Operation Smile   Dr. Russell is a medical volunteer and national board member for Operation Smile International, which is based in Norfolk, Virginia.  Operation Smile will celebrate its 25th anniversary in November of this year by providing free medical care to children with congenital facial and hand deformities with simultaneous missions at 35 sites in 25 countries.  This anniversary mission hopes to treat over 5,000 children.   Dr. Russell, Jessica Gillespie, M.D., a senior plastic surgery resident, and Teresa Svetlick, a surgical nurse at St. John’s Hospital, were members of an Operation Smile team which recently completed a surgical mission in Bao Loc, Vietnam from May 29 to June 9.  The medical team included volunteers from around the world.  They treated 143 pediatric and adult patients with cleft lip and palate, burn scar contractures, and other congenital hand and facial deformities.   A Powerpoint presentation of some of the patients treated by Drs. Russell and Gillespie can be viewed here.  If you would like to support the work of the Operation Smile medical volunteers, please visit their Web site at OperationSmile.org and consider making a tax-free donation to make a child smile.  Photos below are from 2007 visit to Vietnam and 2008 visit to Papua New Guinea.   2007 Vietnam                       2008 Papua New Guinea