NAPLES, FL, August 26, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Bernard C. Pecaro, DDS, MD, has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Dr. Pecaro's distinguished career in medicine and academia is marked by decades of service, innovation and leadership. Since 1998, he has held the title of professor emeritus at Northwestern University, a recognition of his significant contributions to the institution and the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. In this capacity, he has remained engaged with the academic community, offering mentorship and guidance to colleagues and students while embracing a more flexible role following his formal retirement.

From 1977 to 1998, Dr. Pecaro served as assistant professor, associate professor, full professor and ultimately chairman of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Northwestern University. During this period, he directed a rigorous residency program that trained approximately eight residents annually in a four-year curriculum. His leadership was instrumental in shaping the department's reputation for excellence in trauma care, cancer surgery and reconstructive procedures. Dr. Pecaro's tenure was characterized by a commitment to education, clinical innovation and patient-centered care. He taught in both the medical and dental schools at Northwestern, further bridging the gap between these disciplines.

In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Pecaro maintained an active private practice as a head and neck cancer surgeon and otolaryngologist until his retirement. His clinical work focused on complex trauma cases, cancer surgeries and reconstructive operations involving the jaw, face, larynx and upper facial structures. Among his most memorable achievements were intricate reconstructive surgeries that restored essential functions like speaking, chewing and swallowing for patients who had suffered severe injuries or disease. Notably, he led procedures that utilized cadaver bone matrices combined with autologous marrow to reconstruct jaws and performed delicate repairs on traumatic laryngeal injuries, outcomes that profoundly improved patients' quality of life. Earlier in his career, he branched into entrepreneurship by founding Nurse Finders in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Dr. Pecaro's professional journey began with service in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1969 during the Vietnam conflict. Stationed as a general dentist in Japan, he was transferred to a remote base following the USS Pueblo incident, a pivotal experience that required him to manage complex facial trauma cases with limited resources. This formative period sparked his enduring interest in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Throughout his career, Dr. Pecaro has been recognized as a fellow of several prestigious organizations. Among these are the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Dr. Pecaro's educational foundation was established at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in 1963, followed by a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1967. After completing dental school, he served in the military before returning to pursue advanced specialization in oral and maxillofacial surgery at Northwestern University. Encouraged by mentors who recognized his aptitude for surgical anatomy and patient care, he entered an accelerated Doctor of Medicine program at Northwestern University Medical School, earning his degree in 1973.

Dr. Pecaro completed a residency in otolaryngology at Northwestern University before undertaking a fellowship in head and neck cancer surgery there in 1976. He then achieved board certification in oral and maxillofacial surgery and became a diplomate of both medical and dental boards, a rare distinction reflecting dual expertise across disciplines.

Throughout his career, Dr. Pecaro credits much of his success to several influential mentors, namely Dr. Eckenhoff, Dr. George Sisson and Dr. Orin Stuteville. He also attributes his success to his parents, whose resilience during the Great Depression and World War II instilled values of perseverance and service that have guided his professional life.

Beyond his clinical and academic pursuits, Dr. Pecaro has demonstrated deep civic commitment through volunteerism both locally and internationally. He has provided free medical care on several global missions to countries like Ecuador, Nepal and India — often through Catholic Charities in Boston for Christ — where he worked alongside multidisciplinary teams to deliver surgical services at no cost to underserved populations. Domestically, he remains active as a volunteer with his local church and offers assistance at area hospitals.

In his free time, Dr. Pecaro enjoys playing golf, reading and spending time with family members who are central to his life today. His professional legacy is defined by technical excellence in surgery, dedication to education and an unwavering commitment to compassionate care, qualities that have earned him recognition among peers and lasting gratitude from those whose lives he has touched. He looks forward to seeing the progress of treatments and genome-based therapies that decrease the need for surgery and novel materials to make reconstruction better when it is needed.

About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. The suite of Marquis® publications can be viewed at the official Marquis Who's Who® website, www.marquiswhoswho.com.

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