FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Cliff Bryant
Physicians for Peace
Dir. Communications & Marketing
757/625-7569
cbryant@physiciansforpeace.org

Norfolk, Va. (Jan. 14, 2009) —  A team of Physicians for Peace volunteers from the
Minneapolis/St. Paul area is carrying out a burn treatment mission in January, in
Santiago, Dominican Republic.  The team is focused on burn nurse education, burn
rehabilitation training, and burn reconstructive surgery. The mission is part of Physicians
for Peace’s commitment to provide health care education and training in some of the
world’s most underserved regions. The mission, from January 10-18, includes the
following team members:
Jana Almendinger, Physical Therapist
Oak Grove, MN
Dr. Steven Fisher, Physiatrist
Minneapolis, MN
Beth Franzen, Occupational Therapist
Minneapolis, MN
Liz Rivers, RN, Occupational Therapist
St. Paul, MN
Patty White de Barrios, Occupational Therapist
Minneapolis, MN
The problem of pediatric burns in the region is a devastating one. In poor neighborhoods
in these countries, families often cook over open flames in small kitchens, and children
are burned by cooking fires and hot cooking oil, or scalded by boiling water. Poor access
to medical care compounds the problem. The Physicians for Peace Burn Program was
developed to address these focuses on a number of areas:
• Burn Prevention Education
• Burn Nurse Education
• Burn Reconstructive Surgery
• Burn Rehabilitation
One aspect of treatment, the use of burn compression garments, has radically improved
pediatric burn outcomes in the region. The garments compress the burned area during
healing, reducing itching and scarring. In the past, when treatment was even available,
reconstructive surgery would be required for 9 out of 10 pediatric burn victims. With the
use of burn compression garments and other improvements in treatment introduced by
Physicians for Peace trainers, only 1 in 10 pediatric burn victims now require follow-up
surgery.
Another notable aspect of the mission is the participation of Liz Rivers, a burn specialist
who developed a revolutionary plastic face mask used in burn treatment. Much like the
compression garments, the face mask reduces facial scarring and improved final
treatment results.
 “The work that Physicians for Peace is carrying out through these missions would be
impossible without the incredible gift of time and talent represented by these volunteers,”
noted Brig. Gen. Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.), Physicians for Peace President and CEO. 
“Their participation demonstrates the spirit of generosity in the US that makes our work
abroad possible.”

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. More information is
available at www.physiciansforpeace.org.