FACE Conducts Surgical Outreach Mission in Cuenca, Ecuador
(November 27, 2007)

FACE team surgeons visited Cuenca, Ecuador on a one-week mission in November to evaluate prospective patients and explore access to surgical and training facilities in the region.

The Foundation for the Advancement of Children's Esthetics [F.A.C.E.] met with local doctors and members of la Sociedad Ecuatoriana de Dermatologia (Nucleo Azuay - Directiva Nacional) to conduct pre-op consultations with local patients who will benefit from procedures performed by FACE surgeons.

The lead FACE doctors in Ecuador are noted dermatologist, Dr. Edgar Reinoso, and Dr. Jose Valdivieso, an accomplished plastic surgeon with a practice in Cuenca. Carlos Ordonez is spearheading development of FACE interaction with doctors and medical professionals in Ecuador.

Web-based Surgical Support Program.
FACE Medical Team is exploring development of surgical facility access in Cuenca, Ecuador to provide remote surgical monitoring and training programs. Utilizing broad band IT service for Audio, Video Teleconferencing, and Data transfer, the FACE team will be able to:

• Teach and supervise the physicians in the Cuenca operating room during surgical procedures as well as pre- and post-op care.
• Offer real-time training sessions and education on advanced techniques and share information with Cuenca-based surgeons via the FACE headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida.

Medical Fellowship Program.
Currently, FACE provides a fellowship training program for US-based surgeons to learn advanced facial plastic surgery techniques.  Two lead surgeons from Cuenca, Ecuador will come to FACE headquarters in February to participate in this program.

Through didactic as well as demonstrative teaching sessions, Ecuadorian physicians will learn the latest skin cancer surgery and facial plastic surgery techniques. This 'train-the-trainer' model will allow FACE doctors to help advance the surgical skills of doctors throughout Ecuador.

Visitor from El Salvador,

Community Outreach 

On September 8, FACE Team Leaders Drs. Phillip and Roberto Garcia assembled an all-star cast of medical professionals to launch the inaugural North Florida Women's Health Congress.

 Participating physicians included specialists in Cardiology, Dentistry, Gynecology, Orthopedics, and Facial Plastic Surgery. Proceeds from the Congress were donated to the Joshua Frase Foundation, a charitable organization supporting medical research on children with congenital myopothies.