Michael Friel, MD, joined Ochsner in 2017 as director of pediatric plastic surgery. He is a nationally recognized authority in cleft lip and palate care, and leads the comprehensive Cleft Lip and Palate team at Ochsner Childrens Hospital. Having been published in many leading professional publications, he serves as the pediatric plastic surgery editor for Annals of Plastic Surgery. He is actively involved in research and teaching. Pediatric plastic surgery is a very broad field covering congenital and post-traumatic reconstruction for many conditions and covering many parts of the body, whether that be the face, the skull, the hands, the trunk, or the extremities. Dr. Friel completed a pediatric plastic surgery and craniofacial fellowship at Riley Childrens Hospital in Indianapolis. He completed a separate fellowship in hand surgery and microsurgery at the Buncke Clinic in San Francisco. Originally from the Philadelphia suburbs, Dr. Friel is a graduate of Tulane University where his undergraduate degree was in biomedical engineering. He subsequently graduated from Tulane University medical school. He completed his surgery residency at the McGovern School of Medicine at University of Texas Health in Houston. He then completed his plastic surgery residency at Temple University in Philadelphia. He holds board certification from the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery - Subspecialty Certification in Surgery of the Hand. He is a member of the International Society of Craniofacial Surgery, the American Society of Craniofacial Surgeons, The American Cleft Palate / Craniofacial Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American College of Pediatricians. He enjoys participating in medical missions with Operation Smile. Dr. Friel is a dad of six children, active in his church parish and enjoys cheering on his children at their sporting events and dance recitals.