FPT September Issue
The Mark V. Connelly Award for an Outstanding ABFPRS Application
The ABFPRS is proud to announce that Dr. Cristen Olds is the inaugural recipient of the
Mark V. Connelly Award for an Outstanding ABFPRS Application. To give some context
to this illustrious award, please remember that Mark Connelly was one of the original surgeons
certified by the ABFPRS in 1991 who began serving on the Credentials Committee in 1998 and was appointed Chairman from 2003 to 2009. During that time, Mark loved helping applicants understand what it takes to not only become an ABFPRS diplomate—he also made sure surgeons appreciated the high and exacting standards ABFPRS certification represents once it is achieved. Mark’s influence impacted hundreds of applicants who went through ABFPRS credentialing during his tenure on the Credentials Committee.
In honor and recognition of Dr. Mark Connelly’s steadfast commitment to upholding and advancing requirements for ABFPRS certification in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, the ABFPRS has created the Mark V. Connelly Award for an Outstanding ABFPRS Application and will award it on an annual basis to a new diplomate whose primary application reflects:
*Application organization and attention to detail
*Operative reports that contain specific patient information
as it relates to the procedure being performed and includes comprehensive procedure descriptions, additional findings, and post operative details
*Operative reports that represent the depth and breadth of facial plastic and reconstructive surgical experience
The ABFPRS Credentials Committee and Board of Directors are delighted to report that Dr. Olds’ application and operative experience matched and indeed exceeded those requirements. Her attention to detail in her application and operative reports was: “Inspiring, to say the least,” noted Randy Jordan, M.D., ABFPRS Credentials Chairman. “Her operative reports should be utilized as stellar examples for other physicians to emulate.”
When asked about her impetus to follow the path of medicine as a career, Dr. Olds noted, “I was initially not inclined toward medicine at all and planned to apply to graduate school in Chemistry! However, I ended up acting as the primary caregiver for my mother after she underwent a complex cardiac procedure when I was in college. After her recovery, I ended up volunteering in the local Emergency Department to help other patients and families and ended up loving direct patient care. The rest is history!”
Dr. Olds completed medical school and her Otolarngology residency at Stanford University and then completed an AAFPRS fellowship with Dr. Jonathan Sykes before transitioning to become the director of a hospital-based facial plastic practice and medical spa in Billings, Montana with a diverse practice that includes complex nasal reconstruction, oculoplastics, facial trauma, and aesthetic facial plastic surgery.
The Credentials Committee was curious to know if Dr. Olds had any mentors who stressed how important it is to include accurate and detailed information in operative reports. Dr. Olds shared that,
“Sam Most, my residency mentor in Facial Plastics, used to emphasize that every detail is important in this specialty—everysuture, every piece of documentation, and every interaction with patients and families should be approached with meticulousness. He set an excellent example in terms of his own attention to detail in patient care, including complete documentation. Dr. Most is an excellent role model and I’m grateful to have learned from the best,” Dr. Olds confided.
Dr. Olds finished by sharing, “I have to confess that I’m generally a detailed-oriented person and a bit of a recovering perfectionist! I quickly realized in my practice post-fellowship that my patients were scattered across rural Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota and often required postoperative care or case coordination from providers across the region. Complete, accurate documentation proved invaluable in terms of communicating operative details and postop care plans clearly and succinctly. This ultimately led to better outcomes and patient satisfaction. After taking the time to ensure good record-keeping systems are in place, it ultimately becomes a habit that’s easy to maintain and solidifies my practice’s reputation for accuracy and excellence.”
Dr. Theda Kontis, ABFPRS President, added, “I agree with Dr. Olds completely and couldn’t have said that any better myself! The ABFPRS Board of Directors and I are extremely proud of her accomplishment and we’re thrilled that Dr. Olds is the first recipient of the prestigious Mark V. Connelly Award.”