Dr. Melvin Spira was born in Chicago, Ill., July 3, 1925. He received his pre-dental education at City College of Chicago and Franklin and Marshall College and graduated from Northwestern University Dental School in 1947. Following a tour of active duty in the United States Navy, he elected to seek a medical degree – graduating from the Medical College of Georgia in 1956. He trained in general surgery at Duke University Medical Center and completed the plastic surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine in 1961.

Dr. Spira elected to pursue an academic career. Following residency training, he joined the faculty of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. In 1973, he was promoted to full professor. In 1976, he was appointed head of the Division and Chief of the Plastic Surgery Services at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, The Methodist Hospital and Texas Children's Hospital.

In 1995, Dr. Spira stepped down to remain on the full-time faculty and to maintain a teaching role in the residency program. Dr. Spira is a past president of the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, as well as both the state and local plastic surgery societies. He is also a past chairman of the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Spira has received 16 national and international awards including the Distinguished Faculty Award from Baylor College of Medicine, the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Medical College of George, a special Honorary Award from the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons and a Special Achievement Award in Plastic Surgery from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. During his over 40 years of practice, he has been a visiting professor both here and abroad at 40 universities. Additionally, he has authored and co-authored over 35 chapters in leading plastic surgery texts and has published over 200 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

At the present time, Dr. Spira is professor of Plastic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine and divides his time between teaching in the Texas Medical Center in Houston and living with his wife, Rita, and visiting family in Snowmass Village, Colo. During the past two years he has made several trips to South America and India with Rotaplastic International, performing cleft lip and palate surgery on indigent children.

Education:

• Northwestern University Dental School – D.D.S.
• Medical College of Georgia – M.D.
• Baylor College of Medicine – Residency in plastic surgery