John P. Kirby, MD, MS, CWSP, FACS is Associate Professor of Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St Louis. He graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. He completed his General Surgical Residency, research years in organic photochemistry, cellular transplantation, & surgical education as well as his Surgical Critical Care fellowship within the University of Illinois systems and its affiliated hospitals. His interests are in developing enhanced care methods, educational programs, and evidence-based data registries for wounded patients. He is the Medical Director of the Surgical & Wound Care Clinic and its Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Oxygen Programs at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis. Today he will be speaking about what has been learned about newer efforts to utilize acellular tissue scaffolds to advance the surgical care for patients with difficult tissue defects.