Valleylab Cautery Unit Used By Ian Wilson

Dr. Ian Wilson, shown here operating on the right of the nurse, is the 2006-2007 Webster Fellow. This unique fellowship allows one newly trained plastic surgeon to travel the world for a year going on Interplast surgical trips, meeting surgical outreach directors and embarking on mini-fellowships with renowned plastic surgeons. Because they go to so many of our sites within a short period of time, they become the “eyes and ears” of Interplast, evaluating facilities, sites and programs.

We are lucky to have Ian with us on this trip. He is Irish by birth, but studied in the US and has worked in Haiti, South Africa, Cote D’Ivoire, and numerous other challenging surgical environments. Today he will be giving a lecture to the local medical school about Interplast and plastic surgery. He is hoping to inspire some of them to pursue plastic surgery as a career, and to use their training in service for the poor.

Ian is using a cautery unit generously donated by Valleylab. The unit (the blue machine to the left of the nurse’s right elbow, attached to the cautery pen in Ian’s hand) is used in every surgery Interplast performs. These units cost thousands of dollars, and without them, cleft palate repairs would not be possible.