Vanity 4 Humanity (Giving back what's lost)

The notion for my charity, Vanity 4 Humanity, came to me when I decided to fully concentrate my private practice on cosmetic surgery here in Manhattan, in 2008. This decision was due to the frustration that my office experienced when dealing with insurance companies. I've always loved performing reconstructive plastic surgery and I didn't want to give it up completely, I just needed to perform it pro bono.

Initially Vanity 4 Humanity's mission was to provide breast cancer reconstruction to the underserved female population in the Dominican Republic. This is my wife's native country, and breast reconstruction incorporates everything that I think plastic surgery is about. It's helping people after surviving cancer, it's creating a breast from various ingenious methods and it's incredibly gratifying work.

Therefore in December of 2009 we went on our first mission to D.R. and performed these procedures, as well as general plastic reconstruction cases, in conjunction with the Divino Nino Foundation. We are continuing these trips twice a year. Most total breast reconstructions require two surgeries and therefore by our going twice a year these women are being fully reconstructed in six months time.

The feeling of helping others in need on that first mission was something that my wife and I both found very rewarding. I reconnected with why I become a doctor, so when the Haitian earthquake struck in early 2010 I decided to go try to help. With my wife's organizational skills here in the office and the contributions of many friends and patients we were able to provide equipment and continued Plastic Surgery coverage at the facility I was at, until the need subsided. That experience allowed me to be part of a disaster relief effort which I would like to do again in the future, should the opportunity arise.

Vanity 4 Humanity's evolution from solely performing breast reconstruction to include general plastic reconstruction and then disaster relief has been a wonderful thing to be a part of. I've met some incredible patients, doctors and laypeople along the way. All the while continually being amazed by what the human spirit is capable of.

Please click the link below to go to the official Vanity 4 Humanity website where you'll find our charity's blog, photos of our missions, videos, and a contact form to sign up for our charity events mailing list. These charity events will be held here in Manhattan to raise the necessary funds to support our cause. Your support will be greatly appreciated. We'll also be sure to keep you informed of our latest mission, and to update you on the stories of some of the patients we've helped.

Thank you, I hope you can help us continue "giving back what's lost" by providing reconstructive plastic surgery to those less fortunate then ourselves.

Dr. Roland
Vanity 4 Humanity

About The Doctor

Donald Roland, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Dr. Donald Roland began to build the foundation for his cosmetic surgery practice as an undergraduate at The George Washington University, where he majored in biology and minored in both art history and psychology. Subsequent to graduating with honors and receiving the James McBride Sterett Jr. Award in Physics, Dr. Roland earned his medical degree at the prestigious New York University School of Medicine. This is where Dr. Roland's exposure to Plastic Surgery first began. As a young medical student on his nights off, Dr. Roland would often participate in long surgeries continuing into the early morning hours at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan.

During Dr. Roland's post-graduate training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, he completed his Plastic Surgery residency within the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Roland was recognized upon his graduation for outstanding achievement by receiving the Leo M. Davidoff Award for his teaching of Plastic Surgery. In addition, Dr. Roland devoted a year to research during his training, as the Jacques Maliniac Microsurgery fellow, where he conducted groundbreaking research on the effects of pulsed magnetic energy on new blood vessel formation.

Dr. Roland is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgeons, New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Burn Association, and the American Medical Association. In addition to his private cosmetic practice, Dr. Roland takes pride in his teaching Plastic Surgery Residents the finer points of cosmetic and microsurgical techniques for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.

Dr. Roland brings his many years of expertise in Plastic Surgery as well as his broad education and artistic talent to his cosmetic practice. Many lunchtime procedures, such as Botox, are performed in Dr. Roland's aesthetically calming office environment, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. More elaborate procedures are performed in Manhattan's desirable hospitals and surgicenters with which Dr. Roland is affiliated.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Montefiore Medical Center, NY
- Plastic Surgery. Residency: July 1997 - June 1999
- Jacques Maliniac Microsurgery Fellowship: July 1996 - June 1997
- General Surgery Residency: July 1993 - June 1996

New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. - M.D. May 1993
George Washington University, Washington, D.C. - B.S. May 1988

Diplomate, American Board of Plastic Surgery
New York State Medical License

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Assistant Clinical Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
Park Avenue Plastic Surgery Center
Jack D. Weiler Hospital
Montefiore Medical Center
Jacobi Medical Center
Mount Vernon Hospital