Interplast
Encyclopedia
Interplast, now called ReSurge International, is the first international humanitarian organization to provide free reconstructive surgery in developing countries, primarily to children with cleft lip and palate
and burn scar contracture
s.
Interplast was founded in 1969 by Stanford plastic surgeon Donald Laub
, and as of 2007, has treated more than 64,000 children worldwide. The first patient was a 13-year-old boy who had come to Stanford University Medical Center
from his home in Mexicali
, Mexico
to receive surgery to repair his cleft lip and palate
. Soon after, Laub and other surgeons began organizing regular trips to a charity hospital in Mexicali
to treat children with disabling deformities.
Over time, Interplast began organizing surgical volunteer trips to other parts of Latin America, and eventually to Asia and Africa as well. As medical infrastructures improved throughout the developing world, Interplast shifted its focus towards educating and empowering doctors in developing countries by providing surgical outreach directors with the resources (money, education, supplies, etc) to offer high-quality care in their own communities.
Interplast was the subject of "A Story of Healing
," winner of the 1997 Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject
. In 2007, "A Story of Healing" became the first Academy Award-winning film to be released under a Creative Commons
license.
Cleft
Cleft lip and cleft palate , which can also occur together as cleft lip and palate, are variations of a type of clefting congenital deformity caused by abnormal facial development during gestation. A cleft is a fissure or opening—a gap. It is the non-fusion of the body's natural structures that...
and burn scar contracture
Burn scar contracture
Burn scar contracture refers to the tightening of the skin after a second or third degree burn. When skin is burned, the surrounding skin begins to pull together, resulting in a contracture. It needs to be treated as soon as possible because the scar can result in restriction of movement around the...
s.
Interplast was founded in 1969 by Stanford plastic surgeon Donald Laub
Donald Laub
Donald R. Laub Sr. is a retired plastic surgeon who led multidisciplinary teams on reconstructive surgery missions to developing countries. He completed his undergraduate studies at Marquette University and earned an MD from the Marquette University School of Medicine in 1960...
, and as of 2007, has treated more than 64,000 children worldwide. The first patient was a 13-year-old boy who had come to Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center
Stanford University Medical Center represents the Stanford Hospital and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital and is located at 300 Pasteur Drive in Stanford, California. Stanford Hospital provides both general acute care services and tertiary medical care for patients locally, nationally and...
from his home in Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to receive surgery to repair his cleft lip and palate
Cleft
Cleft lip and cleft palate , which can also occur together as cleft lip and palate, are variations of a type of clefting congenital deformity caused by abnormal facial development during gestation. A cleft is a fissure or opening—a gap. It is the non-fusion of the body's natural structures that...
. Soon after, Laub and other surgeons began organizing regular trips to a charity hospital in Mexicali
Mexicali
Mexicali is the capital of the State of Baja California, seat of the Municipality of Mexicali, and 2nd largest city in Baja California. The City of Mexicali has a population of 689,775, according to the 2010 census, while the population of the entire metropolitan area reaches 936,826.The city...
to treat children with disabling deformities.
Over time, Interplast began organizing surgical volunteer trips to other parts of Latin America, and eventually to Asia and Africa as well. As medical infrastructures improved throughout the developing world, Interplast shifted its focus towards educating and empowering doctors in developing countries by providing surgical outreach directors with the resources (money, education, supplies, etc) to offer high-quality care in their own communities.
Interplast was the subject of "A Story of Healing
A Story of Healing
A Story of Healing is a short documentary film in which Donna Dewey follows a team of five nurses, four anesthesiologists, and three plastic surgeons from Interplast in the United States for two weeks of volunteer work in the Mekong delta of Vietnam...
," winner of the 1997 Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject
Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject
This is a list of films by year that have received an Oscar together with the other nominations for best documentary short subject. Following the Academy's practice, the year listed for each film is the year of release: the awards are announced and presented early in the following year.-1940s:*1941...
. In 2007, "A Story of Healing" became the first Academy Award-winning film to be released under a Creative Commons
Creative Commons
Creative Commons is a non-profit organization headquartered in Mountain View, California, United States devoted to expanding the range of creative works available for others to build upon legally and to share. The organization has released several copyright-licenses known as Creative Commons...
license.