Richard Thomson, MD

UT Health San Antonio
Schedule an appointment: (210) 644-6700
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Specialty
Plastic Surgery
Education
University of Liverpool Medical School, 2008
Residency
West-Midlands Deanery & Welsh Centre For Burns & Plastic Surgery, 2012
Welsh Centre For Burns & Plastic Surgery, 2022
Fellowships
Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit-Glasgow Royal Cons., 2013
Southmead Hospital, Bristiol Cons, 2015
Bc Children's Hospital, 2021
Great Ormond Street Hospital, 2022
Evelina London Cleft Service, 2023
Languages
English
Gender
Male

University Hospital

4502 Medical Drive
San Antonio,TX 78229

Robert B. Green Campus

903 W. Martin Street
San Antonio,TX 78207
Insurance Accepted
6 Degrees - Transplant
90 Degree Benefits - Commercial
Aetna - Commercial/Exchange (IFP)
Aetna - PPO/EPO/HMO/MC Advantage
Aetna - Smart Care EPO
Aetna - Transplant ONLY
Aetna Better Health - Medicaid-CHIP
Aetna Better Health - Medicaid-STAR
Allegiance - Universal Benefits Consortium
Allwell - Medicare Advantage
Ancira Enterprises - Direct Employer
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - Exchange (BlueAdvantage)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - HMO/PPO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - HPN/EPO (Narrow Network)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - Medicaid-STAR
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - Medicare Advantage HMO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - Medicare Advantage PPO
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - Narrow HMO (Blue Essentials)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - Narrow HMO (Blue Premier)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - Traditional
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas - Transplant Programs
Care Improvement Plus - Medicare Advantage-SNP
Cenpatico - Medicaid-CHIP
Cenpatico - Medicaid-STAR
Cenpatico - Medicaid-STAR Health (Foster Care)
Cenpatico - Medicare Advantage
CHAMPVA - Governmental
Community First Health Plans - HMO/Exchange (EPO)
Community First Health Plans - Medicaid-CHIP
Community First Health Plans - Medicaid-CHIP Perinate
Community First Health Plans - Medicaid-STAR
Community First Health Plans - Medicaid-STAR Kids
Community First Health Plans - Medicare Advantage HMO
Coventry - HMO/PPO
Coventry - Work Comp / Auto
Curative - Commercial
Driscoll Health Plan - Medicaid-All
EBSO - TPA
El Paso First - Medicaid-CHIP
El Paso First - Medicaid-STAR
Entrust - TPA
First Health - Commercial PPO
FirstCare (Part of Scott & White Health Plans) - Medicaid-STAR
Gonzaba Medical Group - Transplant ONLY
Healthsmart - Accel
Healthsmart - Commercial PPO
Healthsmart - HPO/POS
Humana - Commercial Behavioral Health
Humana - Exchange (HMOx)
Humana - HMO/PPO/Behavioral Health
Humana - Medicare Advantage Behavioral Health
Humana - Medicare Advantage HMO (Gold)
Humana - Medicare Advantage PPO
Humana - National Transplant ONLY Network
Humana Military - TRICARE
Imperial Health Plan - Medicare Advantage
Independent Medical Systems (IMS) - PPO
Interlink - Transplant
LifeTrac - Transplant
Magellan - Commercial and Medicaid Behavioral Health
Molina - Commercial Exchange
Molina - Medicaid-CHIP
Molina - Medicaid-CHIP Perinate
Molina - Medicaid-STAR
Molina - Medicare Advantage
Molina - Medicare-Medicaid Duals
MultiPlan - Work Comp
MultiPlan - Wrap Network
OptumHealth - Transplant ONLY
Oscar - Commercial Exchange
Point Comfort Underwriters (PCU) - Refugee Medical Assistance
Point Comfort Underwriters (PCU) - Unaccompanied Children
Prime Health Services - Commercial PPO
Prime Health Services - Medicare Advantage
Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS) - Commercial PPO
ProCare Advantage - Medicare Advantage I-SNP
Provider Network of America (PNOA) - Commercial
Provider Partners Health Plan (PPHP) - Medicare Advantage I-SNP
Scott & White Health Plan - HMO/PPO/Medicare Advantage
Superior HealthPlan - Medicaid-CHIP
Superior HealthPlan - Medicaid-CHIP Perinate
Superior HealthPlan - Medicaid-STAR
Superior HealthPlan - Medicaid-STAR Health (Foster Care)
Superior HealthPlan - Medicaid-STAR Kids
Superior HealthPlan - Medicaid-STAR PLUS
Superior HealthPlan - Medicare Advantage (Allwell)
Superior HealthPlan - Medicare-Medicaid Duals (Allwell)
Texas Independence Health Plan - Medicare Advantage I-SNP
Three Rivers Provider Network - PPO
Tokio Marine - Transplant
TriWest (via BCBSTX) - VA CCN Program
UnitedHealthcare - Medicaid-STAR
UnitedHealthcare - Medicaid-STAR Kids
UnitedHealthcare - Medicaid-STAR PLUS
UnitedHealthcare - Medicare Advantage
UnitedHealthcare - PPO
Universal Benefits Consortium - Brokerage Firm (School Districts)
