Dr. Farzana Ibrahim is one of the first female reconstructive plastic surgeons in Bangladesh, and received her MBBS from Bangladesh Medical College with residencies in both general and plastic surgery at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. As a young medical intern in Dhaka, Dr. Ibrahim saw one patient that changed the course of her life: a female professor at a local university with advanced breast cancer, who did not feel comfortable with being examined by a male doctor due to societal backlash. Saddened and alarmed, Dr. Ibrahim decided to devote her career to removing the socio-cultural barriers that prevented women from receiving the compassionate care they needed. Today, she is the assistant professor, associate director, and plastic surgeon at the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine, and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM) General Hospital, an institution established by her grandfather. Since 2006, Dr. Ibrahim has been a partner surgeon for ReSurge International, providing free reconstructive surgery for women who cannot pay for services. As one of the 2018 Pioneering Women of Reconstructive Surgery Leadership Program, Dr. Ibrahim continues her grandfather’s legacy in providing care for all.

“The common assumption is that woman are soft, can’t handle critical situations, and can’t take pressure and make tough decisions. But now, I am driven by one thought—I can and I will.”