Richard W. Rodriguez
This artist and painter, the son of Indian immigrants, was born and raised in Metuchen, New Jersey. While interning at Seattle’s busiest hospital, he discovered another art form — plastic surgery.
“While there, a patient was flown in from Alaska after she fell from a tree and suffered a skull fracture,” say Halani, who studied medicine at Emory University. “The plastic surgeon on the case — who turned out to be the one who wrote the book on managing skull and facial fractures — masterfully and artfully approached the problem like a puzzle, with immense attention to detail apparent in every step.
“It quickly became clear that plastic surgery was the right fit for me. The field allows me to apply the skills I have learned as a drawer and a painter toward a different form of art — one that helps patients regain their sense of self in a tangible, longitudinal way.”
Halani also has a master’s degree in biomedical sciences from Tufts University.
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