Surgery Spotlight: Michelle Bonapace-Potvin, MD, FRCSC
The Department of Surgery is proud to spotlight Michelle Bonapace-Potvin (She/They), MD, FRCSC, Assistant Professor in the Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. In this feature, Dr. Bonapace-Potvin reflects on what inspired their career in surgery, why Minnesota, and shares their goals for advancing surgical care and training.
Dr. Bonapace-Potvin knew they wanted to become a surgeon the first time they stepped into an operating room. “The OR is like an orchestra,” they explained. “Every person has a precise role, and when everyone moves in harmony, something extraordinary happens. There is rhythm, discipline, trust, and collective purpose.”
Before pursuing medicine, Dr. Bonapace-Potvin had planned to study philosophy, with a focus on queer and gender theory. Ultimately, surgery offered a path that combined intellectual inquiry with tangible impact. “Surgery allowed me to continue engaging with complex questions about identity and embodiment while also giving me the ability to physically help people in my community,” they said.
Dr. Bonapace-Potvin completed their plastic surgery residency at the Université de Montréal and advanced fellowship training in gender-affirming surgery at Oregon Health & Science University. Their clinical practice focuses on gender-affirming procedures and complex reconstructive surgery, with an emphasis on individualized care and long-term outcomes. Their research examines surgical techniques, functional outcomes, and ways to strengthen evidence-based care in gender-affirming surgery.
What drew Dr. Bonapace-Potvin to Minnesota was the people. “When I met the team, I immediately felt the power and conviction to build something meaningful,” they said. “I’m stepping into a department with vision, infrastructure, and the courage to move forward.” Dr. Bonapace-Potvin is particularly excited about helping expand surgical offerings and building programs that serve patients who have historically had limited access to specialized care.
While surgery often involves dramatic moments in the operating room, Dr. Bonapace-Potvin finds the most meaningful rewards in quieter moments with patients. “A patient returning to clinic standing a little taller than they did before, or expressing relief after years of distress—those are the moments that stay with you,” they said.
Looking ahead, Dr. Bonapace-Potvin hopes to contribute to strengthening the evidence base in gender-affirming surgery, particularly in areas where long-term data is limited. “There is tremendous opportunity to refine techniques, study long-term outcomes, and improve how we counsel patients,” they said.
