Remembering Dr. Frank Ryan

I wanted to wait until the media circus died down to comment on the death of my former client and friend, , the plastic surgeon who had received buzz for Heidi Montag's surgery makeover. Ryan made news again when he drove off a cliff on the Pacific Coast Highway——and died.

My company, Vertex Communications, represented Ryan in the beginning stages of his practice in the late 1990s. Fresh out of the Ohio State University Medical School, he was new to Beverly Hills, but savvy enough to know the power of public relations and how to play the game.

This was the time before most Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeons had publicists, and Ryan was unsure how PR for doctors was perceived. At the time he was one of only three physicians in the country to have completed the UCLA extended fellowship in plastic surgery, even though he did not yet have his medical board certification. Still, Ryan was leery of too much media exposure and afraid that the medical board would frown upon it as he awaited membership approval. Fortunately he was creative, collaborative and knew what made a good story. He was a natural on camera, required no media training and spoke in sound bites.

Ryan and I used to meet upstairs for lunch at the  to discuss his PR campaign strategy. Over the three years we worked together, he confided in me about inner-office politics, patient problems (he always kept confidentiality) and the breakup of his marriage. Whenever we booked him, he was incredibly professional and calm. I'll never forget a Discovery Health TV segment we booked where he had two cameras running the entire time he was performing a face-lift. He was calmly talking to the cameras, even cracking jokes, but throughout the procedure remained still, focused and, most of all, caring about the patient. What a pro.

Eventually Ryan was board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. He became a member of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons and the UCLA Plastic Surgery Society. He was also a Burn Reconstruction Fellow at Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.

We booked some amazing and wild news stories together. Here is a sampling:

BEVERLY HILLS SURGEON UNITES COPS AND ROBBERS: L.A. Police and Gang Members Share Common Bond. Stigma of Tattoos, Now Removed by Latest Laser Techniques.

FILM STAR, JOEY "PANTS" PANTOLIANO 'KNOCKS OFF' HIS LOVE HANDLES

VOLUNTEERS RECONSTRUCT IMPOVERISHED CHILD BURN VICTIMS FROM SOUTH AMERICA AND MEXICO: Plastic Surgeons Frank H. Ryan, M.D. and Susan Kay, M.D., Donate Their Time and Talent in a Shriners Hospital Special Program.

GANG MEMBERS VOLUNTEER TO HAVE STIGMATIZING TATTOOS REMOVED: Philanthropic Plastic Surgeon Uses Latest Laser Surgery Techniques to Help Youngsters Get a Fresh Start.

CELEBRITY DJ GETS BEVERLY HILLS MAKEOVER: Plastic Surgeon Frank Ryan, M.D. Gives a New Look to Star 98.7's DJ 'Frosty' For E Entertainment Television's  'Fashion Emergency.'

NEW AND IMPROVED "BARBIE": Plastic Surgeon Frank Ryan, M.D. Uses New Technique to Add More Pout to the Lips of Vegas Stripper Cheryl "Barbie" Pulley.

GET RID OF YOUR WITCH'S CHIN: In Time For Halloween!

The media ate Ryan up. Besides print and radio, we had him on Good Day L.A., The Jenny Jones Show, Roseanne, KTLA Morning News, Entertainment Tonight, E Fashion Emergency, Eye on L.A., Hard Copy, VH1, KCOP, KNBC, KCBS, Fox News, Discovery Health, The Learning Channel, and the list goes on.

Dr. Frank Ryan was a nice guy who was great at what he did. He was generous to kids, and kind to his patients, family, friends and staff. He will be missed.