Plastic Surgery Global Health

A group of plastic surgery residents and faculty traveled to the Philippines.  It was an amazing experience for all the participants.  The group provided clinical care to over 70 patients.  Residents and faculty worked side by side together to provide optimal care for each patient. Residents participated in a number of procedures such as cleft palate repairs, cleft lip repairs, as well as burn and cancer reconstructions. The gratitude from patients and locals was overwhelming and these experiences can be life changing for trainees and faculty.

UVA Plastic Surgery was a part of a team who provided clinical care in Romania.  The team evaluated 10 children with syndromic craniosynostosis from age 2 months to 11 years and included neurosurgery, craniofacial surgery, maxillofacial surgery as well as Romanian residents. In addition to hands on learning using springs, internal distraction and external distraction the group provided lecture topics including single suture craniosynostosis, syndromic craniosynostosis, and midface advancement including Lefort 3, Monobloc, Facial Bipartition.

Our team of 18 multi-disciplinary professionals traveled to Giridih India in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains to provide reconstructive surgery.  We performed over 200 procedures.

Without this care, these patients would not be treated and their needs included cleft lip, burn reconstruction, and numerous types of hand surgery. We travel every 2-3 years and typically treat over 70 patients surgically. This mission is our longest ongoing department global effort and began in 1988.