FIRST OFFICIAL MISSION:
GHANA | 2010
GHANA | 2010
During his tenure as the Chief of Plastic Surgery at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ohio, Dr. Obeng led a team of five nurses on the inaugural official mission of RESTORE, during which they traveled to Ghana.
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MAIDEN LOGO OF RESTORE In 2013, the design underwent a transformation, unveiling a fresh logo created by Lisa Parigi as the current iteration. |
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FIRST MISSION IN COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS: GUATEMALA | 2010
In late 2010, the RESTORE Foundation partnered with the Mission of Love Foundation which is based in Guatemala to help children affected by conditions that required reconstructive surgery. Most of the children treated by the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Foundation team were born with a cleft palate which prohibits their lips from correctly forming and also causes problems such as difficulty breathing.
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RESTORE'S HISTORY & TIMELINE
2006
RESTORE is conceived in Boston, MA based on inspiration from Dr. Obeng’s humble beginnings in Ghana and influence from mentor Dr. John H. Miller.
2007
RESTORE is registered in Mahoning County, Ohio as a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical service organization.
2008
Dr. Obeng embarks on a two-week exploratory trip to Ghana to evaluate the state of affairs in plastic surgery. This was facilitated by Professor Dr. Pius Agbenorku, the then Chief of Plastic Surgery at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). During this trip, Dr. Obeng gave numerous lectures to hospital staff, medical students, residents, and surgeons. He also participated in surgical operations and taught techniques in plastic surgery to the surgical staff. Dr. Obeng met Dr. Hoyte-Williams, the current Director of Medical Affairs for RESTORE and Professor of Surgery at the University of Science and Technology, who at the time was a surgical resident. The whole country of Ghana boasted five plastic surgeons for a population of about 30 million.
2009
The first TRAM flap breast reconstruction is performed by Dr. Obeng assisted by Dr. Agbenorku and Dr. Kofi Nsiah Asare who was then the CEO of KATH in the region.
2010
The first official RESTORE trip to Ghana with seven volunteers. The “Dream Team” performs 35 complex surgeries on this historic trip. The cases ranged from complex burn reconstruction to breast reconstructions after mastectomies.
RESTORE collaborates with Mission of Love ( Youngstown, OH) and performed 42 surgeries, mainly cleft lip, and palate in Guatemala. This was the second official RESTORE trip.
RESTORE held its first fundraiser in Austintown of Ohio, raising over $75,000.
RESTORE collaborates with Mission of Love ( Youngstown, OH) and performed 42 surgeries, mainly cleft lip, and palate in Guatemala. This was the second official RESTORE trip.
RESTORE held its first fundraiser in Austintown of Ohio, raising over $75,000.
2011
RESTORE visited the Tamale Teaching Hospital in Ghana with six volunteers and performed over 40 surgeries, mainly burn reconstruction at the direction of Dr. Hoyte-Williams who was stationed there at the time.
A second trip to Guatemala was undertaken and over 50 patients benefited from this surgery.
A second trip to Guatemala was undertaken and over 50 patients benefited from this surgery.
2012
Exploratory trip to Lagos, Nigeria was embarked on by Dr. Obeng. Over 50 patients were evaluated and about seven surgeries were performed.
RESTORE moves to Los Angeles as Dr. Obeng relocated his practice.
RESTORE moves to Los Angeles as Dr. Obeng relocated his practice.
2013
Strategic planning sessions and reorganization was embarked upon.
The RESTORE Logo is unveiled, redesigned by Lisa Parigi.
The RESTORE Logo is unveiled, redesigned by Lisa Parigi.
2014
RESTORE partners with First Care Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana, and performs over 60 surgeries, with volunteers mainly from Los Angeles.
2015
RESTORE embarks on its ninth trip. Over 70 Ghanaians benefited from this trip.
Exploratory trips to Vietnam, Laos, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo were embarked on by Dr. Obeng and Dr. Barry Freeman.
Dr. Mehmet Atila, the current Director of European Affairs for RESTORE, joins the RESTORE team.
First mission trip to Mexico. Predominantly cleft lip and palette surgeries were performed.
Exploratory trips to Vietnam, Laos, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo were embarked on by Dr. Obeng and Dr. Barry Freeman.
Dr. Mehmet Atila, the current Director of European Affairs for RESTORE, joins the RESTORE team.
First mission trip to Mexico. Predominantly cleft lip and palette surgeries were performed.
2016
RESTORE is officially introduced in Los Angeles in the form of a Gala.
First mission trip to Gabon is completed. Over 80 surgeries were performed.
The trip was sponsored by the Omar Bongo Foundation of Gabon.
A second trip to Bolgatanga, Ghana was completed that year. Over 80 surgeries were performed.
