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Hanger > About Us > Newsroom > Press Release
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| photo credit: Veronica Dana © Physicians for Peace |
Hanger prosthetist Gilberto Mejia, CP was recently honored with the 2009 Volunteer of the Year / Medical Diplomat Award from Physicians for Peace. Mejia was recognized for his efforts in the Dominican Republic where he has been working with the Physicians for Peace Walking Free program to provide amputee care and physical therapy education to patients and prosthetists for eight years.
“It’s very rewarding to see patients get what they need despite the fact they are unable to afford it,” noted Mejia. “I’m honored to receive this award and know that my efforts and work are appreciated.”
When Mejia first started providing training to local prosthetists as part of the Walking Free program, the clinic in the Dominican Republic was making as few as seven prostheses a week, and not making them very well. Now, the same clinic has a robust staff, is known for their quality of service, and is a self-sustaining operation that makes more than 30 prostheses a week, helping amputee children and adults rebuild their lives.
"Physicians for Peace volunteers are the forefront of our organization," noted Physicians for Peace President and CEO Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.), "It is the work they do in the field that has changed a countless number of lives in more than 50 countries, and the skilled group of our annual Medical Diplomat Awardees represents the best of our organization. We congratulate them for their time and dedication to bring medical care and specialized training to underserved populations around the world."
Mejia began volunteering with Physicians for Peace when a friend encouraged him to join the nonprofit as a way to get his mind off of his wife’s passing. Since beginning his work with the organization Mejia has taken nearly 30 trips abroad to help local practitioners create sustainable prosthetic programs. Throughout the years Mejia has not only helped develop a self-sustaining operation in the Dominican Republic, but he also met someone there that eventually became his wife.
Mejia has been a prosthetist with Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics for 35 years.
ABOUT HANGER PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS
With more than 650 patient care centers nationwide, the certified clinicians of Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics provide patients with the latest in orthotic and prosthetic solutions, including microprocessor devices for those with limb loss and neuromuscular technologies for those with paralysis due to stroke, MS and other debilitating conditions.
ABOUT PHYSICIANS FOR PEACE
Physicians for Peace is an international private voluntary organization that mobilizes healthcare educators to assist developing nations with unmet medical needs and scarce resources. Through effective, hands-on medical education and training, clinical care and donated medical supplies, Physicians for Peace creates long-term, sustainable, replicable, and evidence-based projects to help partner nations build medical capability and capacity to help themselves. Volunteers for the 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization have conducted medical missions in more than 50 countries.
With its headquarters in Norfolk, Va., Physicians for Peace has programs in 22 countries and offices in Manila, the Philippines; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Asmara, Eritrea. Throughout 2009, the organization is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. For more information on Physicians for Peace, click here.
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Jennifer Bittner, Hanger Orthopedic Group
904-249-4210, jbittner@hanger.com
Krisita Burket, Hanger Orthopedic Group
904-249-0314, kburket@hanger.com
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