Most of us plan our vacations around a heavy dose of rest and relaxation. But there are some who use that time to take on additional work, reaching out to those in need in far-off places.

That was the impetus for a medical team of nine that left New York on January 14 for Kishergansh province in northeast Bangladesh. There, they boarded a river barge called the Jibon Tari, outfitted as a floating hospital, which journeys to remote regions to provide specialized medical care. Families travel long distances—with sick children in tow—to get there.

Bengalis are often too poor to afford basic medical care, so surgery to correct physiological abnormalities is way beyond their means. Cleft lips and palates frequently remain untreated until the teen years or later, becoming the source of an entire family’s isolation. As a child grows, the cleft grows as well; and the faces of beautiful children become seriously misshapen. Teeth grow willy-nilly, and speech and eating are often affected.

The medical group included an oral/maxillofacial surgeon, plastic/reconstructive surgeon, plastic surgery resident, and oral surgery nurse from UMDNJ, as well as five members from Columbia University. They worked on two operating tables set up side-by-side, doing simultaneous surgeries.

This is a story where the pictures tell it all. Suffice it to say that there are 30 children and their families whose lives henceforth will be very different and 81 children, teens and young adults waiting for this team’s return next January. A year may seem like a cruel wait, but being able to look forward to the return of these surgeons is an important milestone in itself for many families.

Team leader Shahid Aziz, MD, DMD, assistant professor of oral/maxillofacial surgery at NJDS says: “These trips remind us of why we became doctors and we can also introduce our residents to the rewards of helping the larger global community.” UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School provides support for these trips. If you would like further information, or to participate in some way, contact azizsr@umdnj.edu.