Surgeon UNR’s alumnus of year

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003 | 8:46 a.m.

Las Vegas plastic surgeon Dr. William Zamboni received the 2003 alumnus of the year award from the University of Nevada, Reno last month.

Zamboni was recognized for his skills, particularly in reattaching limbs.

He is a practicing plastic surgeon in cosmetic surgery, microsurgery, hand surgery, breast surgery and general reconstruction.

In 1994 he helped establish Nevada's first limb reattachment and microvascular program at the University Medical Center and the School of Medicine's Division of Plastic Surgery. Before the program, patients needing limbs reattached had to be flown to California or Utah for the time-sensitive emergency surgeries.

Zamboni has reattached a woman's finger bitten off by her pet iguana; treated a motorcycle police officer who lost his arm when he was struck head-on by a motorist; and reattached the leg of a 4-year-old boy who fell under a lawnmower.

Zamboni received his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in 1984. He completed his general and reconstructive residency training at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield and served as assistant professor for three years.