Thomas G. Griffith, M.D., founded Artistic Plastic Surgery Center in 1984 after completing his Plastic Surgery residency at The Medical College of Ohio.  Prior to this, Dr. Griffith earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Whitworth College in 1968, his Doctor of Medicine degree from The University of Washington Medical School in 1973 and completed residencies in three specialties - Orthopedic Surgery at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii 1973-1977;  Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota 1979-1980; Reconstructive Hand Surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. in 1980 and Plastic Surgery at The Medical College of Ohio, 1982-1984.

Although he currently limits his practice to Plastic Surgery, Dr. Griffith is board-certified in Plastic Surgery, Hand Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery.  He is board certified in cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of both the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).  Dr. Griffith has also served as an Instructor and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the School of Medicine, Uniformed Services, University of the Sciences.  In addition, Dr. Griffith served as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Surgery at the Medical College of Ohio.

Dr. Griffith has been the Chief of Surgery at St. Joseph's Medical Center and Allenmore Hospital.  He is on staff at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, Tacoma General Hospital, Allenmore Hospital and St. Joseph's Medical Center.  Dr. Griffith has received the AMA Physician Recognition Award and has been listed in the Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare.

Dr. Griffith and his family moved to Tacoma in 1984 where they have continued to live for the past twenty years.  They enjoy hiking, skiing, scuba diving, boating as well as the cultural offerings of the greater Tacoma community.

Dr. Griffith maintains memberships in several professional societies, including:

• American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Washington Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
• American College of Surgeons
• Northwest Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Washington State Medical Society

About Board Certification

Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) means that a surgeon has completed undergraduate college, medical school, an approved general surgery residency of at least three years, and an approved plastic surgery residency of an additional two to three years.  After the doctor has practiced as a plastic surgeon for at least two years and has passed difficult written and oral examinations give by experienced plastic surgeons he then becomes eligible for Board certification.

There are several other boards that have been created for doctors who have not had this special training.  (In most states, it is legal for any physician who holds a medical license, with or without surgical training, to advertise as a plastic or cosmetic surgeon.) These Boards have official-sounding titles but may mislead those seeking cosmetic surgery into believing that these doctors are accredited by a plastic surgery board.  Only the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) is recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) for certification of plastic surgeons.  Should you have any questions about the board certification of any plastic surgeon you may consult ABMS
at 1-800-776-2378.