A tribute to Richard F. Edlich, MD, PhD.

Richard F. Edlich was a Ford Foundation Scholar who gained early admission to Lafayette College at age 15. Three years later, he was accepted as an early admission student to New York University School of Medicine, where he received his medical degree. He completed a general surgery residency at the University of Minnesota Health Sciences Center under the guidance of his mentor, Dr. Owen H. Wangensteen, who is recognized as one of the twentieth century's greatest teachers of surgery.1 During his eight-year surgical residency, Dr. Edlich also received his PhD. He completed his plastic surgery residency at the University of Virginia Health Science Center in 1973. He commenced his teaching career at the University of Virginia in 1973, beginning as Assistant Professor and eventually becoming Distinguished Professor of Plastic Surgery and Professor of Biomedical Engineering.