The Joseph Lecture
The Joseph Lecture stands among the highest distinctions conferred by the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery.
Named in honour of Jacques Joseph, widely recognised as the father of modern aesthetic facial surgery, this annual lecture celebrates a surgeon whose lifetime achievements have fundamentally shaped the evolution, identity, and global standing of facial plastic surgery.
Established as a central tradition of the EAFPS World Congress, the Joseph Lecture is awarded each year to a figure whose career reflects sustained excellence in surgical innovation, education, leadership, and service to the international facial plastic surgery community. The lecturer is selected not only for technical or academic distinction, but for a lasting contribution that has influenced the specialty across generations and continents.
For the 2026 World Congress in Lisbon, jointly organised by the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery and the International Federation of Facial Plastic Surgery Societies, the EAFPS is honoured to present the Joseph Lecture to
Vito C. Quatela, MD, FACS (New York, USA).
Dr Vito C. Quatela — Joseph Lecturer 2026
Dr Vito C. Quatela is internationally regarded as one of the most influential and respected figures in contemporary facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Over more than three decades, he has made extraordinary contributions to clinical innovation, surgical education, institutional leadership, and global professional collaboration, shaping the development of facial plastic surgery in the United States and worldwide.
A double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and founder of the Quatela Center for Plastic Surgery in Rochester, New York, Dr Quatela has built one of the most comprehensive facial aesthetic and reconstructive practices in North America. His clinical work and surgical philosophy have helped refine modern approaches to facial rejuvenation and comprehensive facial aesthetic surgery, and he is widely recognised for his commitment to natural, structurally sound and long-lasting results.
Dr Quatela’s influence extends far beyond the operating theatre.
He has played a defining leadership role within the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), serving as its President and contributing extensively to the Academy’s educational, scientific and strategic development. Through this work, he has helped shape fellowship training, continuing education, and the academic culture of facial plastic surgery across the United States.
He has also been deeply engaged in certification and postgraduate education, contributing to the work of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Council for Post-Residency Specialty Education in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS Foundation/ACPRE), thereby strengthening standards of training and examination within the specialty.
Internationally, Dr Quatela has been a central figure within the International Federation of Facial Plastic Surgery Societies (IFFPSS). A former President of the Federation and currently serving as its Vice-President, he has played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration among national societies, advancing global educational initiatives, and reinforcing facial plastic surgery as a unified and academically rigorous international specialty.
Throughout his career, Dr Quatela has demonstrated exceptional commitment to mentorship and teaching. He has trained and influenced generations of surgeons through fellowships, international courses, invited lectures, and scientific publications, leaving a profound and lasting imprint on the professional development of facial plastic surgeons across the world.
His career embodies the principles represented by the Joseph Lecture: innovation grounded in anatomical mastery, leadership rooted in service to the specialty, and an enduring dedication to advancing facial plastic surgery at the highest scientific and ethical standards.
The European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery is proud to honour Dr Vito C. Quatela as the Joseph Lecturer for the World Congress of Facial Plastic Surgery 2026 in Lisbon, in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding contributions to facial plastic surgery in the United States and internationally, and for his enduring impact on the global community of our specialty.