Juan García, MA, CCA

Associate Professor

Director, CA Graduate Program

Director, Prosthetics Clinic

[email protected]

Mr. García is an Associate Professor in the department, with joint clinical appointments in the Departments of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery and Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. Since 1999, Mr. García has been involved in training future clinicians through the Supervised Training Program in Clinical Anaplastology. In 2022, Mr. García sought approval to initiate the novel Clinical Anaplastology (CA) Master of Science graduate program offered through the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, and currently serves as the Director of the Graduate program, teaching several courses for this program. For many years he has also taught the Medical Sculpture and other courses in the Medical & Biological Illustration graduate program.

In 1998 Mr. García formally established the Facial Prosthetics Clinic in the Department of Art as Applied to Medicine. Clinical activities were subsequently moved to the Outpatient Center in 2021. Mr. García currently serves as the Director the Facial, Eye & Body Prosthetics Clinic practice. The clinic provides custom-made prosthetic devices for those with missing facial, ocular and somatic anatomy. Mr. García has a research interest in the use of advanced 3D technologies such as: digital sculpting, photogrammetry, laser scanning and various 3D printing technologies. For many years he has collaborated with surgeons of the Johns Hopkins Hospital to provide state of the art prosthesis care, including planning for implant retained prosthetics, use of 3D virtual surgical planning as well as image guided systems for implant placement, designing 3D printed surgical templates for nasal reconstruction, designing custom silicone chest implants, and designing 3D printed custom post-operative surgical conformers for auricular reconstruction. Additional services provided include: medical imaging based 3D visualizations, custom made surgical guides, task trainers and medical models.

Mr. García received his MA degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and has completed extensive post-graduate clinical training. He has played a key role in developing professional standards for clinical anaplastologists worldwide, through his ongoing participation on the Board for Certification in Clinical Anaplastology (BCCA). Since 1998, he has been an active member of the International Anaplastology Association (IAA), having served as a past President of this organization and currently slated to serve a second term as the president of the IAA.

Education

1995
MA, Medical and Biological Illustration

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

1993
BS, Biology / Chemistry Minor

University of Miami, Miami, FL

1991
BFA, Graphic Design / Illustration

University of Miami, Miami, FL

Board Certification

2000 - 2010
Certified Medical Illustrator

Board of Certification of Medical Illustrators

2005 - Present
Certified Clinical Anaplastologist

Board for Certification in Clinical Anaplastology (BCCA)

Post-Graduate Education
  • ZBrush for Anaplastologists and Medical Artists, online course sponsored by International Anaplastology Association, 1/9-2/27/2025
  • Technical Exchange on Ocular Prosthetic Fabrication and Fitting Procedures, Marie Drennan, BCO and Heather Meszaros, BCO, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 1/21-24/2025
  • College of Ocularistry, American Society of Ocularistry, Joined 2023
  • Southern Implants: The Craniofacial Experience in-person course covering surgical planning and implant positioning for the facial prosthetics patient, UIC Surgical Innovation Training Lab, Chicago, IL,  4/2023
  • Custom Medical Devices: Quality Management Systems online course, offered through Cardiff Metropolitan University, in collaboration with SPD Academy, 10/2022-1/2023
  • Workshop on Partial Hand Prosthetics, sponsored by International Anaplastology Association, Ft. Lauderdale, FL,  2/2019
  • Technical exchange: Modified Impression, Fitting and Processing of Ocular Prosthetics, at the clinical practice of Joseph Gorrin, Gorrin’s Clinic in Greenville, SC, 6/2018
  • Ongoing technical exchanges on Ocularistry, specializing in painting techniques at the clinical practice of Fred Harwin, BCO, BADO, Portland, OR. 2011-2016
  • Technical exchange on Empirical Fitting of Ocular Prostheses, at the clinical practice of Barbara Spohn-Lillo, Denver, CO 2013.
  • Workshop on Rehabilitative treatment Planning and Implementation in the Digital Age, Course offered by Cochlear, Materialize, and Technovent, Ghent, Belgium, 2012.
  • Workshop on Advanced Osseointegrated Facial Implant Course: Craniofacial Prosthetic & Surgical Hands-on Training, hosted by International Anaplastology Association, Tampa, FL, 2011.
  • Course on Ocular Prosthetics, offered as part of the Kings College London MSc degree in Maxillofacial Prosthetics, Pune India, 2011.
  • Course in Advances in Materials and Techniques for Maxillofacial Prosthetics, offered by Factor II, Inc. and Technovent, LTD., Orlando, FL, 2010.
  • Technical exchange on Polyurethane Lined Prostheses and Other Anaplastology Techniques at Prosthetics Plus, private practice of Gillian Duncan, MS, CCA, CMI, Rochester, Minnesota, 10/2008.
  • Technical exchange on Treatment Planning Methodology with Todd Kubon, MAMS, CCA, Toronto-Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Center, Toronto, ON, 08/2006.
  • Ongoing technical exchanges on finger and foot prostheses at Siliclone Studios, private practice of Robert Erb, PhD, CCA, Audubon, Pennsylvania, 2005-Present.
  • Workshop on Design and Construction of Craniofacial Implants Utilizing 3D BioModels, with William McKinstry and BioMedical Modeling, Cleveland, Ohio, 06/2004
  • Workshop on Bone Anchored Facial Prostheses, with Kirsten Bergstrom CDT, Entific/Sahlgrenska Univ. Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden, 03/2004.
  • Technical exchange sessions on Bone and Mechanically Anchored Prostheses with Eric Asher, MAMS, Columbia University/ Bronx VA, New York, NY, 01/2000.
  • Technical exchange sessions on Bone Prostheses for Radiocompromised Patients with Eric Asher, MAMS, Columbia University/ Bronx VA, New York, NY, 01/2001.
  • Workshop on Tissue Integrated Implants, Nobel Biocare, Chicago, IL, 11/1998.

