The University of Wisconsin and Nicaplast

The University of Wisconsin, Division of Plastic Surgery and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua, Unan-Leon have partnered in plastic surgery training for 12 years. This collaboration was designed to provide educational opportunities for professional development and to serve under served areas of Nicaragua particularly in the field of cleft lip and palate and pediatric plastic surgery.

Nicaragua is a beautiful and traditional country with active volcanoes, beautiful beaches and exotic jungle habitats. Because of the great diversity of terrain, travel for many families is prohibitive and some rely on visiting medical groups to assist with treatment of specialized medical needs. Our mission is two-fold: 1) to provide assistance with plastic surgical treatment within the overburdened Nicaraguan health care system and 2) to stimulate an educational exchange of ideas between multilingual and multicultural health systems, within the specialty of plastic surgery

These goals are met with support of educational resources ie, textbooks, journals and computer-based learning technology and more importantly, by biannual faculty and resident exchange between Nicaragua and Madison. This interaction provides residents opportunities for "hands-on" learning from professors of plastic surgery in both programs. Residents also gain experience with alternative health care systems and procedural expertise and limitations within these systems. Finally, exposure to multicultural cooperative education is designed to stimulate a life-long interest in international and local community service in under served populations with plastic surgery needs.