Joseph Agris, D.D.S., M.D., F.A.C.S.

Scurlock Tower
6560 Fannin, Suite 1730
Houston, Texas 77030
(713) 797-1700

The impact of Dr. Agris' work has been frequently discussed by President George W. Bush. In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, the President shared these thoughts with 50 million viewers: "Not long ago, seven Iraqi men came to see me in the Oval Office. They had 'X's branded into their foreheads, and their right hands had been cut off by Saddam Hussein's secret police, the sadistic punishment for imaginary crimes. During our emotional visit one of the Iraqi men used his new prosthetic hand to slowly write out, in Arabic, a prayer for God to bless America. I am proud that our country remains the hope of the oppressed, and the greatest force for good on this earth."

IRAQ

1. Arranging for the transportation, housing, medical and surgical care of seven Iraqi businessmen whose right hands were amputated by Saddam Hussein in Abu Ghraib prison
2. Presentations at The White House, U.S. Department of State, the Embassy of Iraq, the U.S. Representative for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the U.S. Representative for the Kurdistan Regional Government, the American Enterprise Institute, The Heritage Foundation, Walter Read Army Medical Center, the National Press Club -- and for many members of Congress, the Iraq reconstruction community, and the Homeland Security community.
3. Formation of a broadband community of research and academic institutions in the U.S. to communicate, coordinate and collaborate with the Iraqi medical community.
4. Development of a high performance healthcare information system specific to the needs of the Iraqi Ministry of Health, Iraqi hospitals, clinics, mobile units, and NGO operations.
5. Development of self-learning systems to familiarize Iraqis with the use of a national healthcare information system.
6. Organizing a workgroup to discuss telemedicine technology and methodologies for Iraq, and development of a "global help desk" for the Iraqi medical community, providing just-in-time advice and assistance to health professionals in Iraq.
7. Mobilizing humanitarian medical tours in Northern Iraq to take on special cases requiring advanced surgery, build examples of family support systems, teach physicians and nurses in high-priority procedures and treatments, model multi-sector group problem-solving, introduce and demonstrate a fully functional healthcare information system, promote healthy living (with an emphasis on infant and maternal care), develop short-term and long-term treatments for victim rehabilitation and post-genocide recovery, promote technology transfer programs to stimulate local medical manufacturing, and develop public outreach programs to strengthen patient-doctor relationships.
8. Dr. Agris' work for Iraq will be the subject of an ABC-TV television special for airing in 2006. In 2004 and 2005, his work was featured in 2 feature documentaries by Don North, broadcast throughout the Middle East.

NICARAGUA

Following the Contra-Sandinista war, Dr. Agris met on numerous occasions with President Violeta Chamorro in Managua, Nicaragua and other members of the administration for advice and and assistance in rebuilding following the war.

Initiatives included:

1. Reopening the university and re-establishing the library in Leon.
2. Shipping hundreds of medical texts from the Texas Medical Center to re-establish the library in Leon.
3. Re-establishing the children's hospital in Chinandega.
4. Providing the computers and establishing a computerized medical system for the Southern Nicaragua (Chinandega area).
5. Producing and providing videotapes in Spanish for teaching.
6. Multiple trips to Nicaragua for lectures and teaching of the medical staff in Managua, Leon, Chinandega, Masaya, Granada and Rivas.
7. Multiple hands-on sessions with the doctors in the operating room, resulting in more than 6,000 surgical procedures I throughout the above listed cities.
8. Compiling a list of medical supplies, drugs and equipments needed in these hospitals.
9. Obtaining the equipments and medications through 501(c)(3), private industry, and government funding.
10. Advising on an ambulant system, including "boat ambulances" through the cities and towns along both the Atlantic and Pacific areas.
11. Continuing and maintaining these facilities and programs through the next two political administrations.

GUATEMALAN-HONDURAN AND GUATEMALAN-MEXICAN BORDER CONFLICTS

Advisor to both military and non-military facilities in these countries. Particular interest directed at traumatic amputees both upper and lower extremities, secondary to explosive devices. A second medical problem particular to the area is tropical diseases, specifically malaria for both troops and support units.

EGYPT, SYRIA AND JORDAN

1. Operation and presentation of lecture series in Egypt, Syria and Jordan to update the physicians on new techniques and procedures.
2. Lecture series to nursing and hospital staff to update them on new procedures in patient care and management.
3. Preparation of teaching videotapes for the doctors and nursing staff in Syria, Egypt and Jordan.
4. Establishing an exchange program for doctors to come to the Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center for continuing education.

RUSSIA - THE SOVIET UNION

1. Multiple trips to Eastern Russia to the cities of Perm, Kungur, and surrounding areas to establish teaching program and update physicians, nurses and hospital staff in this region.
2. Preparation of educational programs for the physicians and nursing staff.
3. Active participation in a hands-on surgical program every year for the past seven years, including the hospital physicians, residences and interns, and nursing staff.
4. Participation in establishing the first open heart center in Perm, Russia, for both adults and children.
5. Providing the equipment and medical aid necessary to support the center.
6. Providing physicians (chest and heart surgeons) from the Houston area to update and continue the program on a yearly basis.
7. Establishing a program for children and adults in plastic and reconstructive surgery in Kungur, Russia, including physician updates, teaching hands-on operative procedures, and supplying equipment and medical supplies.

