Dr. Reza Jarrahy

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Surgical Director of the Cleft Palate Program

Dr. Reza Jarrahy is a Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Pediatrics at UCLA and serves as Surgical Director of the Providence Saint John’s Cleft Palate Program. He specializes in craniofacial surgery, pediatric plastic surgery, and aesthetic surgery of the face and neck. Dr. Jarrahy completed his medical degree at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, followed by residencies at NYU, UC San Diego, and UCLA. He trained under the renowned Dr. Henry Kawamoto at UCLA’s Craniofacial Surgery Fellowship.

Dr. Jarrahy leads the Regenerative Biology and Repair Lab at UCLA, focusing on stem cell research and tissue engineering. His work has resulted in hundreds of publications and presentations. He is also Co-Director of the UCLA Craniofacial Clinic and Face Transplant Program. A global health advocate, he frequently travels to developing nations to perform surgeries and coordinate community health efforts. Dr. Jarrahy’s unwavering dedication to innovation and compassionate care has earned him numerous accolades, including the UCLA Health Teaching Humanism Award.

Affiliate Hospitals

Awards & Recognition

Recognitions

  • Monmouth Magazine Top Doctors 2025

  • Super Doctors® Southern California, 2023, 2025

  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors®, 2017-2024

  • Los Angeles Magazine Top Doctors, 2010-2022

Professional Honors:

  • Organizer and Moderator, 52nd Annual Providence St John’s Health Center Cleft Palate Symposium, 2025

  • Instructor and Surgical Champion, Operation Smile International, Guatemala, 2025

  • Invited Speaker and Instructor, ASMS 3rd International Conference on Maxillofacial Surgery, 2025

  • Immediate Past President, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2024-2025

  • Session Organizer and Moderator, Invited Speaker, EACMFS, 2024

  • Invited Speaker, Inaugural Operation Smile Latin American Symposium on Cleft Surgery, 2024

  • Invited Keynote Speaker, Speaker, Session Moderator, 5th Latin America Craniofacial Association, 2024

  • Invited Speaker and Course Instructor, ASMS Basic Techniques in Maxillofacial Surgery, 2024

  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors 2017-2024

  • Session Moderator, Plastic Surgery the Meeting, 2023

  • President, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2023-2024

  • Conference Co-Chair, Joint Korean Society/ASMS Cleft and Craniofacial Symposium, 2023

  • Instructional Course Faculty, ASMS Basic Course in Maxillofacial Surgery, 2023, 2024

  • Super Doctor Southern California, 2023, 2025

  • President Elect, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2022-2023

  • Global Health Champion, Operation Smile Global Operations, Guatemala, 2022

  • Team Leader, Hospital de la Familia Global Health Mission, 2022

  • Advisory Council Member, American Board of Plastic Surgeons, 2022

  • Session Moderator, 26th Congress of the European Association for Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, 2022

  • Senior Examiner, American Board of Plastic Surgeons Oral Board Exam, 2022

  • Session moderator, Plastic Surgery the Meeting, 2022

  • Chair, ASPS Annual Meeting Program Committee Craniomaxillofacial Surgery Section, 2021-2022

  • Vice President, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons 2021-2020

  • Session Moderator, 52nd Annual Providence St. John’s Health Center Cleft Palate Symposium, 2021

  • Organizer, 52nd Annual Providence St. John’s Health Center Cleft Palate Symposium, 2021

  • Invited Examiner, American Board of Plastic Surgeons Oral Board Exam, 2021

  • Moderator, UCLA Department of Surgery Cultural/EDI Morbidity & Mortality Conference, 2021

  • Guest Society Session Organizer, European Association of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons, 2021

  • Moderator, St. John’s Health Center Foundation 52nd Annual NSGW Meeting, 2020

  • 2nd Vice President, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons 2020-2021

  • Keynote Speaker, Inaugural Brazilian Symposium on Clinical Innovations and Tissue Engineering Strategies, 2020

  • Invited faculty, 34th Hawaii Plastic Surgery Symposium, Pan Pacific Surgical Association, 2020

  • Inaugural Webinar Speaker, Brazilian Society of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, 2020

  • Invited Faculty, ASMS Winter Basic Maxillofacial Principles and Techniques Course, 2020

  • Member, UCLA Department of Surgery Committee on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, 2020-22

  • Member, UCLA Faculty Executive Committee Governance Sub-Committee, 2020-2021

  • Member, UCLA Faculty Executive Committee Grievance Sub-Committee, 2019-2020

  • Invited Examiner, American Board of Plastic Surgeons Oral Board Exam, 2019

  • Co-Director, 51st Annual Providence St. John’s Health Center Cleft Symposium, 2019

  • Visiting Professor, Sobrapar Hospital for Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, 2019

  • Invited Faculty, 11th Congress of the Brazilian Association of Cleft Lip and Palate and Craniofacial Anomalies, 2019

  • Invited Faculty, UCLA Stein Institute Aesthetic Eyelid and Facial Rejuvenation Course, 2018, 2019

