Name: Rizal Lim
Title/Position: Reconstructive Surgeon
Location: Burn and Reconstructive Centers of America | Miami, Florida
Where were you born?
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Where did you grow up?
New York and Ohio
Tell us about your family.
“My father is a surgeon, and my mother is a dentist, which puts a lot of pressure on me. Other than that, we are the standard first-generation immigrant family.”
What are your hobbies?
“I like racing on a closed-circuit road course with a 2009 Chevy Corvette Z06. I also restore antique swords in my free time.”
What is your favorite part of your job? Your least favorite?
“My patients are my favorite part of my job. I try to treat as many of them as I can. My aim is always to get them to a manageable pain level and to a point where they are comfortable living their lives again. My least favorite part is digital replantation or surgically replanting amputated fingers back onto the hand. It’s a very complex procedure that requires a lot of time, care, and attention to detail.”
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
“A big motivation is knowing that my patients rely on me to be there and be at my best. If I’m not there or I’m slacking, it’s the patient who suffers, and I would never want that.”
What is your biggest achievement to date – personal or professional?
“I have so much to be thankful for in my life, but the best is yet to come. I’m excited to see what the future holds for me.”
What is your ideal vacation?
“I haven’t gotten the chance to go yet, but one day I would love to go to some over-the-water cabin in the Maldives.”