Work Experience

2022 - present
2022 - present
Director of the JHM Facial, Eye & Body Prosthetics Clinic
Director of the Master of Science in Clinical Anaplastology (CA) Graduate Program
Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, JHU School of Medicine
2021 - present
Associate Professor
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, JHU School of Medicine
2020 - present
Associate Professor
Department of Otolaryngology, JHU School of Medicine
2016 - 2019
Manager of 3D Printing and Visualization Lab
JHM Carnegie Center for Surgical Innovation
2013 - present
2011 - 2022
2001 - 2013
1998 - 2022
1997 - 2001
Associate Professor
Director of the Supervised Clinical Training Program in Anaplastology
Assistant Professor
Director, JHM Facial Prosthetics Clinic
Instructor
Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, JHU School of Medicine

Projects

Eye Anatomy

Muscles of the Eye

Skills & Expertise

Medical Illustration

Ophthalmological illustration

Surgical illustration

Techniques

3D Sculpture

Color

Digital illustration

Clinical Anaplastology

Maxillofacial prosthetics

Digital 3D

Modeling

3D Printing

Courses

Anatomical Sculpture

Adhesive and Anatomically Retained Prosthetics

Principles of Clinical Anaplastology Practice

Photo of Associate Professor Juan Garcia 3D Surface Scanning

3D Technologies

Sketch of surgery - parotidectomy

Somatic Prosthetics

Ocular and Scleral Shell Prosthetics

Osseointegrated Implant-Retained Facial Prosthetics

The Clinical Anaplastologist

Photo of Associate Professor Juan Garcia 3D Surface Scanning

Clinical Exposure

Sketch of surgery - parotidectomy

Research & Thesis

Professional Actvities

Associations

Department of Art as Applied to Medicine

  • Established Ocular Prosthetics Training as part of Anaplastology Training Program with colleague Fred Harwin, Board Certified Ocularist, Board Approved Diplomate of Ocularistry, 2011.
  • Established a Supervised Training Program in Clinical Anaplastology, Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, 2009.
  • Department Representative, Medical School Council, 1998-9.

Board for Certification in Clinical Anaplastology (BCCA)

  • 2005 – Present, Certification Chair 2006-2009, Vice-President 2009-Present.
  • Co-wrote Candidate Handbook, Eligibility Criteria, Code of Conduct and Administrative Procedures documents, 2009.
  • Facilitated creation and administration of the first certification exam in Clinical Anaplastology during the International Anaplastology Association (IAA) Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, 2008.
  • Co-wrote Appendix of Prosthetics Product-Specific Standards appearing in Quality Standards for Suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS), Policy Paper by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 2007.

International Anaplastology Association (IAA)

  • Professional Member since 1998, President 2002 – 2003, Education Chair 2011-Present.
  • Program Chair, “The Art of Anaplastology”, Annual Meeting of the American Anaplastology Association, Washington, DC, 2000.

Board for Certification in Medical Illustrators (BCMI)

  • Board Member, 2005 – 2008
Publications

Peer Reviewed Publications

Gerald G, Liacouras P, Santiago G, García JR, Gordon C, Restoration of the Donor Face after Facial Allotransplantation: Digital Manufacturing Techniques, Annals of Plastic Surgery, June 2014; 72(6):720-4.

Kim Webster, Heather Starmer, Juan García. A Custom-Made Interface for Stoma Care Products for Total Laryngectomees, International Journal of Anaplastology, 2009;3(1):31-37, 2008.

Noah E. Meltzer, Juan R. García, Patrick J. Byrne, Derek K. Boahene. Image-Guided Titanium Implantation for Craniofacial Prosthetics, Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2009;11(1):58-61.

Byrne P, García J, Autogenous Nasal Tip Reconstruction of Complex Defects: A Structural Approach Employing Rapid Prototyping, Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2007; 9(5): 358-364, 2007.

Books, Chapters, and DVDs Illustrated

Walsh, P., Campbell-Walsh Urology, 8th Ed., Elsevier, 2006.

Walsh, P., Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy: A Detailed Description of the Surgical Technique. A DVD, 2005.

Brady, F., A Singular View, 6th Ed. Michael O. Hughes, Publisher, 2004.

Lombardo, A., Corneal Diagnostic Techniques, Thieme Medical Publishers, 2000.

Jampel, H., Instrumentation for Measuring Eye Pressure, Essentials of Glaucoma, 1999.

