Our Founder

Dr. Peter Adamson is a highly respected Canadian surgeon and specialist in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS), long recognized as one of the outstanding facial plastic and reconstructive surgeons in the world. After closing his clinical practice in 2018, he has continued full-time volunteer activities as a humanitarian, teacher, mentor and leader in his field.

Dr. Adamson lives in Toronto, Canada and is married to Nora McKay for 50 years. He is the father of three children. Geoffrey, now living in New York City, works in finance in water sustainability; Heather is a Toronto based executive in an international hotel company; and, Elizabeth is a social policy researcher living in Nottawa, Ontario

1969 Trinity College, University of Toronto (Hon. BSc), Biological and Medical Sciences (With Honors)
1972 Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, (MD) (With Honors)
1972-74 Family Medicine Residency, University of Toronto (CCFP)
1974-76 Family practice, Barrie
1976-80 Surgical Resident, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS), University of Toronto
1980-81 Clinical Fellow, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tulane University
1980 Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada (FRCSC)
1981 Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology (DIP. ABOTO)
1984 Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS)
1991 Board Certified Diplomate, American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (DIP. ABFPRS)

Academic

1981-1991 Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto

1991-1999 Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto

1999-Present Full Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto

2008-2018 Head, Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS)

Medical

1981-1992 Active surgical staff, The Hospital for Sick Children

1989-2002 Active surgical staff, North York General Hospital

1981-2020 Active surgical staff, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network (UHN)

Below we have outlined the accomplishments and unique achievements of Dr. Adamson as a surgeon, teacher, leader and humanitarian. He is known as a disciplined and committed facial plastic surgeon of the highest order, an innovative thinker and doer. He is known as someone who always has made more time than one could ever expect for teaching, professional leadership and volunteer work for those less fortunate. Much of his time has been spent outside of Canada teaching, improving surgical techniques and helping those that need help the most. His story is compelling.

Here are some of those accomplishments and achievements which make him an outstanding surgeon and Canadian:   

• Active Staff and Consultant at our premier hospitals and academic institutions:
  • Toronto General Hospital (UHN); The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids); North York General Hospital
• His surgical techniques have been published in major specialty journals and taught at home and around the world
  • Especially recognized for his creative thinking in advanced reconstructive and aesthetic nasal surgery
  • Recognized by his peers around the world as a “master” rhinoplasty surgeon. Selected by peers as one of the top rhinoplasty surgeons in the world, a member of the faculty at the Second International Meeting of Rhinoplasty Societies in Miami in October 2018 – the only Canadian
  • Selected as co-chair of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Rhinoplasty 2017 meeting in Chicago. This is the world’s largest and most prestigious rhinoplasty meeting held every two years with 600 surgeons from over 50 countries attending.
• Other international awards given to him, indicative of clinical excellence in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, include:
  • Goldman Award from Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City, for innovation in rhinoplasty surgery involving a new conceptual paradigm for surgical management of the nasal tip (2014)
  • Honorary Member and Joseph Lecturer from the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery for Lifetime Contributions
  • Honorary Member of surgical societies in numerous countries, including: Australia, South Africa, Spain, India, Nepal, Pan Asia, and Poland
  • More than 30 Honored Guest Lectureships and Keynotes globally
• Awards made to Dr. Adamson’s Clinical Fellows for research performed under his supervision:
  • A four-time recipient of the annual Canadian Goodman Award for best paper on facial plastic and reconstructive surgery
  • Conrad Merit Award in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery given by the University of Toronto Department of OHNS for outstanding achievements in research and high levels of expertise awarded to 9 of his clinical fellows
  • Gillies Award from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for best basic research paper
  • Roe Award from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for best clinical research paper
• Over his many years as a scholar and practitioner Dr. Adamson has produced:
  • More than 120 peer reviewed papers and journal articles in all major medical journals relevant to his expertise; more than 50 chapters in major textbooks; more than 200 medical publications overall
  • Two books on facial plastic surgery
  • 26 Master teaching videotapes of which 12 have been selected by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for core training in American programs and international teaching. Dozens of technical procedural videotapes.

Because of the high regard he enjoys, Dr. Adamson is arguably the best known Canadian facial plastic surgeon at home and abroad. He is an articulate and compelling speaker, and has been sought after to teach throughout his career:

