Star Ledger columnist Bob Braun found the project novel and exciting—and his article on NJMS plastic surgeon Mark Granick’s excellent endeavor reflected that. The problem? How to make highly specialized medical knowledge accessible quickly and cost-free to practitioners worldwide, particularly in remote locations. The answer? Publish an open access journal available 24/7 on the Internet.
As Granick prepares to make his third journey to the nation of Mauritius—off the southeastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, where he and his team will complete almost 100 complex plastic surgery cases—he can proudly face the lone plastic surgeon on the island, R.P. Gunnesee. It was with him in mind that Granick and his two collaborators launched ePlasty.
The online Pub-Med indexed journal went live in April 2008, making it possible for all plastic surgeons to stay current in their specialty, as well as having time sensitive medical research published in a more timely fashion. Students and residents also find it a great resource.
UMDNJ faculty and staff often have a worldwide impact. Precious vacation time is spent volunteering in remote locales needing their expertise. NJDS oral and maxillofacial surgeon Shahid Aziz, DMD, MD, with NJMS plastic surgeons Sam Rhee, MD, and Lisa Jacob, MD, recently traveled to Bangladesh for the third time to repair cleft lips and palates. Aziz will do this again in January 2009, and is planning a cleft mission to Ghana and the Gaza Strip later in 2008.
Twenty-four students and four faculty from SN journeyed to the Dominican Republic last summer to set up makeshift clinics to treat infections, pain, hypertension and diabetes.
In 2007, RWJMS endocrinologist Sunil Wimalawansa, MD, a Sri Lankan native, received the Oscar S. Gluck Humanitarian Award for his longtime volunteerism worldwide. And SOM family physician John Bertagnolli, DO, made his eleventh trip to Jamaica, with students, to provide basic medical care to physically and mentally disabled orphans, homeless teenagers, and individuals with HIV.