Medical Mission Continues

Newswise — Medical missions to foreign countries offer care to poor people, but there are differences among such missions. Medical Mission Ecuador, a project of the Vasconez brothers who are chiefs of plastic surgery at UAB and the University of Kentucky, is unusual for returning annually to the same location, the city of Ambato, and for offering continuing professional education for local physicians and nurses. UAB surgeon Luis Vasconez, M.D., says the annual visits allow better follow-up of patients and the chance to perform reconstructive surgeries in stages over time. "The educational component lets us leave intellectual capital behind to raise the standard of care for the people of Ecuador." The team will travel to Ecuador Feb. 7-13.