--- title: Frank Papay, MD image: https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Fall%202022/Cover%20Story%20-%20The%20Innovators/Social-Thumbnail-Papay.jpg --- [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) COVER STORY # Frank Papay, MD Interview By John Soeder ## Share - [Share on facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/frank-papay&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) - [Share on twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/frank-papay&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/frank-papay&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) - [Share on linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/frank-papay&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) - [Share on email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20Frank%20Papay%2C%20MD%20&body=Check%20out%20https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/frank-papay&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) Photo: Shawn Green > “Innovation is a team sport.” > > Frank Papay, MD Albert Einstein reportedly once said that if the world were ending in one hour, he would spend 59 minutes clarifying the problem and one minute devising a solution. When I think of innovation, I think of finding a solution to a problem that creates value. Clarifying the problem first is key.   Don’t invent a south-pointing chariot. I learned that from Dean Kamen, one of the greatest living inventors. In ancient times, the Chinese developed a chariot with an incredibly complex gear mechanism to keep them pointed in the right direction. But all they really needed was a simple magnetic compass. When you’re problem-solving, don’t increase the complexity. The simplest solution is probably the best solution.   **Innovation is a team sport.** I liken it to a jazz ensemble, because I’ve played drums since I was a kid. You’re ad-libbing ideas with other people, other personalities. What I know, you might not know. And what you know, I might not know. But together, we create a flow of collective wisdom.   When I mentor young people, I’m careful not to discourage them. They often come at things with a fresh set of eyes and fresh ideas. They think: I don’t know if this is going to work, but let’s try it. And lo and behold, sometimes it *does* work and you come up with something great. As I get older, I also learn from younger people. I call it reverse mentorship. They mentor me, especially about new technologies.   We’re on this Earth for a very short time. I get a lot of fulfillment from working toward something that I can leave behind, something that will have an impact long after I’m pushing up daisies. That inspires me. ![Gallery-Section-Image-Crop-Papay](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Fall%202022/Cover%20Story%20-%20The%20Innovators/Gallery-Section-Image-Crop-Papay.jpg?width=820&height=461&name=Gallery-Section-Image-Crop-Papay.jpg) ***Frank Papay, MD**, is Chair of the Dermatology & Plastic Surgery Institute at Cleveland Clinic. He was one of the leaders of the surgical team that performed Cleveland Clinic’s first total face transplant in 2017. A winner of Cleveland Clinic’s Sones Innovation Award, Dr. Papay is currently developing digital surgical loupes that integrate artificial intelligence and augmented reality to provide critical metrics in real time.*   ## In this Issue ### [![TheInnovators-CoverStory-Small](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Fall%202022/Cover%20Story%20-%20The%20Innovators/TheInnovators-CoverStory-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=TheInnovators-CoverStory-Small.jpg) COVER STORY The Innovators](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/the-innovators?hsLang=en) ### [![DanTMoore-Small-Thumb](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Fall%202022/In%20Gratitude%20-%20Dan%20T.%20Moore/DanTMoore-Small-Thumb.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=DanTMoore-Small-Thumb.jpg) IN GRATITUDE Dan T. Moore](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/dan-t-moore?hsLang=en) ### [![FutureofInnovation-Basic-Small-Thumb](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Fall%202022/Pulse%20-%20The%20Future%20of%20Innovation/FutureofInnovation-Basic-Small-Thumb.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=FutureofInnovation-Basic-Small-Thumb.jpg) PULSE The Future of Innovation](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/the-future-of-innovation?hsLang=en) ### [![A blue wave of data](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine/Fall%202022/Key%20Topic%20-%20Innovation%20101/Innovation101-Thumb-New-Small.jpg?width=242&height=214&name=Innovation101-Thumb-New-Small.jpg) KEY TOPIC Innovation 101](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/2022-fall/innovation-101?hsLang=en) - [Archive](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/archive?hsLang=en) - [Subscribe](https://donate.clevelandclinic.org/sign-up?hsLang=en) [Donate](https://give.ccf.org/CCMAG) [![Cleveland Clinic](https://magazine.clevelandclinic.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CC%20Magazine%20Template%20Assets/img/logo-cc.png?width=300&name=logo-cc.png "Cleveland Clinic")](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/) © 2026 Cleveland Clinic. 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