Only in the US over 150 non-governmental organizations (NGO's) are providing free reconstructive surgeries for individuals with orofacial clefts in developing and undeveloped countries. An increasing number of these missions include not only a surgical team, but also dental professionals and other specialists. Purpose of this presentation is to present an example of many benefits brought about by participation of orthodontic residents in a multidisciplinary team of professionals in cleft medical missions. OBJECTIVE: Main objective of this presentation is to encourage other residency programs to participate in cleft medical missions, and thus increase services for cleft patients as well as to involve young orthodontists in cleft palate care volunteerism in the beginning of their professional career. METHOD: During the last nine years faculty, orthodontic residents, and students from the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry participated 120-times in 63 Rotaplast cleft medical missions working in dental, genetic, and pediatric fields. RESULTS: Donated value of professional services represents altogether $1,905,765 ($1,051,785 in dental/ortho services and $853,980 in genetic services). A partnership with the Rotaplast International, Inc. allowed our faculty, residents, and students not only to deliver professional services and acquire new experience, but also to bring back valuable data and specimens for our genetic research. CONCLUSIONS: A participation of our orthodontic residents in the Rotaplast cleft medical missions became a part of our graduate program. It has brought another dimension to education and training of our graduates. With no exception, work of our residents and their contribution to the success of each mission is highly prized. They are bringing back from those two weeks - working many times more than 12 hours a day - not only what they learned professionally, but also warm feelings in their hearts remembering their patients, to whom they helped to start a better future.
Division: IADR/PER General Session
Meeting:2010 IADR/PER General Session (Barcelona, Spain) Location: Barcelona, Spain
Year: 2010 Final Presentation ID:1952 Abstract Category|Abstract Category(s):Craniofacial Biology
Authors
Tolarova, Marie
( University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, USA
)
Valley, Maureen
( University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, USA
)
Poulton, Donald
( University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, USA
)
Gast, Garry
( University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, USA
)
Wong, Granger
( UC Davis Medical Group Plastic Surgery, Sacramento, CA, USA
)
Capozzi, Angelo
( Rotaplast International Inc, San Francisco, CA, USA
)
Tolar, Miroslav
( University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA, USA
)
SESSION INFORMATION
Poster Session
Clinical Orthodontics – Treatment Modalities and Outcomes
07/15/2010