Special Interview with Prof. Samuel J. Lin

On May 24, 2025, the Editorial Office of Plastic and Aesthetic Research (PAR) had the honor of interviewing Prof. Samuel J. Lin - a distinguished author of the PAR journal, a board-certified plastic surgeon, and a prominent academic leader at Harvard Medical School.

About Prof. Samuel J. Lin

Prof. Samuel J. Lin, MD, MBA, FACS, is a distinguished plastic surgeon and academic leader. He currently serves as the Program Director of the Plastic Surgery Residency Programs at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)/Harvard Medical School and the Fellowship Director of the Harvard Aesthetic and Reconstructive Fellowship at BIDMC. He is also an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and holds an adjunct appointment in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Prof. Lin is dual board-certified in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery and Plastic Surgery. He completed his training at Northwestern University, followed by a microsurgery fellowship at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. In 2015, he earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

Recognized globally for his contributions to research and education, Prof. Lin has made significant advances in breast reconstruction and otolaryngologic plastic surgery. He has collaborated extensively with leading research teams and published over 300 high-quality papers in top-tier journals, such as Nature, Science, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, reflecting his deep academic expertise and influence in the field. He is also actively engaged in major international academic conferences and forums, where he regularly shares his research insights and clinical experience, contributing to the ongoing advancement of the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

The recording of this interview can be found below:

Q1: In 2025, you published a clinical research article titled “Working Toward Defining Frailty in Breast Surgery: A Multi-institution Cohort Study Identifying Risk Factors of Free Flap Failure Following Autologous Breast Reconstruction" in Annals of Plastic Surgery. From your perspective, what are the most common risk factors contributing to free flap failure in autologous breast reconstruction?

Q2: In 2023, you published an article titled "Comparing microsurgical breast reconstruction outcomes following postoperative monitoring techniques: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 2529 patients" in our journal, where you noted that current data indicates oximetry offers superior performance. What is your perspective on the potential of thermography as a postoperative monitoring tool?

Q3: Following up on the previous question, that article was published in our special issue "Complications in Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction: Management and Prevention your view, how has interest in this topic evolved in recent years, and what are the current key areas of focus?

Q4: We noticed that you and your team are actively working on 3D printing in plastic surgery. In your opinion, which areas hold the greatest potential for 3D printing to transform clinical practice and research in the field moving forward?

Q5: You’ve been actively participating in numerous conferences and academic forums. Could you share a recent event that stood out to you? What key discussions or themes did you explore with your peers?

Q6: Recently, with the rapid rise of AI in the medical field, are there specific areas in clinical research where you hope AI could provide meaningful support or advancement?

Q7: We can imagine that your daily schedule must be incredibly busy. How do you balance your busy research responsibilities with daily life?

Q8: As a leading figure in the field of breast reconstruction and plastic surgery, what expectations and advice do you have for the new generation of young scholars and clinicians?

To learn more about Prof. Samuel J. Lin, please visit: https://www.linplasticsurgery.com/about/dr-samuel-lin/

Editor: Lilian Kun
Language Editor: Catherine Yang
Production Editor: Ting Xu
Respectfully Submitted by the Editorial Office of Plastic and Aesthetic Research