This World-Famous Surgeon Calls Fitler Square Home
By Stacia Friedman
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Dr. Scott Levin, world-famous for performing the first bilateral hand transplant on a child, has found his ideal home in Philadelphia's Fitler Square.
As the creator of orthoplastic surgery, a groundbreaking specialty combining orthopaedic and plastic surgery, Dr. Levin's innovative work attracts patients from around the globe.
And while many physicians choose this neighborhood for its proximity to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Levin values it for a different reason.
"I moved to One Riverside six years ago and I enjoy walking on the Schuylkill River Trail," says Dr. Levin. The condominium's indoor pool, where he swims daily, was another draw for this busy surgeon.
World's First Pediatric Double Hand Transplant
Dr. Levin's impact on the medical world is profound.
His most notable achievement came in 2015 when he led a team that performed the world's first bilateral hand transplant on a child.
"It's an unbelievably complicated, 10-hour procedure," Dr. Levin explains. "It involves not only transplanting hands onto a patient's forearms, but reanimating muscles by utilizing the nerves of the transplant patient, which eventually grow into the nerves of the donor hands."
This milestone was the culmination of years of dedication and teamwork. In 2011, after becoming chair of orthopaedics at Penn, Dr. Levin assembled a team that successfully performed bilateral hand and arm transplants on adults. Four years later, they performed the procedure on a child.
"That was my proudest accomplishment," Dr. Levin reflects.
He went on to create the Penn Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center, offering cutting-edge surgery for patients at risk of limb amputation.
From Humble Beginnings to Medical Pioneer
Dr. Levin's journey to becoming a medical pioneer began in the early 1970s when he was a pre-med student at Duke University. "I worked as an orderly mopping floors in the ER and wheeling patients around," he recalls. These humble beginnings allowed him to observe both the medical and surgical sides of healthcare, sparking his interest in surgery.
At Temple University Medical School, Dr. Levin kept an open mind about his specialization. His passion for microvascular and hand surgery eventually led him to complete residencies in both orthopaedic and plastic surgery at Duke University Medical Center.
Family Influence and the Power of Teamwork
A Philadelphia native, Dr. Levin credits his family for inspiring his career path. "Stories about my grandfather, who tended to the wounded on the battlefields of France during World War I, inspired me. I was also influenced by an uncle who was a urologist," he shares.
Despite his groundbreaking achievements, Dr. Levin remains humble and quick to acknowledge his team's contributions. "Recognition has to go to the team at Penn, rather than me. They have worked very diligently to make a difference in the field."