Where Anatomy Meets Artistry
By: Olesea Svet, April 2026
There is a moment, Dr. Jaclyn A. Klimczak says, that she still thinks about. She was a first-year medical student at Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine when she traveled to the Philippines on a medical mission. Standing in a clinic far from Boca Raton, she watched patients receive care for the very first time. The looks on their faces — relief, gratitude, disbelief — were something she hadn't been prepared for.
"Witnessing each patient's reaction to the care they received was incredibly moving," she recalls. "It reinforced the profound difference compassionate, skilled care can make in people's lives."
She was barely twelve months into her medical training. But in that moment, medicine stopped being something she had chosen — and became something she could feel.
This spring, Dr. Klimczak was named the 2026 FAU Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for the Schmidt College of Medicine — the university's highest recognition for alumni achievement — and was celebrated at a ceremony on April 10 at the Boca Raton campus. Hers is a story of focus and ambition, of a career built with intention — and of never losing sight of why she chose medicine in the first place.
Where She Started
Dr. Klimczak arrived at FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine with a strong academic foundation already behind her — a Cum Laude Bachelor of Science from the College of William & Mary, a Master of Science from Georgetown University Medical School, and membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical Honor Society. She was drawn to what she describes as the intersection of anatomy and artistry — fascinated by how small, precise changes could restore not just form, but confidence. How a surgical outcome could shift the way a person moved through the world.
She also arrived at a particular moment in the institution's history. Florida Atlantic's College of Medicine was still new — still finding its place among the country's leading medical schools. That environment shaped her just as much as her coursework did.
"Training in a smaller, more close-knit program allowed for strong mentorship and early clinical exposure, which helped me develop both surgical interest and confidence."
The College emphasized more than clinical skills, she says. It pushed students toward leadership, innovation, and community involvement — encouraging them to think beyond the traditional training path and pursue competitive fellowship opportunities, engage in research, and ultimately build careers of their own design.
“It is deeply meaningful and rewarding to see one of our earliest graduates receive this level of recognition. Jaclyn helped define what a Schmidt College of Medicine physician would become—driven, compassionate, and committed to a purpose greater than themselves. While this honor celebrates her achievements, it also reflects the spirit of the community that helped shape her.” — Jennifer Caceres, MD, Vice Dean for Medical Education, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
The Career She Built
The path from Florida Atlantic to where Dr. Klimczak stands today was built through years of rigorous, competitive training. After earning her medical degree, she completed a five-year Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery residency at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary at Mount Sinai in New York City. She then undertook a fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Rousso Adams Facial Plastics Surgery Clinic in Birmingham, Alabama — training under Dr. Daniel Rousso, a former president of both the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Academy of Hair Restoration Surgery.
Today, Dr. Klimczak is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon in private practice in Boca Raton, an active member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She has authored peer-reviewed articles, contributed textbook chapters, and presented at national meetings — all while building a practice that spans the full range of surgical and nonsurgical facial procedures.
But what defines her work most cannot be found on a CV. "Whether it's a cosmetic procedure or a complex facial reconstruction, the responsibility is real," she says. "Helping patients not only look their best but feel more confident and comfortable in their own skin — that's what drives the work."
And when asked what she is most proud of since graduating, Dr. Klimczak doesn't lead with any of those accomplishments. She leads with something that may resonate even more with students balancing their own competing ambitions.
"Personally, I'm proud of doing all of this while building a family. Learning to balance a demanding surgical career with being a present wife and mother has been one of the most challenging — and rewarding — accomplishments of all."
What the Award Means
When Dr. Klimczak reflects on receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award, she keeps returning to where she started — to the early years of a young institution, and to the people who shaped her there.
"When I think back to my time at the College of Medicine — when it was still so new and just beginning to find its footing — I feel incredibly grateful to have been a small part of those early years," she says. "Being recognized by an institution that has meant so much to my journey feels deeply personal. It's not just an honor — it's a reminder of where I started, and of the people and experiences that helped shape who I am today."
“Dr. Klimczak exemplifies what we hoped this college would produce from the very beginning — a physician of exceptional skill and genuine character. Since her education here in Boca Raton, she has remained connected to this community through her commitment to mentorship and service. We are proud of her accomplishments, and even prouder to call her a MedOwl.” — Lewis S. Nelson, MD, Dean, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
What She Would Tell You
Dr. Klimczak's own training reflects years of focused, purposeful choices — each step building toward the next. But the advice she offers students is more open-handed than her own path might suggest.
"Your path doesn't have to be perfectly linear — and that's okay," she says. "Some of the most meaningful opportunities come from staying open, working hard, and being willing to take risks when the right doors open."
She also cautions against defining success too narrowly. Medicine is a long career, she notes. The technical foundation matters. But so does building toward work that genuinely excites you — and leaving room for a life outside of it.
"Be someone others want to work with — kind, reliable, and driven. Success isn't just defined by titles or achievements. It's about building a career that aligns with your values and still leaves room for a meaningful life outside of medicine."
A MedOwl, Always
Ask Dr. Klimczak what being a MedOwl means to her, and she doesn't hesitate.
"Being a MedOwl means being part of a community rooted in support, resilience, and a shared commitment to excellence," she says. "It means carrying forward the values of the institution — compassion, innovation, and leadership — into whatever path you choose."
For her, the award was a full-circle moment. A student who arrived at a brand-new school, traveled to the Philippines and Ethiopia on medical missions, built a nationally recognized surgical career, and stood at the front of a room receiving her institution's highest honor.
"It's about pride in where you came from," she says, "gratitude for the foundation you were given, and a commitment to paying it forward."