The honor, the William Wright Award for Excellence in Mentorship and Service, recognizes an AAFPRS member who has made outstanding contributions to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery through a continual commitment to mentoring younger members of the academy or service to the AAFPRS.
Travis Tollefson serves as director of the UC Davis Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Program.
Tollefson serves as director of the UC Davis Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship Program, where he has trained and mentored generations of facial plastic surgeons.
“I am honored to receive the AAFPRS William Wright Award for Excellence in Mentorship and Service,” Tollefson said. “Teaching the next generation of surgeons is the most rewarding part of my career. Knowing that the skills, knowledge and techniques I’ve shared will continue to benefit patients and their families for years to come is deeply meaningful to me. I am grateful to have mentored those who are pushing boundaries and improving care, both domestically and abroad.”
His commitment to education also extends globally through his research on outcomes for patients with cleft lip and palate. He has also spent more than 20 years teaching cleft surgery and advancing surgical education in Africa.
“This recognition reflects Dr. Tollefson’s extraordinary commitment to mentoring the next generation of facial plastic surgeons,” said Arnaud F. Bewley, chair of Otolaryngology at UC Davis Health.
“Through his mentorship, research and global teaching efforts, he has helped shape the careers of countless surgeons, extending his impact far beyond the operating room and benefiting patients around the world,” Bewley said. “We are proud to see him honored for the lasting difference he has made in our field.”
