:30 preview of the public television documentary, TRAUMA HEALERS. Original music by Dani Tanzella, Portland, OR.
Saving Lives, Limbs and Livelihoods
Thousands of surgeons around the world have made a passionate commitment to working with the poor, often providing free surgeries
and intramedullary nail implants, which heal the less fortunate, allowing them to return to productive lives in their communities.
Given the infectious disease epidemics that plague many low resource countries, this surgical work often flies under the radar. Providing important perspective on the evolving crisis are four physicians connected with the Harvard Program in Global Surgery and Social Change and
Partners in Health based in Boston, MA: John Meara, M.D., George Dyer, M.D., Kee B. Park, M.D. and Robert Riviello, M.D.
TRAUMA HEALERS also focuses on the pioneering work of Lewis G. Zirkle, M.D. who founded a non-profit organization called SIGN Fracture Care International in 1999. Based in Richland, WA, SIGN manufactures orthopedic implants and offers free hands-on training to international surgeons. Dr. Zirkle was recently awarded The U.S. Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
During the past 20 years, SIGN surgeons have successfully treated nearly 350,000 patients.
Throughout the program, thanks to a team of talented international filmmakers and photographers, including Chuck Bigger,
viewers will experience the heartbreak and meet the heroes with on-location stories
recorded in Uganda, Myanmar, Bangladesh and The Philippines.