"People often ask me why I went
into plastic surgery. I remember the deciding factor very
clearly. When I was in my third year of medical school I spent
one month with the plastic surgery service. One day the plastic
surgery residents and staff physician were working on a 10-year-old
boy who had lost an ear as a result of a severe burn. The
plastic surgeons did an operation where they took a part of his rib,
carved it into shape of an ear, and implanted it in his scalp where
the ear used to be. I thought, "Great! I want to
be able to help people like this." Now I am a plastic surgeon,
and I am fortunate to be able to do what I love to do."
Kelly R. Kunkel, M.D.
Who is Dr.
Kunkel?
Dr. Kunkel grew up in Fort Worth.
He attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating with
honors. Dr. Kunkel received his Doctor of Medicine degree from
the University of Texas Medical Branch. He recognized early
during his medical school years that he wanted to become a plastic
surgeon. During his fourth year of medical school Dr. Kunkel
went to Basel, Switzerland to study with one of the pioneers of facial
reconstructive surgery techniques. Dr Kunkel completed a
residency in surgery at the University of Texas Medical Branch
hospitals (where he also won an award as the Outstanding Surgery
Intern), then moved to Seattle to study burn surgery at the University
of Washington. He then completed his plastic surgery training at
the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon, where the
program director was one of the innovators in bone growth and
regeneration. Dr. Kunkel moved back to Fort Worth in 1994 to
begin his private practice of plastic surgery. He is currently certified
by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Kunkel has been recognized by Fort Worth,
Texas Magazine as one of the area's best plastic surgeons in 2001,
2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005, and has also been recognized by Texas
Monthly magazine in its Texas' Super Doctors issue for two consecutive
years.
Dr. Kunkel is a member of many
professional societies, including the American Society of Plastic
Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Texas Society
of Plastic Surgeons, Fort Worth Plastic Surgery Society, Fort Worth Surgical Society,
Tarrant County Medical Society, and the American Burn Association.
In addition to his plastic surgery
practice, Dr. Kunkel believes in service to the community. Currently
serving on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Branch YMCA, Dr.
Kunkel has also served on the Boards of the Tarrant County Medical
Society, Women's Haven of Tarrant County, and Leadership Fort Worth.
He has served on numerous hospital committees, ensuring quality health
care for people living in North Central Texas. Dr. Kunkel has also
represented local plastic surgeons as an officer in the Fort Worth
Plastic Surgery Society and North Texas Specialty Physicians.
Hospital
Affiliations :
Baylor All Saints Hospital of Fort
Worth
Harris Methodist Southwest Hospital
Plaza Medical Center
Medical
Centre Surgical Hospital
Plaza Day Surgery
