MORANI,ALMA,DEA, MD - A PIONEER IN PLASTIC-SURGERY

Alma Dea Morani was the first female member of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. She is now retired from active p ractice and living in Philadelphia, but her life continues to reflect her role as a plastic surgeon. She was drawn to medicine by the Women' s Medical College of Pennsylvania (now part of Allegheny University), graduating in 1931. Her love of art, which she learned from her sculpt or/father, Salvatore Morani, drew her to plastic surgery. Her difficul ty obtaining training in the specialty would have caused others to aba ndon the goal, but she pursued it with great vigor. Her career path as a plastic surgeon was diverse and challenging. She returned to the Wo men's Medical College to start her practice, treating the broad spectr um of problems that we all see, and rose to the rank of clinical profe ssor of surgery. In that capacity she was a role model for a whole gen eration of women who, in turn, acted as mentors for many others to pur sue careers in plastic surgery. Dr Morani never shied from politics, p laying an international role in women's issues in health care and medi cal education. Throughout all of this she maintained her interest in a rt not only as a collector, but as an artist, creating her own works u ntil just a few years ago. Dr Morani was the driving force behind the creation of the Morani Gallery of Art at the Medical College of Pennsy lvania. This facility is the only ongoing art gallery and collection a t any medical school in the United States. As a tribute to her, the ch air of surgery at Allegheny University is endowed in her name. She con tinues to serve as an inspiration to all of us-from medical students t o practicing physicians of all types-not only with her ideas, but with the realization that through active participation with the world of a rt we become stronger, more humane physicians. Alma Dea Morani has ins pired a generation of women to pursue careers in plastic surgery. At 8 9 years of age she continues to serve as an inspiration to young physi cians, especially women, who wish to combine the skills of a plastic s urgeon with an appreciation of the role of art in the maturation of th e individual.