2010 Pereira, Colombia
Day 1: Pre-Clinic
Pereira, Colombia
We arrive at the clinic at Hospital Universitario San Jorge at 6:30 AM. The site of over 150 people waiting in lines and overflow under tents, brings a lump to our throats. While we were having juic... Read More »
Day 2: Surgery Begins
Pereira, Colombia
We arrive at the clinic at 7:00 AM for a full day of surgery. First, the families waiting for surgery are brought into a waiting room. Then, three at a time are brought into a second waiting room to... Read More »
Day 3: Partnership to Success…
Pereira, Colombia
…is often in the preparedness of both the medical personnel and non-medical volunteers who join with the host Rotary club in the name of Rotaplast. The Club Rotario Pereira Perla del Otύn (PRC) host... Read More »
Day 4: A View of Club Rotario Pereira Perla del Otύn
Pereira, Colombia
There is more to being a host than a nice welcome. The Club Rotario Pereira Perla del Otύn (PRC) begins to plan for a Rotaplast mission 6 months ahead of a proposed date by requesting a mission fro... Read More »
Day 5: Stevenson: A Special Case
Pereira, Colombia
That first day of intake, Andrea Dolak and Jill Long (photojournalists) noticed a 5-year-old boy sitting in the first row trying to get their attention by waving. They were taken by his happy, outgo... Read More »
Meet Ema
Pereira, Colombia
Ema was another one of our special patients who was close to our hearts. She is a very short woman who quietly went through the intake line to be evaluated for surgery. She nodded to everyone... Read More »
Day 7: Salento
Pereira, Colombia
Our day off was a trip to Salento, about an hour outside Pereira. We began our day at a small restaurant called "Camino Real Parrilla Bar." Trout is the local delicacy. ... Read More »
Day 8: A Typical Day at Hospital Universitario San Jorge
Pereira, Colombia
The Rotaplast medical and volunteer teams generally arrive at the hospital by 6:30am. The Quartermaster unlocks the supply room and the operating room (OR) staff start to set up the ORs.... Read More »
Day 9: A Little Education
Pereira, Colombia
Plastic Surgery – working with soft tissue Maxillary Surgery – working with bones Cleft lip and cleft palate is mostly caused by lack of folic acid in the mothers diet. At 9 weeks gestati... Read More »
Day 11: The Last Day
Pereira, Colombia
Today is bittersweet. This is the day we break down our respective rooms that we have been accustomed to working in for the last 10 days. Today is the day when many of the patients we were ab... Read More »
Latest From Around The World
Rotaplast Mission Brings ...
Kampala, Uganda
Collaboration between Rotaplast International and local hospital staff aims to improve burn treatment and patient outcomes The mission, which brought a large team of surgeons, nurses, and other healthcare ... Read More »
Dr. Maureen Valley, DMD, ...
San Francisco, California
SAN FRANCISCO – June 15, 2024 – Rotaplast International is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Maureen Valley, DMD, MPH, MS, as the new Director of Dental Services. Dr. Valley brings a wealth ... Read More »