Biography
Dr. Eugene Wu is an Associate Professor of Surgery and Director of the Burn Service at the University of New Mexico Hospitals. Prior to UNM, Dr. Wu owned and operated a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery practice focusing on aesthetic surgery in Beverly Hills and Alhambra, California. Dr. Wu is Board Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery and The American Board of Surgery. Dr. Wu is an Active Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Wu brings his artistic and surgical talents to Albuquerque. Originally, Dr. Wu is a native of Eugene, Oregon, wherein lies the origin of his name. At a young age, his family moved to the state of Connecticut. For his undergraduate studies, Dr. Wu attended Cornell University where he double-majored in the Biological Sciences and Chemistry. He graduated with Cum Laude in the Biological Sciences and Distinction in All Subjects. With an Ivy League education, Dr. Wu returned to his family and attended the University of Connecticut School of Medicine where he graduated with Honors in Surgery. Dr. Wu completed his General Surgery Residency at Tufts University-New England Medical Center Hospitals Program in Boston. He became Board Certified by The American Board of Surgery in 2005. In order to specialize in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Wu completed his Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Subsequently, he became Board Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery in 2008.
Dr. Wu has been involved in both cosmetic and reconstructive burn surgery. In addition to his private cosmetic practice, Dr. Wu performed acute and reconstructive burn surgery as a staff surgeon at the Grossman Burn Centers from 2007-2012. Since coming to Albuquerque in 2014, Dr. Wu has been the Director of the UNM Burn Center. Dr. Wu stays up-to-date on the latest in plastic surgery techniques. He has co-authored multiple research publications and presentations throughout his career.
Education
Fellow, University of Massachusetts Medical School
Plastic Surgery Residency Program
Worcester, Massachusetts
July, 2004 to June, 2006
Resident, Tufts-New England Medical Center Hospitals
General Surgery Residency Program
Boston, Massachusetts
June, 1999 to June, 2004M.D.,
University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Farmington, Connecticut
August, 1995 to May, 1999
B.A., Cornell University
College of Arts and Sciences
Ithaca, New York
Majors : Biological Sciences, Chemistry
August, 1991 to May, 1995
Certifications
The American Board of Plastic Surgery (Certificate No. 7567)
Initial Certification : November 15, 2008 to December 31, 2018
MOC - PS Continued Certification : December 1, 2018 to December 31, 2028
The American Board of Surgery (Certificate No. 50819)
Initial Certification : December 13, 2005 to July 1, 2016
MOC Continued Certification : December 15, 2015 to December 31, 2026
Achievements & Awards
- Honorable Mention for “Outcomes of Routine Staged Split-Thickness Autografting for Acute Burn Injuries: Identifying Risk Factors for 30-day Complications
”University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 6th Annual Surgery Research Symposium, 2020
- Certificate of Excellence in Medical Student Education
University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 2020
- People’s Choice Poster Award for “SAGE Diagram Documentation in Burn Patients in New Mexico: Room for Quality Improvement”
University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 2020 Annual Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Symposium, 2020
- Tufts University School of Medicine Clinical Associate of Surgery
Tufts - New England Medical Center Hospitals General Surgery Residency Program, 2003, 2004
- Physician’s Recognition Award in Continuing Medical Education
American Medical Association, 2002
- Honors in Surgery
University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 1998
- Cum Laude in Biological Sciences
Cornell University, 1995
- Distinction in All Subjects
Cornell University, 1995
- Dean’s List
Cornell University, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995
- The Cornell University Chapter of the Golden Key National Honor Society
Cornell University, 1994, 1995
Gender
Male
Courses Taught
- Resident Teaching and Mentoring
-Associate Program Director
University of New Mexico Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program, July 2022 to Present
-Chairman, Clinical Competency Committee
University of New Mexico Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program, July 2022 to Present
-Burn Rotation by All PGY-4 Plastic Surgery Residents
University of New Mexico Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program, 3-Month Rotation, 2016 to 2021
-Burn Rotation by All PGY-1 and PGY-2 Plastic Surgery Residents
University of New Mexico Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program, 1-2-Month Rotation, 2016 to 2021
-Burn Rotation by All PGY-2 General Surgery Residents
