Interplast is the first international humanitarian organization to provide free reconstructive surgery in developing countries, primarily to children with cleft lip and palate and burn scar contractures. For other uses, see Cleft (disambiguation). ...

Interplast was founded in 1969 by plastic surgeon Donald Laub, and as of 2007, has treated more than 64,000 children worldwide. The first patient was a 13-year-old boy who had come to Stanford University Medical Center from his home in Mexicali, Mexico to receive surgery to repair his cleft lip and palate. Soon after, Laub and other surgeons began organizing regular trips to a charity hospital in Mexicali to treat children with disabling deformities. For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... Donald R. Laub, Sr. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Stanford University Medical Center is one of four hospitals affiliated with Stanford University and Stanford University School of Medicine, along with the Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital, the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. ... Mexicali is the capital of the state of Baja California, Mexico as well as the capital of the municipality of Mexicali. ... For other uses, see Cleft (disambiguation). ... Mexicali is the capital of the state of Baja California, Mexico as well as the capital of the municipality of Mexicali. ...

Over time, Interplast began organizing surgical volunteer trips to other parts of Latin America, and eventually to Asia and Africa as well. As medical infrastructures improved throughout the developing world, Interplast shifted its focus towards educating and empowering doctors in developing countries by providing surgical outreach directors with the resources (money, education, supplies, etc) to offer high-quality care in their own communities.

Interplast was the subject of "A Story of Healing," winner of the 1997 Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject. In 2007, "A Story of Healing" became the first Academy Award-winning film to be released under a Creative Commons license. A Story of Healing is a short documentary film in which Donna Dewey follows a team of five nurses, four anesthesiologists, and three plastic surgeons from Interplast in the United States for two weeks of volunteer work in the Mekong delta of Vietnam. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of films that have received an Oscar and nomination for best documentary short subject. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... The Creative Commons (CC) is a non-profit organization devoted to expanding the range of creative work available for others legally to build upon and share. ...

External links

• Interplast
• Interplast blog: showcases Interplast volunteer surgical trips and visiting educator workshops throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• Watch "A Story of Healing," including epilogue
• Interplast Grand Rounds, Interplast's Web-based collaboration tool
• A Story of Healing at The Internet Movie Database