Dr. Ralph Millard,

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. 

Dr. D. Ralph Millard (1919-2011) is known in the plastic surgery community for his contribution to improved surgical techniques for the correction of cleft palates.  He died Sunday, June 19, 2011. (photo credit)

PSNews tribute:  Plastic surgery pioneer D. Ralph Millard Jr., MD, dies at age 92
NBC Miami tribute:  Cleft Palate Pioneer Ralph Millard Laid to Rest

……He trained more than 180 young, and not so young, men and women in whom his legacy is entrusted.  The “Chief,” as he was known to his residents at the University of Miami, was an exacting task master, an elegant surgeon and a consummate teacher.  His surgical greatness cannot be denied, but his most profound legacy may be as a teacher of Plastic Surgery.  Through the gift of his text books and manuscripts he tried to pass on to all Plastic Surgeons his vision of our specialty.  ……

The Millard technique or the rotation-advancement cleft lip technique (photo credit)

Dr. Millard was a “giant” in plastic surgery who will be missed.  My condolences to his family.

REFERENCES to just a few of Millard’s articles (full bibliography)
1.  Millard DR Jr. Rotation-advancement versus Giraldes’ cleft lip technique. Plast Reconstr Surg Transplant Bull. 1961;28:595-7.
2.  Millard DR Jr. Refinements in rotation-advancement cleft lip technique. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1964;33:26-38.  (pdf file)
3.  Millard DR Jr. Rotation-advancement principle in cleft lip closure. Cleft Palate J. 1964;12:246-52.
4.  Millard DR Jr. The unilateral cleft lip nose. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1964;34:169-75.
5.  Millard DR Jr. Closure of bilateral cleft lip and elongation of columella by two operations. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1971;47(4):324-31