1951	Establishment of the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction (then The Society for the Rehabilitation of the Facially Disfigured, Inc.) Lawrence D. Bell elected first Board President of the NFFR
1955	Founding of the Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery (IRPS) under the direction of Dr. John Marquis Converse. Pilot clinic established at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.
1956	Thomas D’Arcy Brophy elected Board President of the NFFR.
1957	Grant from Avalon Foundation provides funds for the Lawrence D. Bell Professorship and Clinic facilities.
1960	Pioneering studies on the psychosocial implications of facial deformity by Frances C. Macgregor.
1961	First graduate of the Plastic Surgery Residency Program. Tissue and organ transplantation research that resulted eventually in the founding of the Transplantation Society. Research symposia on transplantation at the New York Academy of Medicine under the leadership of Drs. John Marquis Converse, Felix Rapaport and Blair O. Rogers.
1962	Establishment of the V.H. Kazanjian Visiting Professorship - Dr. Kazanjian inaugurates lectureship.
1963	Opening of the Institute clinic and laboratories at the newly constructed NYU Medical Center.
1964	Publication of the five volume Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, by J.M. Converse.
1966	Recruitment of Dr. Robert W. Beasley and the establishment of the NYU Hand Surgery Program. Henry Steeger Elected Board President of the NFFR.
1967	Founding of the Craniofacial Anomalies Center through the generosity of The Billy Rose Foundation.
1969	First International meeting on craniofacial surgery hosted by the Institute. First craniofacial surgical procedure performed by Dr. Converse.
1973	Publication of Cosmetic Surgery of the Face by Thomas D. Rees, one of the first books published on the subject.
1974	First infant to undergo craniofacial surgery.
1975	First microsurgery procedure performed at The Institute.
1978	NFFR and IRPS helped encourage the founding of Forward Face, a support group to help patients and their families. Post-residency fellowship program initiated to provide in-depth training in hand surgery, microsurgery and replantation hand surgery, craniofacial reconstruction and esthetic surgery. Opening of New Bellevue Hospital Replantation cases at Bellevue Hospital receive widespread newspaper coverage.
1980	Margaret Milbank Bogert Microsurgery Laboratory dedication.
1981	Death of Dr. John M. Converse. Dr. Joseph G. McCarthy appointed Lawrence D. Bell Professor of Plastic Surgery and Director of the Institute.
1982	The John M. Converse Library of Plastic Surgery donated by graduates of the residency program. Computer Imaging Laboratory developed.
1983	Variety - The Children's Charity approved 10 year grant of $1,500,000 to establish The Variety Center for Craniofacial Rehabilitation to help children with facial problems. Led to the establishment of seperate-individualized interdisciplinary clinics.
1984	J. Peter Hoguet elected Board President of the NFFR.
1985	Beginning of annual International Aesthetic Surgery Symposium under the leadership of Drs. Rees and Aston.
1986	The Society for the Facially Disfigured changes its name to the National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction (NFFR).
1987	Converse Professorship established 100th resident graduated
1989	First craniofacial distraction procedure in the world.
1990	Publication of the eight volume “Plastic Surgery” by Dr. McCarthy.
1992	Conference on Facial Disfigurement sponsored by the JM Foundation, the initial platform for the newly created Psychology Working Group. This was the first conference of its kind in this field involving psychological and sociological staff.
1993	Development of nasoalveolor molding by Drs. Court Cutting and Barry Grayson. JM Foundation sponsors a landmark publication by the NFFR: “Special Faces: Understanding Facial Disfigurement.”
1994	First world meeting about craniofacial distraction hosted at the IRPS. John R. Gordon elected Board President of the NFFR.
1996	Appointment of Dr. Michael T. Longaker as the first John Marquis Converse Professor in Plastic Surgery Research. Center for Developmental Repair and Regeneration is built. Mortimer J. Harrison Foundation program for financial sponsorship of adolescent patients with craniofacial deformity begins.
1997	Opening of the Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Repair.
2000	Establishment of Laboratory of Mocrovascular Research and Vascular Tissue Engineering and recruitment of Dr. Geoffrey C. Gurtner.
2001	NFFR celebrates 50th Anniversary. Newman Psychosocial Program initiated.
2003	NFFR organizes Psychosocial Symposium entitled, Facial Difference: Beyond the Medical Issues. Awards to Senator Tom Harkin and Ms. Betsy Wilson (Frances McGregor Award for Professional Excellence.) CD Rom on Cleft Lip and Palate surgery by Dr. Court Cutting. Music for Medicine Benefit, 1st of the Arts for Medicine benefit series.
2004	CDC/NFFR Initiative to document birth prevalence and follow up treatment of facial deformities begins multi-year study. Juicy Couture partnership with the NFFR.
2005	Fiftieth Anniversary of Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. Dance for Medicine Benefit - Celebrating the 50th Anniversary.
2006	Fashion for Medicine Benefit, Water Mill, New York.

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