PRMA!

PRMA Surgeons Named 2018 Best Doctors by San Antonio Scene Magazine Peer Survey

Congratulations to the surgeons of PRMA Plastic Surgery | Center for Advanced Breast Reconstruction!

Each year the San Antonio Scene Magazine conducts a peer survey to select the top doctors and dentists in San Antonio, Texas.

The results of the 2018 surveys have been published and we are honored to see ALL seven of the PRMA surgeons made the cut!

“What a tremendous honor,” says PRMA’s Dr. Ramon Garza III. “We truly love what we do and appreciate the support of our peers.”

PRMA’s goal is to to educate and support every patient and their family during their breast reconstruction journey. As a top breast reconstruction center in the world, we specialize in state-of-the-art breast reconstruction techniques using the patient’s own tissue to reconstruct a natural, warm, soft breast. These techniques include the DIEP, SIEA, GAP, and TUG flap.

We have performed over 8,500 reconstructions to date and typically perform more than 600 DIEP flaps per year.

PRMA Named Best Places to Work 5 Years in a Row

The PRMA Plastic Surgery team has been named a 2017 Best Places to Work by the San Antonio Business Journal for the 5th consecutive year!

The team celebrated together at an awards luncheon where they were recognized as the highest ranking medical practice in the small business category.

“I’m honored to be a part of this amazing team.  Having the opportunity to serve our patients each day makes working for PRMA a tremendous honor,” says Patient Liaison Brittany.

Winners were chosen based on the results of an online survey conducted by Quantum Workplace and completed by the employees.

“We had a great time celebrating at the luncheon together and look forward to making the list again next year.” Kathleen (nurse at PRMA) said afterwards.

Congratulations once again PRMA team!

PRMA Plastic Surgery Honored as a Best Places to Work 2018

For the 6th consecutive year the PRMA Plastic Surgery team has been named a Best Places to Work by the San Antonio Business Journal!

This year the honor of Best Places to Work went to 75 employers in four categories — 44 small, 19 medium, seven large and five extra large. The Best Places to Work were chosen based on an independent evaluation by Quantum Workplace.

“I’ve had the privilege of working for PRMA Plastic Surgery for 5 years now,” shares Courtney Floyd.  “This is a truly incredible organization that values their patients and their employees.”

The team celebrated together at a western themed awards luncheon on July 19th.  The luncheon was a great opportunity to celebrate as a team.  At the luncheon they were recognized as the number 28 small business to work for in San Antonio.

“I feel honored to have the opportunity to work for a group of doctors who do so much to help our patients feel better about themselves. Each time a patient thanks me or tells our doctors how appreciative they are of the experiences they’ve had with PRMA Plastic Surgery, I feel so blessed to be a part of this wonderful team,” says nurse Corri.

Congratulations once again PRMA team!

PRMA Surgeons Named Best Doctors for the 5th Consecutive Year by San Antonio Scene Magazine

For the 5th consecutive year, the surgeons of PRMA Plastic Surgery have been named “Best Doctors” in San Antonio.

Winners were chosen based on the results of a survey conducted by San Antonio Scene Magazine. You can find a full listing of all the “Best of 2019” physicians in the December issue of the SA Scene.

The surgeons of PRMA are honored to be nominated by their peers for this award and look forward to making 2019 another amazing year of rebuilding lives after breast cancer by providing today’s most advanced breast reconstruction procedures. 

Dr. Chrysopoulo Named a 2019 Healthcare Hero by the San Antonio Business Journal

A big CONGRATULATIONS are in order for PRMA’s Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo!

Dr. C has been named a San Antonio Business Journal’s 2019 Healthcare Hero in the category of Outstanding Physician!

He was honored on May 23rd at the Pearl Stables in San Antonio surrounded by his fellow PRMA co-surgeons!

• Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in health care and why?  I was fascinated learning about the birth of plastic surgery during WWI for reconstructing gruesome war injuries.  Learning how to put people back together again and restore function was all I ever wanted to do since the age of 16.
• Tell us about a patient or case that upon reflection explains “this is why I do what I do.” One of my favorite patients traveled to PRMA from Arizona, as she didn’t want implants after her bilateral mastectomies and the DIEP flap procedure she was seeking wasn’t available locally.  She was so happy with her new, natural, warm, soft breasts, and recovering some feeling, she created her own breast reconstruction education foundation, The DIEP C Foundation, to advocate for others diagnosed with breast cancer, or at high risk of developing breast cancer.