Brief Biography

Dr. Ronald Zuker was born in Niagara Falls, Canada and received his medical degree from the University of Toronto in 1969.  After a rotating internship in Vancouver, BC and a brief period of family practice in Scarborough, Ontario he pursued his interest in anthropology and jungle medicine, spending one year working with the Shipibo Indians in the Amazon Basin – eastern Peru. He then entered the McGill University training program in surgery and completed the FRCSC in Plastic Surgery in 1976 through the Gallie Programme at the University of Toronto.  He received a one- year McLaughlin Travelling Fellowship to study microvascular surgery and paediatric plastic surgery in Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Europe. In 1978 he joined the staff of The Hospital for Sick Children as a consultant in plastic surgery. He was appointed as a lecturer in surgery in 1978 in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto.  Zuker was promoted to assistant professor in 1982, associate professor in 1987 and full professor in 1994.  He served as chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at SickKids from 1986-2002.

As a paediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeon, his primary interest is in facial reanimation and is the recognized worldwide authority. Dr. Zuker is currently co-director of the Facial Paralysis Programme at Sickkids.  He also has a major interest in the management of cleft lip and palate, and serves on the Plastic Surgery Council of the International Volunteer Organization “Operation Smile.” He was medical director of SickKids Cleft Lip and Palate Programme for over a decade.  

Dr. Zuker is the past chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Section of Plastic Surgery, past president of the American Association of Pediatric Plastic Surgeons, and past president of the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. He is very active in teaching and in the training of future reconstructive surgeons.

His clinical focus is on Moebius syndrome, facial paralysis reconstruction, tissue expansion in children, sarcoma reconstruction and cleft lip and palate.

He has lectured widely and is sought after as a visiting professor at national and international academic centres.

Clinical Care Activities

Facial paralysis in children, Moebius Syndrome, paediatric microsurgery, cleft lip and palate.

Area of Specialty 

Paediatric microsurgery, facial paralysis, cleft lip and palate, congenital nevi

Research Interests

Facial paralysis, extensive congenital nevi, paediatric microsurgery.

Achievements

• 1978, Niagara falls Chamber of Commerce Award of Merit
• 1991, First Prize for Best Clinical or Research Paper, EURAPS Annual Meeting, Rhodes, Greece
• 1992, First Prize for Best Paper (The Sirlei Rinaldi Prize), Rhodes, Greece
• 1994, Award for the Best Clinical Research Paper, “The Effects of Postoperative Continuous Passive Motion On Peripheral Nerve repair and Regeneration”.
• 1995, First Prize – Poster Competition, 11th Congress of the International Congress of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Meeting, Yokohama, Japan.
• 1996, CBC Newsmaker of the Week
• 1996, Distinguished Service Award, 2nd National Mobius Syndrome Conference, New York
• 2000, Family Advisory Committee Award – Humanitarian Nominee
• 2000, Physician of the Year – Operation Herbie
• 2003, President, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery

Publications

Zuker RM, Goldberg CS, Manktelow RT. Facial animation in children with Mobius syndrome after segmental gracilis muscle transplant. Plast.Reconst.Surg. 2000 Jul;106(1): 1-8 discussion 9.