The Medical Mission

Dr. William Paul Magee, Jr.

Background:

William P. Magee, Jr., D.D.S., M.D. is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Operation Smile, Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Magee, a leading plastic and craniofacial surgeon, founded Operation Smile in 1982 with his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, B.S.N., M.Ed., M and serves as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer: Operation Smile is a private not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization providing reconstructive surgery and related health cant to indigent children and average adults in developing countries and the United States.

Dr. Magee is a lifetime member of Operation Smile’s Board of Directors, He maintains a private practice in Norfolk, Va, and is Co-director of The Institute for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery located in the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and Chair of the Plastic Surgery Department In addition, he is associate professor of plastic surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Magee also serves on the Board of Directors for talksurgery.com. The Magees reside in Norfolk and have five grown children, all of whom have served on medical missions and are active in volunteer work for Operation Smile.

In addition to leading the organization as CEO, Dr. Magee also helps train international physicians in craniofacial techniques through Operation Smile’s annual Physicians’ Training Program. In 1999, the Magees envisioned and launched World Journey of Hope ‘99, the largest surgical mission in history dedicated to correcting facial deformities among some of tire world’s neediest children. The nine-week mission, the first-ever of its kind, transformed the lives of more than 5 children and young adults in 17 developing countries and in 10 cities across the United States.

Credentials:

  • Bachelor of Science degree from Mt. St. Mary’s College in Maryland
  • D.D.S. from the University of Maryland
  • M.D. from George Washington University Medical School.
  • Served general surgery residency at the University of Virginia Medical School.
  • Honorary degrees from:
    • Fordham University
    • Mt. St. Mary’s College
    • Loyola College
    • Old Dominion University
    • Villanova University
    • Denison University
  • Plastic surgery residency at the Eastern Virginia Graduate School of Medicine - 1978. He also did advanced studies in his field in Switzerland, Germany and Scotland.

Awards:

  • The Hays-Fulbright Scholar Grant from the Franco-American Commission where he studied with Dr. Paul Tessier, the father of craniofacial surgery
  • $1 million Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize for ". . .exemplary and significant contributions to ease human suffering" - 1996
  • The Servants of Peace Award from the UN representative to the Vatican - 1997
  • The Magees received the Golden Plate Award "representing the many who excel in the great fields of endeavor" by the American Academy of Achievement - 1999
  • In April , Dr. and Ms. Magee were awarded a 2001 Common Wealth Award of Distinguished Service for outstanding achievement in public service - 2001
  • Operation Smile received the Antonio Feltrinelli Prize for Exceptional Endeavors of Outstanding Moral and Humanitarian Value by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, which represents the National Academy of Science in Italy - November, 2001
  • The Christopher Columbus Fellowship foundation awarded Dr. Magee a Frank Annunzio Award - October, 2002. The awards honor living Americans who are improving the world through ingenuity and innovation.
  • The American Medical Association’s Pride in the Profession Award for 2000 and the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons - 1998

Dr Magee was included in the 2002 Consumers’ Guide to Top Doctors from a recent survey conducted by the nonprofit consumer education organization, Consumers’ CHECKBOOK. Dr. Magee was one of 102 members of the Sentara Norfolk General medical staff rated highest by their peers, more than 490 doctors from the American Medical Association’s Norfolk, Virginia mailing list AMA (American Medical Association) members participated in the survey that asked them where they would send their own families for medical care.

Publications:

Dr. Magee has written numerous articles for scientific journals and has contributed chapters for books.

In addition, Dr. Magee has been the keynote speaker at national conferences, events and ceremonies. In June 2000, he addressed more than 1,200 delegates from 50 countries and regions around the world on “Information Technology for Better Health Care;’ at the World Congress on Information Technology in Taipei, Taiwan. In 1997, he held the Kazanjian Lectureship, an honorary lecture to the entire membership of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in San Francisco. Dr. Magee has delivered several college and medical school commencement addresses and is actively involved in inspirational and motivational speaking in the corporate sector.

He also has made appearances on ‘NBC Nightly News,” “Dateline NBC,” “Leeza’ “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” “Hour of Power;” “48 Hours;’ “CBS Sunday Morning” and CBS’s “Touched by an Angel” The Magees also have been featured in “People Magazine,” “Time,’ “Ladies’ Home Journal,” “Southern Living” “Biography” and numerous other publications.

Dr. Magee is a lifetime member of Operation Smile’s Board of Directors, He maintains a private practice in Norfolk, Va, and is Co-director of The Institute for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery located in the Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters and Chair of the Plastic Surgery Department In addition, he is associate professor of plastic surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Dr. Magee also serves on the Board of Directors for talksurgery.com. He served as president of the Virginia Society of Plastic and reconstructive Surgeons from 1991-93.

The Magees reside in Norfolk and have five grown children, all of whom have served on medical missions and are active in volunteer work for Operation Smile.