  • Member, Medical Committee, Hospital de la Familia Foundation, 2018-

  • Organizer, Chair, Session Moderator, 50th Annual St. John’s Cleft Symposium, 2018

  • Invited Lecturer, Los Angeles Center Theater Group Playwriter’s Workshop, 2018

  • Invited Faculty and Panelist, Bernard G. Sarnat Symposium, 2018

  • Session Organizer, ASMS Guest Society Symposium, 24th EACMFS Congress, 2018-2020

  • Invited Faculty, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Pediatric Symposium, 2018

  • Invited faculty, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Pediatric Symposium, 2018

  • Committee Member, UCLA Department of Pediatrics Reflective Rounds Committee, 2018

  • Co-Director, 50th Annual St. John’s Medical Center Cleft Palate Symposium, 2018

  • Invited Faculty, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Basic Techniques Course, 2018

  • Session Organizer/Moderator, European Association of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons biannual meeting, 2018

  • Member, UCLA Faculty Executive Committee Grievance Advisory Council, 2017

  • Member, ASPS/PSF Annual Meeting Program and Instructional Course Committee, 2017-2018

  • Member, UCLA International Advisory Council, Latin American Region Sub-Committee 2107

  • Co-Director, 49th Annual St. John’s Medical Center Cleft Palate Symposium, 2017

  • Invited panelist, Annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 2017

  • Invited participant, Los Angeles Global Health Conference, 2017

  • Member, ASPS/PSF Annual Meeting Program and Instructional Course Committee, 2017

  • Oral Board Examiner, American Board of Plastic Surgery, 2017-2019

  • Invited Panelist, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Global Health Selective Course, 2016

  • Member, ASPS/PSF Annual Meeting Program and Instructional Course Committee, 2016-17

  • Member, American Association of Plastic Surgeons Ethics Committee, 2016-

  • Session Organizer, European Association of Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons, biannual meetings 2016

  • Invited Faculty, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Pediatric Symposium, 2016

  • Session Moderator, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Pediatric Symposium, 2016

  • Co-Chair, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Pediatric Symposium, 2016

  • American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons Kawamoto Best Paper Award, 2016

  • UCLA Health Teaching Humanism Award, 2016

  • Invited Faculty, ASMS Basic Maxillofacial Techniques Course, 2016

  • Assistant Secretary, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2015-2017

  • Editorial Board, Journal of the American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2015

  • David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Teaching Humanism Award, 2015

  • Invited Faculty, Global Pediatric Facial Surgery Summit. Austin Texas, 2015

  • Invited Faculty, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Pre-Conference Symposium, 2015

  • Member, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Task Force on Diversity, 2015

  • Course Instructor, American Society of Plastic Surgeons 84th Annual Meeting, 2015

  • Session Moderator, American Society of Plastic Surgeons 84th Annual Meeting, 2015

  • Instructor, ASMS International Basic Course, Romanian Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, Iasi, Romania, 2015

  • Session Moderator, 60th Annual Plastic Surgery Research Council Meeting, 2015

  • Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons Craniomaxillofacial/Head and Neck Subcommittee, 2015

  • Scientific Program Committee, American Society of Plastic Surgeons 84th Annual Meeting, 2015

  • Member, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Scientific Program Committee, 2015

  • Scientific Program Committee, 60th Annual Plastic Surgery Research Council Meeting, 2015

  • Invited Reviewer, Biochemical Sciences, 2014-present

  • Scientific Program Committee, American Society of Plastic Surgeons 83rd Annual Meeting, 2014

  • Invited Faculty, ASCFS/ASMS Basic Techniques in Craniofacial Surgery Course, 2014

  • Invited Reviewer, Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2013-present

  • Session Moderator, 59th Annual Plastic Surgery Research Council Meeting, 2014

  • Scientific Program Committee, 59th Annual Plastic Surgery Research Council Meeting, 2014

  • Invited Reviewer, Plastic Surgery Review: A Study Guide for In-Service and Board Exams, Thieme, 2014

  • Chair and Host, 9th Biennial Henry K. Kawamoto Jr. Lectureship in Craniofacial Surgery, 2014

  • Co-Chair and Local Host, ASMS Basic Maxillofacial Principles and Techniques Winter Course, 2014

  • Co-Chair and Moderator, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Pre-Conference Symposium, 2013

  • Member, ASPS Convention Committee, Craniomaxillofacial Subcommittee, 2013

  • Session Abstract Rater, American Society of 82nd Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, 2013

  • Scientific Panel Moderator, American Society of 82nd Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, 2013

  • Member, Planning Committee, American Society of 82nd Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting, 2013

  • Co-Director, UCLA Latin American Institute Working Group Symposium Series, 2013

  • Scientific Panel Moderator, Plastic Surgery Research Council Annual Meeting, 2013

  • Invited Reviewer, Tissue Engineering Part A, 2012-present

  • Chair, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Membership Committee, 2012-2015

  • Member, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Ad Hoc Committee on Young MF Surgeons, 2012-2014

