For the fourth consecutive year, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation are presenting $2,500 grants to four doctors to help fund their volunteer oral and maxillofacial surgery care in the United States and across the globe through the joint Global Outreach Program.
The program also offers each recipient $2,000 in healthcare products courtesy of Henry Schein Cares, which aims to increase the delivery of healthcare services and information to at-risk and underserved communities.
“Oral and maxillofacial surgeons deliver vital healthcare to patients in underserved communities around the world,” said AAOMS president A. Thomas Indresano, DMD. “Since 2015, the Global Outreach Program has provided grants to help oral and maxillofacial surgeons use their expertise to make a significant difference around the world.”
This year’s recipients include:
- Joli Chou, DMD, MD, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Chou will use the grant for a two-week surgical mission with Africa Mercy to Guinea. She and other healthcare providers from more than 30 countries will conduct about 60 major oral and maxillofacial surgeries on patients of all ages. Continuing education also will be provided to local healthcare providers.
- Clay Van Leeuwen, DMD, MD, of Fairbanks, Alaska: The grant will cover licensing, supplies, hospitalization, food, and travel for patients from remote locations treated by Global Medical and Surgical Teams, a small group of doctors and nurses. Last year, they partnered with a clinic in Kyotera, Uganda, to perform cleft lip and palate surgeries. This year, they will return for follow-up treatment and additional primary lip and palate repairs.
- Gary R. Parker, DDS, of Lindale, Texas: During approximately nine months on Conkary, Guinea, Parker and his team plan on treating about 250 patients. He also expects to participate in a full-time surgical mentoring program. He has been a full-time volunteer with Mercy Ships, which offers healthcare services in developing countries, for 31 years.
- Edward Zebovitz, DDS, of Bowie, Maryland: The grant will cover supplies and medications for procedures to be performed during Surgeons for Smiles’ trip to Eritrea, Africa. The 35 to 50 procedures will include prosthetic reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint, tumor management, and cleft lip and palate reconstruction for patients ranging from eight months to 80 years old.
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