Dr. Van Laeken is a certified plastic surgeon by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Her professional affiliations include, The Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, The Canadian Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery as well as the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. She obtained her M.D. from the University of Ottawa over 25 years ago and went on to complete her Plastic Surgery training at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Van Laeken has also completed advanced training in Reconstructive Microsurgery at the University of Toronto.

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Dr. Van Laeken is currently a Clinical Professor in the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Van Laeken is an active member at many lower mainland hospitals including St. Paul’s Hospital, Mount St. Joseph Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital, Vancouver Acute and BC Children’s Hospital. She was the Chair of the Department of Surgery for Providence Health Care in Vancouver from 1991-2011. Her primary role was to provide leadership, direction and development to all clinical, research and academic activities within the Department of Surgery. She was also responsible for motivating and developing the faculty as well as overseeing the clinical education of students. In addition, she was the Associate Head for the Department of Surgery at UBC from 2007-2011. She also served as the Physician Program Director for Providence Health Care from 2005-2011. Dr. Van Laeken was awarded one of Canada’s top ten doctors in Hospital News January 2000 and was nominated 2 years in a row as one of YWCA’s Women of Distinction.

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Dr. Van Laeken specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy and reconstructive microsurgery, specifically facial nerve reconstruction following trauma, tumor removal and congenital deformities.

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Dr. Van Laeken is a volunteer with IPRAS’ Women for Women charity programme which is supported by female plastic surgeons who travel abroad to help women suffering from disfiguring or socially excluding injuries and trauma. Dr. Van Laeken has travelled to India (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017), Bangladesh (2014) and Africa (2016) performing surgeries with the goal of enabling such women to continue on to lead happy and prosperous lives despite their injuries and trauma they have suffered in the past.