ASRM - Want to Volunteer?

Microsurgery International Volunteer Opportunities

Plastic surgeons and orthopedic surgeons have a long tradition of international health volunteering and teaching. No formalized volunteer mechanism exists for reconstructive microsurgery or complex reconstruction, however. The ASRM would like to catalog member experiences in developing countries and then disseminate this information to the entire membership to facilitate international volunteering.

Microsurgery and care of the microsurgical patient have unique requirements that make performing this type of surgery in developing countries even more challenging. These factors include:

Equipment needs (microscope and microsurgical instruments)

blood bank support

possible ICU care

The use of resources (operating room time, etc.) for small numbers of complicated patients when the local community might be focused on more pressing public health issues such as clean water, disease prevention, and basic medical care.

Despite these challenges, the society believes that many life and limb saving procedures can be carried out in these countries in addition to teaching local colleagues the procedures and techniques that they can begin to use in their own local communities.

If you are interested in participating in an international health opportunity please fill out the attached form and fax or e-mail to the central office. Several years ago the ASPS created the Volunteers in Plastic Surgery (VIPS) to serve as a clearinghouse for information on volunteer opportunities and the ASRM will communicate with them regularly regarding any information we collect. We will expand our existing database and hope to disseminate this information but also continually update the information in the future. We welcome any ideas or suggestions and also the involvement of any individual who is interested in expanding the society’s role in organizing opportunities for volunteering and teaching in developing countries.

Also attached are links to organizations that may be a source of additional information to interested members.

Thank You,
Fred Duffy
fjduffy@sbcglobal.net

ASRM Microsurgical Volunteer Initiative

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