Miller, N. ed. Walsh and Hoyt’s Clinical Neuro-Ophthalmology, 5th Ed., Williams & Wilkins, 1998.

Goldberg, M., Stark, W., Gottsch, J., & Pitt, H., ed., Rob & Smith’s Operative Surgery, Ophthalmic Surgery Volume, 5th Ed., Chapman & Hall, 1997.

Miller, N., Superior Ophthalmic Vein Approach for Cavernous Sinus Fistulas, Neurosurgical Operative Atlas, The Association of Neurological Surgeons, 1996.

Yeo, C. & Cameron, J. Tumors of the Gallbladder & Bile Ducts, Maingot’s Abdominal Surgery, Lippincott, 1996.

 

Presentations

Using BrainLab for Virtual Case Planning and Image Guidance, Post IAA Conference workshop presenter, Cochlear Americas, Centennial, CO, 2014.

Exploring Use of Advanced Technologies in the Treatment Workflow, Annual Meeting of the International Anaplastology Association, Denver, CO, 2014.

Exploring Efficiencies in Technology-Based Applications in Anaplastology, Invited co-panelist, Annual Meeting of the International Anaplastology Association, Denver, CO, 2014.

Digital SLR Photogrammetry Using 123dCatch, Techniques Boutique presenter, Annual Meeting of the International Anaplastology Association, Denver, CO, 2014.

A Medical Artist’s Approach to Anaplastology, Forum 2013 International Facial and Body Prosthetics Conference, Southend on Sea, Essex, England, 2013.

Changing Faces: Medical Illustrator to Clinical Anaplastologist, Centennial Celebration of the Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine Office of Continuing Education, Baltimore, MD, 2011.

The BCCA: Tackling the Challenge of Establishing Competency Among Facial, Somatic, and Ocular Prosthetists, Medical Illustration Program Exchange, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, 2010.

Forging an International Certification Program for Clinical Anaplastologists, presented on behalf of the Board for Certification in Clinical Anaplastology to the International Anaplastology Association (IAA) Annual Meeting, Paris, France, 2009.

Medical Sculpture: Digital to Traditional, Lead Workshop Presenter at the Association of Medical Illustrators Annual Meeting, Richmond, Virginia, August 2009.

Giving a Face to Transcendence through the Art of Anaplastology, presented at the 4th International Congress of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Chihuahua Mexico, March 2009.

BCCA Certification: A Competency Measure for Facial, Somatic, and Ocular Prosthetists, presented to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Baltimore, Maryland, December 2008.

Defining the Roles of Clinical Anaplastologists: Results of an International Job Task Analysis Study, presented at the International Anaplastology Association Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia, November 2008.

Anaplastology and Prosthetic Reconstruction of Facial Defects, presented as part of the lecture series for the Maxillofacial Prosthodontics Residency program at the University of Maryland, School of Dentistry, Department of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Baltimore, Maryland, November 2008.

Mission & Vision of the Facial Prosthetics Clinic, presented to the Johns Hopkins University Board of Directors, Baltimore, Maryland, August 2007.

Advances in Prosthetic Techniques and Prosthetic Fabrication Techniquespresented as part of Osseointegrated Implants: A Hands-On Workshop at the Johns Hopkins Dept. of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery in Baltimore, MD; sponsored by Cochlear America, 2006.

Making Oculars for Orbital Prostheses Co-presented Workshop with Fred Harwin, BCO, Association of Medical Illustrators Annual Meeting and International Anaplastology Association, Cleveland, OH, 2004.

Drawing Upon Art and Medicine, presented at the Leon Sample Memorial Lecture, Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, 2004.

The Anaplastologist: A Non-Physician Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics and Orthotics (DMEPOS) Provider, presented to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Baltimore, MD, 2004.

Recognition

2011 Vesalius Trust Research Scholarship Grant, Supporting training in Ocular Prosthetics through Kings College London, Pune, India.

2008    Revolutionizing Prosthetics Program Research Grant, ID# NS RO1 257309, JHU APL Prime Sponsor (subaward from DARPA, US Defense Department), Total Direct Cost 1,449,819 ($83,471 for subaward), PI Dr. Ross Andersen (Juan García for JHU Dept of Art as Applied to Medicine), Role in Cosmesis coloration efforts, Improved Skin Colors for Prosthetic Applications, 19% effort

The Association of Medical Illustrators

  • 2005 – Certificate of Merit, Projection Visuals, Los Angeles, CA
  • 2003 – Certificate of Merit, Instructional Color, Asilomar, CA
  • 2004 – Certificate of Merit, Line, Cleveland, OH
  • 1999 – Certificate of Merit, Professional Continuous Tone, Atlanta, GA
  • 1997 – Max Brödel Award of Excellence, Continuous Tone, Cincinnati, OH

News

Juan Garcia: Featured in Hopkins Medicine Magazine

Juan Garcia: Featured in Hopkins Medicine Magazine

Juan Garcia, Clinical Anaplastologist and Professor in The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Art as Applied to Medicine, was featured in the fall 2023 edition of the Hopkins Medicine magazine…