Selected from over 150 entries nationwide, Journalists representing Allure magazine, The Los Angeles Times and ABC’s Good Morning America are among winners receiving top honors in the 2011 ASAPS Journalistic Achievement Awards. This year’s winners will be presented a certificate of merit and a downloadable presentation featured on the ASAPS’ website. ASAPS, founded in 1967, is the leading national organization of board-certified plastic surgeons specializing in cosmetic surgery of the face and body.
“These journalists have all done an exceptional job reporting about plastic surgery,” said Daniel C. Mills, MD, ASAPS Communications Commissioner and an aesthetic surgeon practicing in Laguna Beach, CA. “Each journalist has truly helped our Society emphasize the importance of patient safety and education on cosmetic surgery.”
“There were several published works this year that truly highlighted the importance of finding a board-certified plastic surgeon and the importance of patient safety. We had articles on everything from medical tourism to the controversial buttock augmentation procedures, and we really feel like these journalists are assisting the Society with our mission of educating the public,” said Aesthetic Society President, Felmont Eaves, III, MD, an aesthetic surgeon practicing in Charlotte, N.C.
Each year, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery honors journalists for their reporting on cosmetic plastic surgery. Entries are accepted in five categories: Television Feature, Newspaper, Magazine, Internet, and Patient Safety.
For the first time ever, ASAPS has two second-time winners for the Journalistic Achievement Awards. Joan Kron of Allure Magazine and Denise Mann of WebMD both won in 2004, for their commitment to patient education. This year, they both won again. The 2011 ASAPS’ Journalistic Achievement Award honors Joan Kron in the Magazine category for her article, Implant Nation, which appeared in the February issue of Allure Magazine. The article discusses a world that is obsessed with breasts, and it takes a look at the biggest news in breast augmentations, through the past, present and future. First place in the Internet category is awarded to Denise Mann of WebMD for her article, “Does this Surgery Make My Butt Look Big?” This article discusses the popular demand in buttock enhancement procedures, and the different procedures available.
Ju Ju Chang of ABC’s “Good Morning America” is the winner in the Television Feature category for her segment “Freezing Fat: Weight Loss Treatment Zeltiq Approved by FDA” which included an interview with a Society spokesperson, Lawrence Bass, MD.
First place in the Patient Safety category goes to Cristian Salazar of The Associated Press for his recognized winning article, “Despite Risk of Death, Disfigurement, Some Get Black-Market Silicone Injections,” which investigates black market cosmetic procedures and unqualified doctors performing cosmetic surgery.
Chris Woolston, of the Los Angeles Times takes top honors for his Newspaper article, “Stem Cell Face-Lifts on Unproven Ground”. The article discusses the potential advancement in stem cell therapy, and its influence on plastic surgeons offering stem cell face-lifts to bring new life to aging and sagging skin.
Members of the Society’s Media Relations Committee evaluated each entry for accuracy of information, balanced reporting, educational value, interest, originality, and journalistic style. Winners receive a personal certificate of merit and an awards presentation honoring the winners will be presented on the ASAPS website and accessible for download.
For more information on the Aesthetic Society’s Journalistic Achievement Awards, visit the Press Center on the Aesthetic Society web site at http://www.surgery.org.
