We are pleased to announce Dr. Benjamin Van Raalte was elected the President of the Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons at the annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois on April 22, 2012. His term will last through the next annual meeting April 27-28, 2013.

The Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons (MAPS) has been in existence 51 years and represents board certified plastic surgeons in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Kansas.

The Association has an annual meeting that presents clinical and scientific research in plastic surgery. It also has presentations from experts in plastic surgery.

Dr. Van Raalte has previously served as President Elect, Vice President Program, Treasurer, and Secretary of the organization. He has completed the prestigious Pathways to Leadership program of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), which the primary membership body of residency trained plastic and reconstructive surgeons. He has been on the CPT committee and is on the Examination Committee, which writes test questions for the In Service examination for residents and plastic surgeons.

He also just returned from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery annual meeting.

Dr. Van Raalte states that he feels honored by his colleagues to be elected to the office and hopes to host an exciting and educational meeting in 2013. He also feels his commitment to education has helped his patients with fair and unbiased knowledge of the latest techniques and procedures, and the foremost in patient safety.