University of Incarnate Word (Gilsbar) - Direct Employer
Velocity National Provider Network - Commercial PPO
Velocity National Provider Network - Wrap Network
Veterans Administration - Governmental
WellCare - Medicare Advantage
WellMed - Medicare Advantage
WellPoint (Gonzaba) - Medicare Advantage (TRANSPLANTS ONLY)
WellPoint - Medicaid-CHIP
WellPoint - Medicaid-CHIP Perinate
WellPoint - Medicaid-STAR
WellPoint - Medicaid-STAR Kids
WellPoint - Medicaid-STAR PLUS
WellPoint - Medicare Advantage
WellPoint - Medicare-Medicaid Duals
Please contact your health insurance company to confirm provider participation. For billing and insurance questions, please call our Billing Department at 210-358-3260.
"As a pediatric plastic surgeon, I am committed to delivering holistic and comprehensive reconstructive care for children as part of a multidisciplinary team."
I am an assistant professor for the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UT Health San Antonio and a pediatric plastic surgeon at University Hospital.
Growing up in a medical family, with my father as a family physician, I saw firsthand how fulfilling and impactful a career in medicine could be. This environment instilled in me a strong work ethic, a deep sense of curiosity, and a natural inclination for problem-solving. Pediatric plastic surgery in particular captivated me because it requires both an inquisitive approach and creative mindset while emphasizing clear, compassionate communication. The ability to make a tangible, lasting difference in a child's life through reconstructive surgery is what truly solidified my passion for this field.
Philosophy of Care
I believe in a patient-centered approach that prioritizes individualized care alongside open and transparent communication with both patients and their families. Pediatric plastic surgery has lifelong implications, making collaboration within a multidisciplinary team essential to achieving the best outcomes.
A key part of my practice is the continuous assessment and refinement of surgical techniques to improve patient outcomes while minimizing the physical and psychological impact of surgery. My goal is always to provide safe, effective, and innovative care tailored to each child’s unique needs.
Education
Residency
  • Plastic Surgery Residency - The Welsh Centre For Burns & Plastic Surgery, United Kingdom, 2015 - 2020
Fellowships
  • Pediatric Plastic Surgery - BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada, 2021
  • Craniofacial Surgery - Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom, 2022
  • Cleft Lip & Palate Surgery - The Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, United Kingdom, 2023
Prior to joining UT Heath San Antonio, I was an attending consultant at The Royal Bristol Hospital for Children and The Welsh Centre for Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery.
My Favorite Part of Medicine
Pediatric plastic surgery is one of the most rewarding fields in medicine. The privilege of caring for patients from infancy through adulthood allows me to build long-term relationships and witness the transformative impact of reconstructive surgery. Restoring both function and appearance in children with congenital or acquired differences improves their quality of life and helps them navigate the world with greater confidence.
Additionally, I thrive in the collaborative nature of plastic surgery. Working alongside expert providers from multiple disciplines allows us to solve complex problems and achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients. The blend of technical precision, artistry and teamwork makes this specialty incredibly fulfilling.
Areas of Clinical Expertise
I have extensive training in cleft, craniofacial and pediatric plastic surgery, having completed three advanced international sub-specialty fellowships. I am passionate about advancing surgical techniques in these areas to optimize outcomes for my patients.
Hobbies
Outside of work I enjoy endurance sports such as open-water swimming and road cycling, which have been an integral part of my triathlon training over the years.
Awards
  • Most Innovative Quality Improvement Idea – Morriston Hospital, 2019.
  • Douglas Murray Prize – Winning presentation, West Midlands National Plastic Surgery Meeting. Thermal Imaging in Assessment of Burn Depth. Revisited with New High Resolution Technology, 2011.
Service
  • CLEFT (Bridging the Gap) – Charity fundraising committee. 2021-2024.
  • Northern Cleft Foundation – Cleft outreach program – Nagpur, India. 2017.
Publications
‪Richard M Thomson - ‪Google Scholar
Call (210) 644-6700 to request an appointment with this doctor.
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