Welcome, Patients and Friends,
I want to welcome my former patients back to my care. I enjoyed private solo practice in Irvine, California, from 1986 to 2019. After a five-and-a-half-year medical leave of absence to treat and heal from Acute Myeloid Leukemia, I am returning to work part-time to re-engage my surgical specialty, which was interrupted on short notice.
Rather than opening my own office, I will work as an independent contractor with established plastic surgery and dermatology colleagues in their Orange County offices.
My ultimate goal is to make my patients feel safe, answer all their questions, match their goals to realistic expectations, and achieve outstanding results. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of the process. At least initially, I only plan to care for existing patients.
At the end of each day, I feel honored to have the privilege of caring for so many wonderful patients.
Very Truly Yours,
Donald Altman M.D.
Education
- Seton Hall Law School, MLS (master’s degree in legal studies), Pharmacology and Medical Device Law and Compliance, May 2024
- UCI Paul Merage School of Business, Spring 2015 Certificate in Leadership for Healthcare Transformation
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University 1999 – 2001 Executive M.B.A.
- Children’s Hospital, Akron, Ohio with James Lehman, M.D., Spring 1986 Pediatric Plastic Surgery Fellowship
- Santa Ana, California, 1985 with Bruce Connell, M.D. Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship
- University of California Irvine School of Medicine, 1983 – 1985 Residency Training in Plastic Surgery
- Northwestern University Medical School 1980 -1983 Residency Training: Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
- Northwestern University Medical School, 1978 – 1980 Residency Training in General Surgery
- University of Illinois School of Medicine, 1974 – 1978 M.D. Degree
- Oberlin College, 1971 – 1974 Bachelor of Arts degree
- Harvard University, 1972 and 1973 Summer Courses
- University of Michigan Spring Semester 1971
Board Certification
- Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University 1999 – 2001 Executive M.B.A.
Clinical Appointments and Membership
- Chairman Department of Surgery, Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center, January 2009 (hospital closure)
- Vice Chairman Department of Surgery, Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center, 2007 – 2009
- Chief of Plastic Surgery at Irvine Medical Center (hospital) 1998 – 2007
- President, Orange County Plastic Surgery Society 2000 – 2002
- Member, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Inc.
Hospital Staff Privileges
- Hoag Hospital, Irvine, California - reinstatement effective May 1, 2025
- Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, California - reinstatement effective May 1, 2025
Media
Since 1998, Dr. Altman and his patients have been featured on six different programs for The Discovery Channel, The Learning Channel, and Discovery Health Channel. Dr. Altman was formerly a member of Allergan's National Educational Board for teaching the use of Botox.