13th Annual
Golf Outing

Honoring
Robert Gilman M.D., D.M.D.
and his
Cartagena Colombia Team Members

Additional information and registration will be mailed soon
April
Newsletter
Dr. Gilman  has been involved with Healing the Children Northeast since 1998.  

He is the Team Leader for our Cartagena, Colombia Mission.

Here is what Dr. Gilman says about his work with Healing the Children Northeast:

"I am a Board-Certified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon currently on the full-time faculty in the Section of Plastic Surgery at the University of Michigan.  I spent most of my career in practice in the Boston area and on the part time faculty in Plastic Surgery in the Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency program at the Massachusetts General Hospital. 

In the late 1990’s, I was attending a Journal club given at the Lahey Clinic in Boston when the topic of global humanitarian missions was discussed. A colleague of mine, Dr William Hyland had participated in a mission to Cartagena, Colombia and I mentioned my interest in this work.  The very next year he contacted me and I participated in what was then the first Healing The Children, Northeast mission trip to Cartagena.  

My first mission was a life changing experience for me as it can be for many participants.  I felt as though it allowed me to practice a “purer” form of care unencumbered by the pressures of job and finances and motivated only by the desire to do well by doing good. 

Two years later, after Dr. Hyland’s retirement I led my first mission and have now participated for 19 years.  All my mission trips were to Cartagena except for on single mission to Guayaquil, Ecuador. 

Our most recent mission in February of this year saw us operate on our 1000th child. 

Of the many patients on whom we’ve operated, perhaps my most memorable was a boy age 10 whose cleft lip had never been repaired.  His life was one of isolation and little educational opportunity as can be the case for poor children with significant impairments in his culture. 

I repaired his lip on my very 1st mission in 1998. 

On the anniversary marking my 10th mission our hosts had a young man, 20 years old, speak at our annual end of the mission thank you celebration.  He spoke of the opportunities for education and advancement that he gained after his cleft lip repair. 

He had graduated from school with a business associates degree and was a working and productive member of society." 

"It was an incredible honor and privilege to know that
our team and I were able to change this person’s life. 
In doing so we also changed our own lives forever." 
William (Jay) Austen, Jr., M.D.
is a co-team recruiter for the Boston part of the team.

Dr. Austen began traveling with HTCNE in 2000.  

He has traveled with this team for 9 trips, and assists Dr. Gilman assemble the team members out of the Boston area. 

Here is what Dr. Austen says about his work with Healing the Children Northeast:  

"I was fortunate to go on this trip in 2000 with Dr Gilman and Dr Hyland when I was a resident. It inspired me to continue on in my training and complete a pediatric/craniofacial plastic surgery fellowship.

I returned to MGH to work with Children and adults. Along the way I hoped I could someday return with this fantastic team and was able to join Bob as his co-surgeon a number of years ago. 

Although I get to do many interesting things as a plastic surgeon and now chief at MGH, this mission is my favorite time of the year. The team, built and led by Bob, is the best I could imagine. Not only wonderful people but also health care providers who can and do provide the highest level of care to these children. I always feel that these kids get as good care as they would if they were living in the affluent suburbs of Boston.

It is personally very satisfying to care for these kids and their families who otherwise might not receive care or even know what care could be provided to them. The 20 year continuity of care that this team has provided is also very special."

"Seeing these families and kids grow and thrive is the real reward."

Dr. Gilman and his team are one of the very dedicated and wonderful teams that we have the privilege to work with at Healing the Children Northeast!

Dr. Gilman and his Team Members will be honored at this year's Golf Outing.
  Upcoming Trips:


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