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Hairlosshelp:
What is the IAHRS?
Spencer
Kobren: The international Alliance
of Hair Restoration Surgeons is the first and
only organization comprised of carefully screened,
skilled and ethical hair transplantation surgeons.
Membership is not open to all physicians practicing
surgical hair restoration. Only those performing
follicular unit hair transplantation will even
be considered. All physicians listed must be performing
true state of the art work and must employ the
use of binocular stereomicroscopes to dissect
all grafts. Membership allows the most ethical
state-of-the-art physicians to band together as
the new dominant force in the field, and change
the perception of hair transplantation from consumer
product to the medical specialty that it is. The
IAHRS is leveling the playing field and allowing
the hairloss "consumer" or prospective
patient to make an educated decision based on
the surgeon's merits, not on his/her ability to
buy public opinion. I'd like to think of IAHRS
as the patient's advocate and the ethical physician's
voice.
Hairlosshelp: How does it differ from the
ISHRS?
Spencer
Kobren: First I'd like to make it clear
that the IAHRS is in no way associated with the
ISHRS (International Society of Hair Restoration
Surgeons). The IAHRS is a consumer oriented organization
providing the prospective hair transplantation
patient with a safe place to research and choose
a hair transplantation surgeon. From what I understand,
the ISHRS is dedicated only to the education of
all who wish to practice surgical hair restoration.
ISHRS membership is open to all who apply. They
appear to have little interest in educating the
public but rather are geared to the sharing knowledge
and techniques among ISHRS members. Affiliation
with the ISHRS does not necessarily ensure the
skill or integrity of their members. While there
are several members of the ISHRS that are providing
a true service to their patients, the level of
services provided by ISHRS members varies considerably
and there appears to be no consistency.
With
that said, I still think that the ISHRS has value,
if only to allow the skilled and ethical physicians
to share their wealth of knowledge and hopefully
convince the not so ethical surgeons to "do
the right thing." I also hope that the members
of IAHRS will contribute a sense of heart and
humanity to this field.
Hairlosshelp: Who is behind it?
Spencer
Kobren: Well, the IAHRS was my concept,
but it took the collective efforts of many of
our members to pull the organization together.
Through its relationship with The Bald Truth,
the IAHRS and its members will be able to take
advantage of the groundwork that has already been
laid in all areas of ethics, education, quality,
professionalism, research, and patient advocacy.
The charter members all agree that we now have
the power to effect real change.
Hairlosshelp:
Why was it created?
Spencer
Kobren: That's simple…there is
no organization that exists to protect the interests
and rights of the consumer. Patients are at the
mercy of unscrupulous physicians with nowhere
to turn. It is a completely unregulated industry
that has been run by doctors, for the benefit
of doctors, for decades. Some of the so-called
"leaders" and "pioneers" of
this field have some of the worst reputations.
The IAHRS was created out of necessity. If this
field was regulated to begin with there would
be no need for our organization.
Hairlosshelp:
How will it affect prospective HT patients?
Spencer
Kobren: For the first time, patients
looking for help in finding a skilled and ethical
hair transplant surgeon have a safe place to begin
their search…There will be no confusion,
no hype. The IAHRS is in a position to compete
with the larger group practices who have been,
as I stated earlier, buying the opinions of the
public, and the media. The IAHRS was created for
the hair loss consumer by a hair loss consumer,
and run by the absolute best in the field.
Hairlosshelp:
What happens if there is a complaint against one
of the doctors?
Spencer
Kobren: If a complaint about a physician
is filed with the IAHRS, the organization's complaint
process effectively weeds out those issues that
lack foundation or are outside the jurisdiction
of the IAHRS. If evidence is found that suggests
misconduct, the physician will have their membership
terminated. End of subject…
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Dr.
Robert Bernstein, one of the resident
experts on Hairlosshelp, is one of
the doctors from NHI who has been
accepted into the new organization.
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Hairlosshelp:
How many doctors have been accepted?
Spencer
Kobren: So far out of 82 applicants
we have accepted 19. We still have to review 31,
and we have rejected 32 physicians.
Hairlosshelp:
Who are the board members?
Spencer Kobren:
The
Co-Senior Medical Advisors are Dr Ron Shapiro
and Dr Paul Rose. Dr Paul M. Straub is the Chairman
of The Board of Ethics, I am the Director of Consumer/Patient
Affairs. The members so far are: Dr Robert M.
Bernstein, Dr Glenn Charles, Dr James A. Harris,
Dr Victor Hassson, Dr Roy Jones, Dr Bradley Limmer,
Dr Robert E. McClellan, Dr Bernard P. Nusbaum,
Dr William Parsley, Dr William R. Rassman, Dr
Martin E. Tessler, Dr Bradley R. Wolf and Dr Jerry
Wong.
Hairlosshelp:
When does the organization start operating?
Spencer
Kobren: We officially began to operate
on the first of the year 2002
Hairlosshelp:
Will doctors be allowed to be part of both the
ISHRS and IAHRS?
Spencer Kobren:
Absolutely...Like I stated earlier, The IAHRS
is dedicated to the education well- being of the
patient…And The ISHRS is an merely internal
educational organization. A distinct line is finally
being drawn that will separate the good physicians
from the "not so good ones"…There
are several outstanding surgeons who are members
of the ISHRS, now the world will know exactly
who those surgeons are.
Hairlosshelp:
How can a prospective patient get more information
about your organization?
Spencer
Kobren: They can visit our web site
at www.iahrs.org.
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A
brand new Hair Transplant Organization has been
formed under the watchful eye of consumer advocate
Spencer Kobren.
