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Craig Senders School of Medicine Otolaryngology Recipient 1997-1998 A specialist in head and neck surgery, Dr. Senders has treated children all over the world with facial deformities caused by birth defects or trauma. In 1996, Dr. Senders established Dream Builders, a UC Regents Foundation that raises funds to improve the care of children. In addition to his work with children, Dr. Senders mobilized plastic surgeons to give free care to American victims of domestic violence. Dr. Senders’ service began with an interest in treating children with cleft lip and cleft palate in medically underserved communities in Sacramento. His work has expanded over the years to include children in impoverished communities in Russia, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and Honduras. Sender’s international outreach efforts began in 1990 when he was one of the organizers of the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Reconstruction Surgery’s Face-to Face Program. The program offers surgical treatment to children in developing countries and trains local physicians to deliver these much-needed services. Surgically correcting facial deformities has a tremendous impact on the quality of life for children, both physically and psychologically. In Russian, for example, children born with facial deformities such a cleft lip are often abandoned unless they are treated. Between 1990-96, Face-to-Face medical teams made five trips to Rusian, training more than 100 physicians to treat facial deformities. In addition to treating children, Face-to-Face expanded to include treatment for victims of domestic violence. Dr. Senders was instrumental in recruiting physicians nationwide to participate in the program which has expanded to include more than 200 plastic surgeons who donate their expertise in the United States by offering free surgical care. Dr. Senders works with other volunteer medical groups as well including Mercy Ships Suyrgical Outreach Program and Medical Eye & Dental International Care Organization Inc. Dr. Senders has served as voting director of the California Coalition of Craniofacial and Cleft Teams since 1988. He has served as a representative to the California Medical Assoication’s Legislative Commission, which evaluates the impact of state legislative bills on the association and its members. He also has held leadership positions in several other national medical organizations and committees that have defined craniofacial surgical standards and led outreach efforts to communities in need of specialized surgical care. |
