So No Child Must Wait

New Trip Season Schedule

Here at Interplast, our work never fully comes to an end. As our 2008-2009 trip season ended last month, we are already gearing up for our 2009-2010 trips to begin! As all the logistics, coordination and preparations are underway to begin our new trip season, the countries our medical volunteers will be visiting have been selected and dates have been determined. Please visit our website to see our 2009-2010 trip schedule and stay tuned for more stories from the field as the new trip season begins.

Photo by Adam Forgash.

Interplast Interns

Interplast’s summer 2009 internship program began this week with students from all across the country dedicating their summer vacations to helping others.  This bright group of students come from various universities including: Duke University, Scripps College, St. Louis University, University of California Berkeley and University of California San Diego.  The energy and enthusiasm they bring to the office is refreshing and inspiring for the whole staff. We want to thank our 2009 interns and welcome them to the Interplast family!

Visiting Educators in Guayaquil

Interplast’s visiting educator (VE) program sends volunteer medical professionals to developing countries to provide direct, hands-on training to local medical personnel who work with the poor.

Recently, we sent volunteer orthodontists, Dr. Haskell Gruber and Dr. Lesley Samuels and lab technician Dr. George Knight, to Guayaquil Ecuador to work with Interplast partner orthodontist, Dr. Elsie Tafur Chang.  Dr. Tafur works closely with Dr. Jorge Palacios, Interplast surgical outreach director, ensuring  Dr. Palacios’ cleft lip and palate patients receive the follow-up orthodontic treatment they need. This process allows Interplast to offer its patients the best comprehensive care possible.

During our VE’s visit, they brought with them $19,000 of donated orthodontic supplies and equipment for Dr. Tafur to use in her practice. Additionally, Interplast was able to help provide Dr. Tafur with the funds necessary to purchase a new orthodontic chair set.

Dr. Tafur is thrilled with her new equipment and supplies. Since becoming an Interplast partner in December she has evaluated over 150 patients, and started treatment on 109 of them, all for about $56 a patient.