History
In the 1960s, one man believed plastic surgery could transform the world. One patient at a time…
That man, Dr Donald R Laub of Stanford University, pioneered the idea that reconstructive plastic surgery could rehabilitate, reintegrate and transform lives. In 1969, his vision led to the creation of Interplast (USA), now Resurge International. Thousands of medical volunteers extended a helping hand by travelling overseas and assisting those in need. Mr Leo Rozner, an Australian plastic surgeon, was one of those volunteers.
Returning to Melbourne from South America, Mr Rozner’s promotion of the Interplast experience to the Rotary Club of Cheltenham intrigued Dr Gerald Duff, a general practitioner and Rotarian who instigated discussion regarding transplanting the Interplast concept in Australia with Rotary District 980 (now 9800). Back and forth, the conversational tennis match between Doug Mills and Keith Walter of 980, Interplast in the United States of America and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, through Professor Donald Marshall, the then Chairman of the Plastic and Reconstructive Division, eventuated in the birth of Interplast Australia in 1983. Dubbed a joint project between Rotary District 980 and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, Interplast Australia was established to provide voluntary medical teams to carry out plastic and reconstructive surgery in developing countries.
Changing futures through medical care and training
In Australia and New Zealand, we often take it for granted that if we ever need medical care, we will be treated quickly and effectively by highly qualified doctors, nurses, surgeons and other specialists.
But right next door in the Asia Pacific region, a lack of resources combined with limited training means people with repairable conditions are often not treated fast enough or well enough – if they are treated at all.
The numbers are almost impossible to grasp.
An estimated 143 million people each year go without surgical attention they urgently need, according to the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery. More than 99 million of those cases are in Asia and Oceania, where Interplast works.
Plastic surgery has the power to change the future of entire communities, yet for millions of those who need it most, it is simply not available or not affordable.
Of course, no single organisation could ever help that many people, which is why – in addition to free reconstructive surgery – Interplast delivers high quality training for local medical professionals in each of our 17 partner countries, in response to their requests. We do this in close collaboration with our local partners and a network of organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
Our training programs help strengthen health systems by giving professionals the skills they need to restore function – and hope – to people affected by burns, tumours, hand and foot injuries, congenital anomalies and more. In the meantime, our volunteer medical teams work tirelessly to help as many individuals as they can.
When you donate to Interplast, you contribute directly to changing futures today. Your donation will give someone in need the chance to have life-changing surgery, and it will give someone the opportunity to learn new skills that will benefit their community for years to come.