  • Vice President of Communications, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, 2012-2014

  • Chair, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Best Papers Committee, 2012-2014

  • Member, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Development Committee, 2012-2013

  • Member, Buildings and Grounds Committee, UCLA Lab School Advisory Board, 2012-2013

  • Co-Chair, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Scientific Program Committee, 2012-2013

  • Editor, Pediatrics Module, Plastic Surgery Hyperguide, 2011–2012

  • Member, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Education Committee, 2011-2015

  • Member, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Maxillofacial News Committee, 2011-2013

  • Member, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Website Committee, 2011-2013

  • Chair, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Video Sub-Committee, 2011-2012

  • Delegate, Coalition of California Cleft and Craniofacial Teams, 2011

  • American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons CRANIO Fellowship, 2011

  • Founding Member and Co-Chair, Outreach Committee, UCLA Lab School Advisory Board, 2010-2013

  • Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation Scientific Essay Contest, Third Place Award, 2010

  • Co-Chair and Local Host, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Basic Course, UCLA, February 2010

  • Advisor, College of Applied Anatomy, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 2009-present

  • Advisory Board, UCLA Lab School, Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, 2009-2014

  • UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies Research Review Committee, 2009

  • Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation Scientific Essay Contest, Second Place Award, 2009

  • Invited reviewer, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 2007-present

  • American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Research Award, 2004

  • American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Research Award, 2004

  • UCLA Division of Plastic Surgery Resident Research Award, 2004

  • Plastic Surgery Research Council Baronio Scholar, 2004

  • UCSD Department of Surgery Chairman’s Award, 2003

  • UCSD Department of Surgery Chief Resident Teaching Award, 2003

  • Association for Academic Surgery Student Research Award, 1996

  • Asians in Medicine Community Service Award, 1995

  • Phi Delta Theta Educational Foundation Community Service Award, 1992

Research Awards:

  • Plastic Surgery Foundation National Endowment for Plastic Surgery Award. Novel osteogenic oxysterol for cranial bone regeneration. Principal Investigator. 2014

  • UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Catalyst Grant: Pediatrics, Surgery, and Anthropology in Brazil. Co-Principal Investigator. 2014.

  • UCLA Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Catalyst Grant: Pediatrics, Surgery, and Anthropology in Brazil. Co-Principal Investigator. 2014.

  • UCLA Latin American Institute Working Group Grant: Surgery and Culture in Latin America. Co-principal Investigator, 2013.

  • American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons/Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation Research Grant Award. Large- Scale Bone Regeneration Using a Novel Chemotactic Regenerative Scaffold. Principal Investigator. 2013.

  • Komedyplast Craniofacial Research Grant, American Society of Craniofacial Surgery. A novel osteogenic agent, Oxy133, promotes bone regeneration. Principal Investigator. 2013.

  • UCLA Latin American Institute Working Group Grant: Co-principal Investigator, 2013.

  • Cleft Palate Foundation Cleft/Craniofacial Anomalies Research Grant: A novel osteogenic oxysterol for cranial bone regeneration. Principal Investigator. 2013.

  • UCLA Transdisciplinary Seed Grant (UCLA CTSI UL1TR000124): Facing the Future: Changing Paradigms in Global Health Delivery. Co-Principal Investigator. 2013.

  • UCLA Faculty Research Grant: Bone regeneration by a chemotactic "smart scaffold:" in vivo calvarial bone defect model. Principal Investigator. 2013.

  • Annenberg Foundation Award for Craniofacial Surgery and Research, unrestricted educational grant. 2013.

  • UCLA Latin American Institute Working Group Grant: Surgery and Culture in Latin America. Co-principal Investigator, 2012.

  • ASMS/MSF Research Grant Award: Development of a "Smart Scaffold" to maintain chemotactic effects for mesenchymal stem cells. Principal Investigator. 2011

  • UCLA Faculty Research Grant: Developing a "smart scaffold" for use in bone tissue engineering. Principal Investigator. 2011.

  • Plastic Surgery Foundation Pilot Research Grant: Fabrication of a chemotactic smart scaffold for bone regeneration. Principal Investigator. 2011.

  • UCLA Transdisciplinary Seed Grant: Empowerment through art: improving self-esteem in children with congenital facial malformations through self-Produced multimedia storytelling. Co-Principal Investigator. 2011.

  • Annenberg Foundation Award for Craniofacial Surgery and Research: Healing of mandibular osteoradionecrosis defects using bone tissue engineering approaches. Principal Investigator. 2011.

  • Annenberg Foundation Award for Craniofacial Surgery and Research: The use of a novel cholesterol-based osteogenic growth factor in bone regeneration. Principal Investigator. 2010.

  • Plastic Surgery Educational Foundation Research Fellowship Grant Award: Osteogenic Potential of Oxysterols in Tissue Engineering. Principal Investigator. 2009.

  • American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons Research Award: The Impact of Three-Dimensional Culture upon the Contracts Differentiation of Primary Osteoprogenitor Cell Lines. Principal Investigator. 2004.