University of New Mexico General Surgery Residency Program, 1-2-Month Rotation, 2014 to 2021
- Educational Administrative Position
-Medical Student Plastic/Burn Surgery Clerkship Director
-Introductory lecture entitled "Overview of Plastic Surgery" and “Acute Burn Care” to All Phase II Medical Students, 2014 to Present
-Overall organization and implementation of the Phase II Medical Student Plastic/Burn Surgery Clerkship Rotation, 2019 to Present
-Overall organization and implementation of the Phase III Medical Student Plastic/Burn Surgery Sub-Internship Rotation, 2019 to Present
- Official Match Advisor for Plastic Surgery
Counsel UNM medical students interested in plastic surgery as they prepare their 4th year schedules and residency applications, select programs for application and formulate their rank order list, January 2023 to Present
- Other Teaching and Student Mentoring Activities
University of New Mexico Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency Program
-Faculty Mentor for Avra Laarakker, MD (PGY 6), July 2022-August 2023Faculty Mentor for Samantha Huang, MD (PGY 1), July 2022-June 2023
- Phase III Medical Student Research Faculty
-Research Mentor for CLNS 901/902 Research Elective I
-Mentored 3 Medical Students for Institutional Review Board Approval, Data Gathering, and Statistical Analysis in Preparation for Research Abstracts/Papers, 2019
- Undergraduate Students
-Faculty Mentor for Faith Ridenour, February 2023-Present
Research and Scholarship
- Original Research
Laarakker AS, Rich A, Wu E: Pavement Burns in New Mexico: Our Experiences, Treatments, and Outcomes. J Burn Care Res 2022 Jan 5;43(1):281-286. doi: 10.1093/jbcr/irab154. PMID: 34358305. Harrison JL, Whisonant CT, Wegerif G, Shahriari SRK, Wu E: Treatment of Trigeminal Trophic Syndrome using Scalp Based Flap Reconstruction: Case Report. FACE 2021;2(4):503-507. doi:10.1177/27325016211052934 Ali B, Wu J, Borah G, Wu E: Temporary Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix in Upper Extremity Salvage. Plast Reconstr Glob Open 2020 Jul;8(7):e2965. Nasraway Jr. SA, Wu EC, Kelleher RM, Yasuda CM, Donnelly AM: How Reliable is the Bispectral Index in Critically Ill Patients? A Prospective, Comparative, Single-Blinded Observer Study. Critical Care Medicine 2002;30(7):1483-1487.Wu EC, Barba CA: Current Practices in the Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism in Bariatric Surgery. Obesity Surgery 2000;10:7-14.
- Presentations at Professional Meetings
Keffer R, Ali B, Choi E, Andujo V, Chavez M, Elks W, Cooper S, Wu E: Outcomes of Routine Staged Split-Thickness Autografting for Acute Burn Injuries: Identifying Risk Factors for 30-day Complications. Poster Presentation, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 6th Annual Surgery Research Symposium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 2020.Elks W, Ali B, Keffer R, Andujo V, Chavez M, Cooper S, Wu E: Burn Scar Contracture After Routine Staged Split-Thickness Autografting in the Management of Acute Burn Injuries. Poster Presentation, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 6th Annual Surgery Research Symposium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 2020.Shahriari S, Ederle A, Wu E, Shetty A: Successful Upper Extremity Limb Salvage in an Uncontrolled Diabetic Patient with the Use of Cellular and Tissue Based Products. Poster Presentation, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 6th Annual Surgery Research Symposium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 2020.Chavez M, Ali B, Keffer R, Andujo V, Elks W, Cooper S, Borah G, Wu, E: SAGE Diagram Documentation in Burn Patients in New Mexico: Room for Quality Improvement. Poster Presentation, 2020 Annual Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Symposium, Albuquerque, New Mexico, March 2020.Harrison J, Wegerif G, Rosal B, Wu E: Treatment of Trigeminal Trophic Syndrome Using Scalp Based Flap Reconstruction: Case Report. Abstract Presentation, Mountain West Society of Plastic Surgeons 5th Annual Meeting, Snowmass Village, Colorado, February 2020.Wu E: The Use of Fish Skin in the Treatment of Pediatric Burns. Paper Presentation, 42nd Annual John A Boswick, MD, Burn & Wound Care Symposium, Maui, Hawaii, January 2020.Ali B, Wu J, Borah G, Wu E: Temporary Use of AlloDerm in Upper Extremity Salvage: Case Series. Abstract Presentation, 88th Annual Plastic Surgery The Meeting, San Diego, California, September 2019.Laarakker A, Rich A, Wu E: Pavement Burns in New Mexico: Experience, Treatment, Outcomes and Expectations. Abstract Presentation, 88th Annual Plastic Surgery The Meeting, San Diego, California, September 2019.Cohen-Kashi KJ, Christian B, Wu E, Rothkopf DM: A Unique Surgical Approach for Mucous Cyst Resection: A Curvilinear Incision from the Eponychial Fold to the Distal Interphalangeal Joint. Paper Presentation, 47th Annual New England Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Inc., New Castle, New Hampshire, June 2006.