Posted November 10, 2009 in Blog, Plastic Surgery in the News, Uncategorized
U.S servicemen and women who suffer facial injuries in combat may be eligible for free reconstructive medical care through a national group of plastic surgeons that includes Michael A. Persky, MD, FACS.
Dr. Persky is among about 170 doctors with the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery who is participating in the new Faces of Honor program that was launched in October at the AAFPRS Meeting in San Diego.
The program compliments the academy’s Face to Face program, which began in 1992 and provides free medical care to victims of domestic violence and children overseas who suffer facial deformities. Faces of Honor was the brainchild of academy past-president Donn Chatham. Chatham said the idea for the program grew from his belief that Vietnam vets were not treated well by America in general and his concern that U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are also fighting an unpopular war.
“Last year, a National Guard unit from my community was deployed to Iraq. Within a few weeks, one of the men was killed, leaving a young wife and young baby,” he said. “I began trying to figure out a way that either I or other colleagues might be able to somehow show our appreciation to what these men, women and families were going through.”
Noting that about one-fifth of the survivable injuries from Iraq and Afghanistan involve the face, head and neck, Chatham said, “This seemed like a possible service we could offer them. It’s a public thank you to all the brave men and women who have done what most of us were not asked to do. And, if we can help improve the quality of life for just a handful of veterans, it will be a good thing.”
The program is meant to supplement care already provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“The VA medical system has many fine and well-trained (physicians), and I believe most veterans with injuries receive excellent care,” Chatham said. “The idea with Faces of Honor was to offer an additional level of reconstructive care to those veterans who may have returned to their homes and may possibly not be living anywhere near a VA facility.”
For more information about Faces of Honor, visit the program’s Web site at www.facesofhonor.org.
Dr Persky is located in Encino, California but services all of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Including, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Malibu, Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Calabasas, Woodland Hills, Tarzana and Agoura Hills and more.
