Paul Werker

Prof. Paul Werker is a Professor of Plastic Surgery and Chair of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Medical Sciences. He holds roles as Head of the Department of Plastic Surgery at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and Treasurer of EBOPRAS. His expertise spans Plastic Surgery, Reconstructive Surgery, and Hand Surgery, with a focus on Dupuytren’s Disease and Facial Palsy.

Education: Medical degrees from Utrecht, Aberdeen, and Harrow (1987); PhD on free flap preservation (1992); trained in reconstructive microsurgery at the University Hospital Utrecht and Louisville, USA.

Research Interests: Dupuytren’s Disease (primary focus), facial palsy reconstruction, and breast reconstruction outcomes. His work has led to over 130 peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and co-editing conference proceedings on Dupuytren’s Disease.

Awards: Esser-prize (2000) for pioneering work on foreskin free flap preservation. Active in professional societies including EBOPRAS, FESSH, and the Dutch Society for Plastic Surgery.

Advising & Grants: Supervised 17 PhD students, including Jie Ma. Engaged in clinical trials like the DEPART study and population-based research on disease outcomes.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Plastic Surgery Department at UMCG, collaborating internationally on Dupuytren’s Disease genetics and clinical management.