• His research, publications and teaching have been recognized through achieving Full Professorship at the University of Toronto in 1999.
• His teaching has extended to medical students, surgical residents, clinical fellows, and his peers, both individually and in groups, for 45 years.
• Practical aspects of his teaching focus can be seen in his active role at the University Health Network (Toronto General Hospital) and University of Toronto where he has given hundreds of Grand Rounds and teaching presentations to his peers and clinical fellows.
• Teaching includes not only surgical techniques and patient care, but also professional, ethical, leadership and motivational topics.
• He has been active for many years in preparing final year residents for their Royal College examinations leading to surgical specialty recognition – the FRCSC designation, and Clinical Fellows for their American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery certification examinations.
• Dr. Adamson has individually overseen and personally financed 30 clinical fellows (one per year) for a full year of advanced training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery; this training has included seven Canadian and 23 American clinical fellows; clinical training with him was one of the most sought after North American fellowships with 25-30 applicants per year.
• Annual travel abroad averaged 10 to 15 meetings. Dr. Adamson has visited more than 40 countries on six continents to teach and perform demonstration surgery. In addition, he presents at 5-10 local or national meetings annually.
• Mentoring numerous medical students, surgical residents and fellows, and peers at any given time on an ongoing basis.
• Hosted more than 90 elective resident and fellow rotations and more than 80 visiting surgeons.
• Publication of Fabulous Faces (2011), a highly acclaimed book enabling the public to better understand the implications of facial plastic surgery involving reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
• Member of numerous Editorial Boards and reviewer for specialty journals.
• Honored as a Visiting Professor to 24 universities around the world including McGill, Columbia and Oxford
• Teaching awards and honors include:
  • Samuel McLaughlin Foundation Fellowship in Medicine awarded for showing special aptitude for teaching and research in 1980
  • Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2000 from the Department of Otolaryngology– Head and Neck Surgery, University of Toronto “for exceptional commitment and dedication to practice and teaching combined with the highest ethical standards and professionalism”
  • Recipient of the 2013 American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Tardy Scholar and Lecturer Award which is given once annually to an Academy Fellow who is “a surgeon judged to have advanced the teaching and science of facial plastic surgery by virtue of unusually exemplary and unique teaching contributions and outstanding leadership qualities.” The only Canadian ever so honored.
  • Facial Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery India Trust (FRCSIT) created the Professor Peter A. Adamson Endowment to honor his teaching contributions and provide funding for educational courses for young surgeons in need.

Dr. Adamson is widely respected and admired for his strategic leadership. He is lauded nationally and internationally for promoting the development of the highest standards in his subspecialty, Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, within Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Adamson is an inspirational role model who encourages and guides those around him to make the most of their unique abilities and be the best they can be.  He is a collaborator and team builder and has a record of achievement in bringing major projects to fruition.  

Some examples of his leadership and character include:

Canadian Leadership

• John Copp Bursary, University of Toronto “for character, athletic ability and general interests in Medicine”
• Member, Varsity Blues Hockey Team. Bronze Medal, World Student Games, Innsbruck Austria – 1967
• President of his third- and fourth-year medical class
• Thomas R. London Award “for outstanding service in the advancement of athletics at the University of Toronto”
• Member and Chair of numerous hospital and university departmental committees
• Recognized by the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery in 2014, receiving its Lifetime Achievement Award which is granted annually to one person “for significant lifetime contributions as an educator and leader.”
• Leadership in the Canadian Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as one of its founding members and subsequently as President
• Honored Guest and Speaker, Ireland Academic Research Day, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck, University of Toronto, 2020
• Appointed as the first Head of the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Toronto in 2008. This was the first such division in the specialty in Canada.

International Leadership

• President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) in 1996, serving as the first, and still only, Canadian president in the 60 year history of the organization; his tenure was noted for fundraising of over $3.5 million along with purchase of a building to house the organization; numerous related roles and honors including Leadership Recognition by the Academy in 1988 and 1989 including an Honor Award from the Academy for significant leadership, the Rafaty Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to his specialty and an award from the Education Research Foundation of the Academy for his commitment and support of the of the mission of the foundation.
• Chair of the Fellowship Committee of the AAFPRS which spearheaded the establishment of its fellowship program which now oversees more than 62 accredited postgraduate fellowship programs in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in both the United States and Canada. For this work Dr. Adamson was awarded an AAFPRS Presidential Citation.
• Leadership in the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) where his responsibilities included chairing a team of 65 surgeons on a two-year project to develop the first-ever standardized certification exams for facial plastic and reconstructive surgery in 1988; this examination has become the cornerstone of the work of the Board and today over 1400 American and Canadian surgeons have taken these examinations and become certified Diplomates; he  served as President of the Board for three years between 1997 and 2000; his many accolades included the 2001 Schoenrock Distinguished Service Award, accorded “to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the integrity of the examination and certification process for facial plastic surgery.”
• Leadership as the first President of the International Board for Certification in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (IBCFPRS); this Board, founded in 2012 under his leadership, is expanding the examination and certification process in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery internationally with the objective of enhancing education and the quality of patient care in this field, including the creation of new international fellowship programs. Since 2012, 194 International Diplomates from 34 countries have become Board Certified.
• Following his presidency, a new position, Global Ambassador, was created by the ABFPRS and IBCFPRS for him to enable him to continue promoting the development of fellowship programs, and Board examinations and certification internationally.
• Framer and Advisor, Global Alliance of Certifying Boards in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, to establish and maintain the highest global standards of patient care through specialty certification
• Senior Advisor to seven different international surgical associations and boards