CHINA AND VIETNAM

Similar program to that described above for both China and Vietnam. Participation with the Agris-Zindler Children's Foundation and with Medical Bridges for equipments and supplies, and the Texas Medical Center - The Methodist Hospital for accompanying nursing staff, anesthesia and medical supplies.

PREMEDICAL EDUCATION

Rutgers, The State University
New Brunswick, New Jersey 1959-1960

University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1960-1961

DENTAL EDUCATION

Temple University School of Dentistry
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1961-1965
Degree: D.D.S.

MEDICAL EDUCATION:

Albany Medical College.
Albany, New York 1965-1968
Degree: M.D.

SURGICAL INTERNSHIP

Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pellnsylvania 1968-1969

GENERAL SURGICAL RESIDENCY:

Jefferson University Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1972-1974

PLASTIC SURGERY RESIDENCY:

University of Michigan Medical Center 1974.-1976
Plastic Surgery Section

HAND TRAINING:

1. Thomas Jefferson University Hand Service
   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
   Rotation Hand Service
   Residency Program at Thomas Jefferson University Medical Center
   Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. Grace Hospital
   Detroit, Michigan
   Rotation on 1975-1976 Hand Service
   Conjunction with Baylor College of Medicine and
   Department of Plastic Surgery, Houston, Texas 1976-1980
3. Ben Taub General Hospital Hand Service
   Conjunction with Baylor College of Medicine and the
   Department of Plastic Surgery, Houston, Texas 1976-1980
4. Microsurgical Laboratory and Re-Implantation Surgery Section of Plastic Surgery
   Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
5. St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital Hand Surgery Service
   Houston, Texas
6. Texas Women's University Teaching Program
   Hand and Burn Lecturer
   Clinical Teaching Program for Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy at the Hand House of Houston
7. Director - Hand House of Houston for Hand Rehabilitation
   Houston, Texas

BOARDS

AMERICAN BOARD OF PLASTIC SURGERY 1980 - PRESENT

LASER SURGERY

• Laser technology and physics course - UCLA - Certified
• Certificates of training in laser surgery - Eight different lasers
• Course Instructor laser surgery since 1979 - PRESENT
• Lecturer: Laser surgery physiology & practical application
• Research: Lasers - on-going
• Video Production: Lasers - on-going

FELLOWSHIPS

• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons 1980 - PRESENT
• HOUSTON MEDICAL MUSEUM OF HEALTH AND MEDICAL SCIENCE
  Development Board 1996-97

A.S.M.D.

Chairman, Laser Safety and Surgery Committee, 1990 - PRESENT.

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

Member, Continuing Medical Education, 1980 - Present

TRAVIS CENTRE OUTPATIENT SURGERY:

Chairman, Quality Assurance, 1990.
Chief of Staff, 1992 - Present

BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE: Section of Plastic Surgery

• Instructor, Section of Plastic Surgery - Full Time 1976-1977.
• Assistant Professor, Section of Plastic Surgery - Full Time 1977-1980.
• Clinical Assistant Professor, Section of Plastic Surgery - Full Time 1980-1994.
• Clinical Assistant Professor, Section of Plastic Surgery - Full Time T.I.R.R.
• Chief Plastic Surgery at T.I.R.R. 1976-1980.

TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL 1976-PRESENT

TEXAS WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY - (Lecture series yearly) 1978-PRESENT

• Bellaire General Hospital, 1976-PRESENT
• Diagnostic Center Hospital, 1977-PRESENT
• HCA Medical Center (Med. Ctr. Del Oro Hospital), 1976-PRESENT
• HCA Women's Hospital of Texas, 1976-PRESENT
• Hermann Hospital, 1973-PRESENT
• Memorial Southwest Hospital, 1979-PRESENT
• Park Plaza Hospital, 1979-PRESENT
• Rosewood Hospital, 1976-PRESENT
• St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, 1976-PRESENT
• Texas Children's Hospital, 1977-PRESENT
• The Methodist Hospital, 1976-PRESENT
• Travis Centre Outpatient Surgery, 1985-PRESENT

• The Auerbach Memorial Award, June 17, 1965.
• Frederick James Society of Clinical Pathology, 1965.
• President's Leadership Award. Presented to Joseph Agris, M.D., February 13, 1993, Los Angeles, CA
• American Medical Association Physicians Recognition Award.
• Elected to Distinguished Physicians of America, November 1990 - PRESENT
• Certificate from the State of Texas, Office of Governor, Austin, Texas
• Named by President Bush as America's 316th "Daily Point of Light," December 17, 1990.
• "Torch of Hope" award presented by The Cancer League
• International Humanitarian Award, Houston, TX; 2005
• Humanitarian Award, Albany School of Medicine, April 2006