title: Development of Volunteer International Craniofacial Surgery Missions: The Komedyplast Protocol.
abstract: Volunteer surgical missions to provide cleft care to patients in developing countries has been done successfully for a number of years. Similar missions that provide craniofacial surgery introduce a dramatic step up in complexity. While articles have addressed protocols for the safe delivery of cleft care around the world, little has been written on volunteer craniofacial surgical missions. Komedyplast was established in March 2001 as a 501c(3) nonprofit organization to provide craniofacial surgical care to underserved populations and educate local surgeons in craniofacial principles. During 9 annual missions, the organization has provided surgical care to more than 150 patients with various complex, congenital, craniofacial conditions. The article addresses important safeguards that have been implemented to maximize safety and minimize risk.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY †Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO ‡University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA §Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C. ||Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD ¶The Permanente Medical Group, Santa Clara, CA #Anesthesia Resources for Children, Dallas, TX **Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño, Lima, Peru ††JW Plastic Surgery, Highland Park, IL.
authors.forename: Peter James
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Taub
authors.forename: Alexander Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Franklyn P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Cladis
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Cheryl K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Gooden
authors.forename: Anand
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Losee
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Menard
authors.forename: Red
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Starks
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Wieslawa
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: De Pawlikowski
authors.forename: Andres Wiegering
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Cecchi
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weinzweig
mesh_terms: D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D008493:Medical Missions / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D014838:Volunteers