The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) and the Henry Schein Cares Foundation are supporting the volunteerism of four oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMSs) through the joint Global Outreach Program.
For the fourth consecutive year, AAOMS and the Foundation are presenting $2,500 grants to four doctors to help fund their oral and maxillofacial surgery care in the United States and around the world. 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, FACS. "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.”
The 2018 grant recipients are:
Joli Chou, DMD, MD, FACS, of Philadelphia, Pa. – Chou plans to use the grant for a two-week surgical mission trip with Africa Mercy to Guinea. She and other healthcare providers from more than 30 countries will conduct approximately 60 major oral and maxillofacial surgeries on patients of all ages. Continuing education also will be provided to local healthcare providers. Chou has received four grants from the program to fund trips with Mercy Ships, a nonprofit that operates a fleet of ships to offer healthcare services in developing countries.
Clay Van Leeuwen, DMD, MD, of Fairbanks, Alaska – The grant will cover licensing, supplies as well as 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, the group partnered with a clinic in Kyotera, Uganda, to perform cleft lip and palate surgeries. The group is scheduled to return for follow-up and to perform additional primary lip and palate repairs.
Gary R. Parker, DDS, of Lindale, Texas – During approximately nine months in Conakry, Guinea, Parker and his team plan to treat about 250 patients. He also expects to participate in a full-time surgical mentoring program for surgeons. Parker has been a full-time volunteer OMS with Mercy Ships for 31 years. Every year since 2015, he has received a grant from the Global Outreach program for his service with Mercy Ships.
Edward Zebovitz, DDS, of Bowie, Md. – The grant will cover supplies and medications for procedures to be performed during Surgeons for Smiles’ trip to Eritrea, Africa. The procedures will include prosthetic reconstruction of the TMJ, facial reconstruction, tumor management and cleft lip and palate reconstruction. One mission trip can provide 35 to 50 surgeries, and patients range in age from 8 months to 80 years.
The experts in face, mouth and jaw surgery® — The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) is the professional organization representing more than 11,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons, OMS residents and OMS professional staff in the United States. AAOMS supports its fellows' and members' ability to practice their specialty through education, research and advocacy. AAOMS fellows and members comply with rigorous continuing education requirements and submit to periodic office anesthesia evaluations. For additional information about oral and maxillofacial surgery, visit the AAOMS websites at AAOMS.org and myOMS.org.
