[Washington, DC - March 11, 2013] Health Volunteers Overseas is delighted to announce the launch of an orthopaedics program in Myanmar. Partnering with the Yangon General Hospital and Yangon Orthopaedic Hospital, HVO will recruit general orthopaedic surgeons and sub-specialists to work with physicians and residents at both hospitals in Myanmar's capital city, Yangon. HVO volunteers will review, revise, and continue the orthopaedic residency curriculum, provide sub-specialty training to the general orthopaedic surgeons, and initiate research training involving fracture healing, biomechanics of implants and orthopaedic oncology. The length of volunteer assignments is two to four weeks.

 

On March 22, 2013, HVO program director Samer Attar, MD will present about the new program and his recent trip to Myanmar at Orthopaedics Overseas' Annual luncheon held during the AAOS Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. The event is open to any interested potential volunteers, and tickets can be purchased through the HVO website or by calling the HVO offices (202-296-0928).  Orthopaedics Overseas is a division of Health Volunteers Overseas.

Yangon General Hospital is a 100 year-old structure housing 1500 beds. The Yangon Orthopaedic Hospital is a separate 300-bed structure. Local orthopaedic surgeons and residents work with  both hospitals. Acute trauma cases are undertaken at the Yangon General Hospital; cold orthopaedic cases such as degenerative tumors, infections, and neglected trauma are managed at the Yangon Orthopaedic Hospital.

Health Volunteers Overseas is a private, nonprofit organization founded in 1986 to improve global health through the education of local health care providers. In 26 years of service, HVO's training has transformed lives through the design and implementation of clinical and didactic education programs in child health, primary care, trauma and rehabilitation, essential surgical care, oral health, blood disorders and cancer, infectious disease, nursing education and wound management. In more than 25 resource-poor countries, HVO volunteers train, mentor and provide critical professional support to health care providers who care for the neediest populations in the most difficult of circumstances. For more information, visit the HVO website.

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