Research & Publications †
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Biographical Sketch
Steven L. Bernard, MD, is a plastic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic. He was born in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He received his medical training at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and went on to complete residencies in General Surgery, Plastic Surgery and fellowship training in Pediatric Plastic Surgery as well as Hand and Microsurgery through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He was a part of the ground breaking Face Transplant done at the Cleveland Clinic. His special interests include breast surgery; micro surgery, cosmetic injectable fillers, such as hyaluronic acid; and Botox®. Additional interests include vein treatment (sclerotherapy), pediatric plastic surgery and cosmetic ear surgery (otoplasty).
Dr. Bernard has been board-certified in both general surgery and plastic surgery and has the certificate-added qualification in hand surgery. During this training, he was named an Allen Scholar and spent two years in microsurgical research. His many clinical interests include microsurgery reconstruction of the breast, hand surgery. As an innovator, he also pioneered an IV fluid system that avoids the use of sharp needles improving patient safety.
The first 10 years of his career were at MetroHealth Medical Center where served as Assistant Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University and pioneered techniques to improve the outcomes of complex head and extremity trauma patients.
An invited lecturer at national and international medical meetings, Dr. Bernard has authored or co-authored more than 20 scientific papers and book chapters on plastic surgery topics, including hand infection management, total lip reconstruction, hand burns and trauma and prefabricated microsurgical flaps.
Specialty Interests
hand, microsurgery and cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, surgery of the breast
Additional Training
Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship, University of Pittsburgh
Industry Relationships
Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.
To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. The Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists
receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, the Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.
As of 1/4/2013, Dr. Bernard has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by the Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about the Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.
Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers’ discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.
* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.