2023 is off to an amazing start for Mission Plasticos! Our Reshaping Lives: Full Circle breast reconstruction program is gaining momentum and helping even more women receive a full journey of care as we expand across the U.S. while our global mission to Treat, Train, and Transform will bring us back to Mexico and Argentina and expand our reach to Africa for the first time.
We are poised for even more exciting opportunities under our new Board leadership, and are spreading the word in our community and beyond on the need to close the health disparity gap in women's health. Thank you for your continued support and make sure to follow us across our social channels to stay updated on our programs and local events!
Warmly,
Susan Williamson
Mission Plasticos Executive Director
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Nipple Reconstruction Day | |
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On April 1, 2023, Reshaping Lives: Full Circle launched the first Nipple Reconstruction Day in Newport Beach, CA. Reshaping Lives America's Lead Surgeon, Dr. Karen Leong, led a dedicated team of volunteer surgeons and nurses including Dr. Ali Qureshi of South Coast Plastic Surgery and Dr. James P. Watson and Dr. Harsh Patel from UCLA Plastic Surgery Program! A special thank you to our volunteers from our partners at West Coast University and Corza Medical and four medical tattooists from Restorative Ink Specialist including founder Jeanine McTasney who performed nipple and areola restoration for our patients.
In addition to providing life-changing care for these uninsured or underinsured women, our surgeons were able to train medical volunteers in nipple reconstruction techniques, marking our first stateside training of local providers—one of the core aspects of our global mission to Treat, Train, and Transform.
We'd like to sincerely thank Corza Medical for donating sutures and disposable surgical instrument sets for the procedures, Sientra for donating bioCorneum scar treatment, ZO Skin Care for donating face masks as a gift for each patient and Zena Medical for providing the surgery center, and our wonderful volunteer nurses and coordinators for making this day a success.
With over 300 patients having been screened, this is just the first in a series of Nipple Reconstruction Days slated throughout the year. With some patients having waited several years, the need for this service is exponential here in our community. Please support Mission Plasticos and Reshaping Lives: Full Circle so we can continue to help EACH women receive their full journey of care.
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"Trip Down the Vine" Wine Event
On March 12th, Mission Plasticos hosted an exclusive wine tasting event at the Newport Beach Vineyards & Winery making it a perfect setting for supporters new and old to learn more about Mission Plasticos.
Our guests enjoyed a private vineyard tour, live music, caricature art, wine tasting and great food! The team at Mission Plasticos looks forward to hosting more lively and successful events like our Trip Down the Vine to continue building awareness and positive relationships within our community.
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Reshaping Lives: Full Circle Team Speaks at MTF Biologics and Sientra National Conferences
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Our Reshaping Lives: Full Circle program providing breast reconstruction for uninsured and underinsured women in the U.S. is made possible by the dedicated volunteers, generous donations, and support of our partners, including MTF Biologics, who supply their Allograft Dermal Matrix, and Sientra, who provide implants and expanders for each of our breast reconstruction surgeries.
Mission Plasticos was honored to speak at the national conferences for these Reshaping Lives: Full Circle partners earlier this year: The Sientra conference in Nashville, TN, and the MTF Biologics meeting in Clear Water, FL.
We shared our program’s accomplishments and goals with each company’s team, including a video documenting RLFC patient ambassador Unis’ recently completed full journey of care after breast cancer and a mastectomy 5 years ago. Unis was able to join us in person in Nashville, where her inspirational and heart-felt speech got a standing ovation.
Through building, deepening, and expanding partnerships we are able to make a real difference in our patients’ lives. If you are a part of an organization or company who might be interested in joining our coalition of partners committed to closing disparity gaps in women’s health, please contact our Executive Director, Susan Williamson at [email protected]. Help us ensure every woman has access to a full journey of care, regardless of her economic situation.
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MTF Biologics President and CEO and Reshaping Lives America Council of Trustees member Joe Yaccarino | |
Patient Ambassador Unis with Mission Plasticos Program Director Adriana Murillo and Executive Director Susan Williamson | | |
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Anne Andrews, JD Named New Mission Plasticos Board Chair
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We are pleased to announce that Anne Andrews, JD, has been named new Board Chair for Mission Plasticos, overseeing our global and national programs. Anne replaces Immediate Past Chair and AVITA Biomedical CEO Hans Kierstead, Ph.D, who will remain on the Board of Directors and continue his support of our collective mission.
Anne brings her extensive and unique experience in the health space, including having participated in the National Breast Cancer Association’s Artemis Project, focused on the prevention of breast cancer, and more than 20 years litigating for patient personal injury and product liability cases in the health care space as Managing Partner at her law firm, Andrews & Thornton. She has been a proud supporter of Mission Plasticos for years, having served on our Board of Directors since 2022.
We look forward to a bright future with Anne at the helm!
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Dr. Carlos Mata with patient Lucille | |
Reshaping Lives: Full Circle Surgeries Expanding Across the U.S. | |
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The Mission Plasticos Reshaping Lives: Full Circle program has been accelerating our efforts across the country. In Upland, California, Dr. Edward Park performed the second stage of patient Maragrita’s journey of care from expanders to implants. In Beverly Hills, CA, Dr. Ariel Ourian performed the second stage reconstruction for Elsa. In Scottsdale, Arizona, Reshaping Lives: Full Circle patient Lucille received reconstruction services from Dr. Carlos Mata. With two pending surgery days in Austin, TX and qualified patients in Oklahoma and beyond, our national program is providing life changing moments for our patients across the country!
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Dr. Ariel Ourian with patient Elsa | |
Dr. Edward Park with patient Maragrita | |
Hospital recovery ward in Kenya | |
Mission Plasticos Expands Global Missions to Africa | In addition to return missions to Mexico in June and Argentina in September, Mission Plasticos is excited to announce our first mission to Africa this October. Through new partnerships and dedicated volunteers, we are able to expand the reach of our life-changing reconstructive surgical care for patients and much-needed training for local doctors to directly address health disparities in Kenya. | | | |
A facial reconstruction patient in Argentina | |
Awaiting surgery for a hand deformity in Mexico | |
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May 11: “Women of Influence” Event
In honor of Mother's Day we invite you and your mother or a woman of great influence in your life to join Friends of Plasticos for an evening at Weekend Max Mara South Coast Plaza. The event will feature take-home flower arrangement creations, appetizers, and a shopping giveback. We hope to see you there!
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September 9: Celebration of Global Friendships:
Follow the yellow brick road to the land of Oz as we transform the Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach, CA, into The Emerald City!
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We are excited to announce Dr. Karen Leong and Dr. Zena Gabriel as our event co-chairs and MTF Biologics as our Corporate Humanitarian Honoree for the 2023 gala. | |
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As a 100% privately funded organization, our ability to change lives is directly proportionate to the donations received. We ask for your support in helping us to continue to Treat, Train, and Transform lives around the Globe.
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Use the above link to donate through the Mission Plasticos website, or scan the supplied QR code to conveniently donate through our Mission Plasticos Venmo account.
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Donations received will be used to further the charitable purposes of Mission Plasticos, a California nonprofit 501(c)3 organization, IRS identification number 33-0831358. Donations made to Mission Plasticos are tax deductible in the U.S. A formal tax donation letter will be sent to you after receiving your donation. | | | | |
