Operation Smile Medical Mission to Take Place in Bolpur, India from November 13-November 21, 2008

An Operation Smile Medical Mission team will arrive in Bolpur, India, for a medical mission taking place November 13-21, 2008 to assist children born with facial deformities.  The team consists of more than 50 medical and non-medical volunteers from India who will be working side-by-side with volunteers from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Ireland, the United States and Vietnam.  Founded in 1982, Operation Smile is a worldwide children’s medical charity dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. 

Who: 
An Operation Smile International Mission Team comprised of volunteers from 10 countries to include:
Dr. Prabir Jash, Kolkata, Plastic Surgeon from India Dr. David Chong, Plastic Surgeon from Australia Dr. Marcela de Castro, Pediatric Intensivist from Brazil Sharon Soloveoff, R.N., Clinical Coordinator from California Riley Dean, Student Educator from Louisiana John Colucci, Student Educator from New Jersey

When:
November 13-21, 2008

Where:
Bolpur Sub Division Hospital
Bolpur, India

Since 2002, Operation Smile medical volunteers have provided more than 4,000 Indian children and young adults with free physical examinations and more than 1,700 have received life-changing surgery during international medical missions. The last medical mission in India took place from August 4-17, 2008 when an Operation Smile team of volunteers worked in Hyderabad to change the lives of Indian children. The mission team, including more than 40 medical and non-medical volunteers, worked at Rainbow Children's Hospital and Perinatal Centre. They performed 157 physical examinations and provided new smiles to 112 patients. This was the first international medical mission Operation Smile had conducted in Hyderabad.

About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Founded in 1982, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults.  Since its founding, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 120,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and currently work in 51 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency. 

Media Notes:  To receive images or additional information, or to request an interview with an Operation Smile spokesperson, please contact Lisa Jones at ljones@operationsmile.org or 757-321-3252.