HAROLD BAFITIS, D.O. MPH, FACOS, FACS
Dr. Harold Bafitis graduated with Honors from the University of Maryland, College Park. He obtained a Master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Texas School of Public Health, Houston Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Bafitis earned his medical degree Cum Laude from the University of North Texas, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Bafitis then went on to complete a full 5 year general surgery residency at Grandview Medical Center, in Dayton, Ohio, an affiliate of Ohio University’s prestigious medical school. To further his expertise, he completed a 2 year fellowship in plastic and reconstructive surgery at the Plastic Surgery Institute and affiliated hospitals in Des Moines, Iowa.
Dr. Bafitis also took an additional full year fellowship with the Cincinnati Plastic Surgery Associates and affiliated hospitals in Cincinnati, Ohio in:
Cosmetic surgery
Breast surgery
Breast reconstruction
Dr. Bafitis is double board certified in general surgery and plastic and reconstructive surgery.
He has achieved the coveted title of FELLOW (FACOS) in the College of Osteopathic Surgeons, and is the first Osteopathic plastic surgeon to earn the title of FACS.
______________________________________________
Accolades
In 1994, Dr. Bafitis was greatly honored by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery with a seat on their Board of Plastic Surgery. This coveted position meant that Dr. Bafitis assumed responsibility for maintaining and enforcing high national standards for testing and certifying of all other plastic surgeons.
Subsequent to that, his career as a nationally ranked authority in plastic surgery continued to develop. He was elected as one of the youngest chairman for the entire American Osteopathic Board of Surgery. He began to utilize his high standing to give back, and underwent philanthropic endeavors, including several missions to South America to provide free reconstructive services to those in great need, and a commitment to educating the public. He has often been featured on numerous national news segments, including ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX news.
Recently, Dr. Bafitis has solidified his footprint in history by becoming the first Doctor of Osteopathy specializing in plastic surgery to be awarded membership in the American College of Surgeons, earning him the title of FACS.
Dr. Bafitis presently sits on the Residency Evaluation and Standards Committee of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons in Washington, D.C. This group sets the standards for residency training in plastic surgery for university programs in the United States. Dr. Bafitis is also a clinical associate professor of surgery at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Bafitis has trained medical students, residents, and other physicians for more than 20 years. He has contributed to many medical publications and has lectured nationally and internationally to medical and lay groups about all aspects of plastic surgery. He has hosted numerous scientific programs in West Palm Beach, conducting live surgery at his state-of-the-art certified surgery center, where physicians have an opportunity to learn and get continuing medical education credits by taking his courses. Most recently, Dr. Bafitis has hosted scientific programs dealing with state-of-the-art technology with fractional dot laser resurfacing and jet lavage liposculpture.
He has recently developed and refined a technique of integrated liposculpture and abdominoplasty that can be done with minimal anesthesia as well as minimal recovery time. He has also developed instruments to be used in this procedure and presented the clinical research on this surgery at a national meeting in November 2010.
Dr. Bafitis has taken part in national and international mission trips for most of his 21 years in practice. He has donated his time and skills toward educating other surgeons as well as taking care of the indigent in Bolivia, Peru, and most recently in Cambodia at the children’s hospital in Phnom Penn.
Dr. Bafitis is proud of his family and his extended family, which includes his highly-trained office staff.