Dr. Woodward Coleman:

Woodward L. Coleman graduated with honors as the president of his senior class at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. He attended Medical School at the University of Mississippi. This was followed by a five-year general surgery residency at the University of South Carolina. During his surgery residency, he also traveled for additional training with clinical rotations in Trauma Surgery, Neurosurgery, and Plastic Surgery at Emory University. While at Emory, he
gained first-hand instruction in some of the earliest microsurgical reconstructions in history.

Dr. Coleman was at Emory with the professors at the time when they were engineering and publishing the earliest techniques for the TRAM flap breast reconstruction and gained exceptional working knowledge of the anatomy of the abdominal wall in its use for the Tram Flap. This is now one of the most common breasts reconstruction procedures worldwide. Returning to Spartanburg, he took part in many of the first microsurgical reconstructions ever performed at his residency program.

During his tenure as Chief Resident in Surgery, he founded the first microsurgical laboratory at
the University of South Carolina Spartanburg Regional Hospital Facility. Because of his
accomplishments and knowledge, he was one of only eight American and six international
surgeons chosen, from all over the world, for a fellowship in the prestigious Christine Kleinert
Memorial Hand Surgery Fellowship in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the largest and most famous
hand fellowship in the world. The caliber of that particular group of trainees speaks for
themselves: One of his classmates, Dr. Warren Breidenbach, performed the first successful
hand transplantation in U.S. History. Another of his classmates, Dr. Maria Semienow, is now
famous for performing the first face transplant in U.S. History.

After completion of a full hand fellowship, he continued with a residency in plastic and
reconstructive surgery which included further microsurgery training with Dr. Harry Bunckie,
considered the pioneering grandfather of microsurgery.

Dr. Coleman is a diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as being certified for additional qualifications in surgery of the Hand. Dr. Coleman is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society for Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, and the American Association of Hand Surgeons. He is also a member of the American Medical Society and the San Antonio Surgical Society.

He has been chosen for scientific presentations at five international meetings, including two
teaching videos. He is a co-author of a chapter in the textbook “Plastic Surgery Principles and
Practice,” edited by the chairman of Emory University’s Surgery Department.

He has performed numerous groundbreaking procedures in San Antonio, including one of only
a very few hand plantations, and the first surgeon to successfully perform 5 DIEP microsurgical
breast reconstructions in San Antonio.

Dr. Coleman and his wife have three children. His youngest two, Ryan and Claire, were honor
students at the University of Texas in Austin. His oldest daughter, Katie, attended the number
one ranked honors program in the nation, the Plan II program at the University of Texas, Austin.
Continuing to Law School at UT, she served as the editor of the Law Review and was one of only 3 graduates chosen to join a private practice in Austin.

Patient Testimonials:

"I recently broke my hand. Dr. Coleman and his staff are the best. I did not have to wait long while I was there. They were so caring and helpful. The man putting my cast on was so gentle and nice. I would recommend them to anyone. They are the best of the best for sure!" - K.W.

"Dr. Coleman is a sweetheart & takes the time go explain everything to you. I wouldn't go to any other hand surgeon." - S.D.

"Dr. Coleman has been a blessing to me. Since March I have been under his care and I am feeling better as the weeks go by. Dr. Coleman takes the time to explain everything! I would highly recommend Dr. Coleman to anyone who is looking for a high quality doctor" - M.G.

BOARD CERTIFICATION:

American Board of Plastic Surgery, 1990
Surgery of the Hand, 1992

Honors:

Chief of Plastic Surgery Division, St. Luke Baptist Hospital, 1994 - 1995
Patient's Choice Award, 2008 (and 5 consecutive years after)
Doctor of the Year Award, 1990

Education:

BA, Chem, Millsaps College - Jackson, MS 1975
MD, University of Mississippi, 1980
General Surgery Chief Residency, University of South Carolina, Spartanburg Regional Med Center, 1980
Hand Surgery Fellowship - The Christine Kleinert Memorial Hand Fellowship, 1985 - 1986
Plastic Surgery Residency, University of California, San Francisco, 1986 - 1988