Donald Laub
Donald R. Laub Sr. (born January 1, 1935) is a retired plastic surgeon who led multidisciplinary teams on reconstructive surgery missions to developing countries. He completed his undergraduate studies at Marquette University and earned an MD from the Marquette University School of Medicine in 1960. After completing his internship at the Yale School of Medicine, he moved westward to Stanford University, where he assumed an assistant professorship and co-founded a 6 year integrated surgical residency program as well as the Stanford Primacy Care Associate Program. He then served as chief of Plastic Surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine from 1968 to 1980, before entering private practice.In 1965, 13 year-old Antonio Victoria arrived at Stanford University Medical Center from his home in Mexicali, Mexico, where his cleft lip and palate had made him a social pariah. He had no education and no chance for social advancement, but was otherwise normal. Another surgeon was able to restore the boy’s appearance with a mere three operations, allowing him to continue in life as a happy, productive member of society where once he had been shunned. Victoria inspired Laub to transition from Physician Researcher to Physician Educator.In 1969, Laub founded Interplast (now called ReSurge International) with the mission of transforming lives through the art of plastic and reconstructive surgery. He became the first academic to develop and lead multidisciplinary teams on humanitarian surgical trips to developing countries. Since its inception, Interplast has provided tens of thousands of life-altering operations gratis, established thousands of long-term international professional relationships, and turned on countless of medical professionals to the “helping others” way of life. The original spirit of Interplast has given rise to dozens of independent humanitarian medical organizations worldwide, including Interplast Germany, Interplast Turkey, Interplast Holland, Interplast Italy, Interplast Florida, Interplast West Virginia, Interplast Australia, OneHeart World-Wide, and IVUMed. In their unique ways, they all carry Laub’s vision of healing the world through plastic surgery.Aside from his notable accomplishments with Interplast, Laub has contributed novel surgical techniques to his field of specialty. He made one of the first academic investigations into the efficacy of treating gender dysphoria with surgery. He pioneered the rectosigmoid vaginoplasty. He also invented the metoidioplasty and the post-modern phalloplasty. Laub’s further professional achievements include developing Q switched ruby laser tattoo removal and the use of medical chemicals to reduce risk of skin cancer while improving cosmetic appearance. From 1981 to 1983, he served as President of HBIGDA, now known as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.In 2000, Laub was diagnosed with aggressive intravascular CNS large B cell lymphoma. After surviving a difficult but successful battle, he dedicated his “second life” to healthier living. He assisted James B. Johnson in developing the alternate day calorie restriction diet, which prescribes a program for weight loss and longevity based on SIRT-1 gene activation.After completing 159 surgical trips to developing countries, Laub is now focused on mentoring undergraduate and medical students, and conveying the value of students in the field of international health. He has been involved in teaching several courses at Stanford University, including Principles and Practice of International Humanitarian Medicine. His current project is the blog Many People, Many Passports, which features stories from his career in surgery and international health. He resides in Redwood City, California with his wife Judy.