First mission trip to Gabon is completed. Over 80 surgeries were performed.
The trip was sponsored by the Omar Bongo Foundation of Gabon.
A second trip to Bolgatanga, Ghana was completed that year. Over 80 surgeries were performed.
2017
For the first time a cardiothoracic surgeon from Los Angeles, CA, Dr. Michael McLean, joins the team.
2018
Three mission trips were organized that year to Gabon (June), Mexico (August) and Ghana (October). A combined total of over 170 surgeries were performed.
2019
RESTORE repeats trips to Gabon and Ghana. Over 180 surgeries were performed.
Exploratory trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa by Dr.Obeng and Dr.Freeman.
Mission trips to Gabon and Ghana. A total of over 190 surgeries were performed.
First gender reassignment surgery successfully performed in Central Africa on a 27-year-old true hermaphrodite that was documented by Reuters and BBC. This was the first of its kind in the region.
The Ghana trip was led by Dr. Atila and Dr. Hoyte-Williams.
Dr. Dembele from Mali joins the team.
Dr. Koliussis from Germany joins the team.
The late Dr. Edward Yamoah joins the Ghana mission and made a heroic timely intervention to save a life of a 3-year-old girl.
Exploratory trip to Zimbabwe and South Africa by Dr.Obeng and Dr.Freeman.
Mission trips to Gabon and Ghana. A total of over 190 surgeries were performed.
First gender reassignment surgery successfully performed in Central Africa on a 27-year-old true hermaphrodite that was documented by Reuters and BBC. This was the first of its kind in the region.
The Ghana trip was led by Dr. Atila and Dr. Hoyte-Williams.
Dr. Dembele from Mali joins the team.
Dr. Koliussis from Germany joins the team.
The late Dr. Edward Yamoah joins the Ghana mission and made a heroic timely intervention to save a life of a 3-year-old girl.
2020
Exploratory trips to South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and a second look at the Republic of Congo.
2021
The “Great Lockdown” forces RESTORE to re-strategize.
Dr. Obeng embarks on his first exploratory trip to Senegal.
Dr. Obeng takes a second look at Cameroon.
Post-operative follow-ups in Ghana and Gabon were conducted. Dr. Obeng evaluates 4-month-old conjoined twins in Ghana at the request of the Plastic Surgery and Neurosurgery teams at Ridge Hospital in Ghana.
RESTORE performs 111 surgeries in Senegal funded by Khadim Ba of Loc-Afrique, with special help from Mr. Mbacke Dioum with volunteers from six countries.
For the first time, another plastic surgeon, Dr. Navenjin Grewal, and a maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Clement Qaqish, joined the mission.
Dr. Obeng embarks on his first exploratory trip to Senegal.
Dr. Obeng takes a second look at Cameroon.
Post-operative follow-ups in Ghana and Gabon were conducted. Dr. Obeng evaluates 4-month-old conjoined twins in Ghana at the request of the Plastic Surgery and Neurosurgery teams at Ridge Hospital in Ghana.
RESTORE performs 111 surgeries in Senegal funded by Khadim Ba of Loc-Afrique, with special help from Mr. Mbacke Dioum with volunteers from six countries.
For the first time, another plastic surgeon, Dr. Navenjin Grewal, and a maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Clement Qaqish, joined the mission.
2022
First mission trip to Cameroon is accomplished at the Military Hospital in Yaoundé, fully funded by the foundation ASAF.
For the first time a urologist, Dr. Racine Kane, from Senegal joins the team.
Dr. Ndiaye Abibou, a maxillofacial surgeon from Senegal joins the team.
The largest number of cases- 173 were performed in Ghana at the Ho Teaching Hospital.
This team had the highest number of surgeons - eight.
For the first time a dentist, Dr. America Nazar, and a chiropractor, Murat Colak, join the team.
For the first time an otolaryngologist and head and neck reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Sheikh Lame from Senegal joins the team.
For the first time a urologist, Dr. Racine Kane, from Senegal joins the team.
Dr. Ndiaye Abibou, a maxillofacial surgeon from Senegal joins the team.
The largest number of cases- 173 were performed in Ghana at the Ho Teaching Hospital.
This team had the highest number of surgeons - eight.
For the first time a dentist, Dr. America Nazar, and a chiropractor, Murat Colak, join the team.
For the first time an otolaryngologist and head and neck reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Sheikh Lame from Senegal joins the team.
2023
RESTORE celebrates fifteen years of great work around the globe.
A trip to Cameroon is planned in May funded by Eran and Lucie Moas’ foundation ASAF. Other trips bound for the year include Gabon (June), Ghana (October), and Senegal (December).
A trip to Cameroon is planned in May funded by Eran and Lucie Moas’ foundation ASAF. Other trips bound for the year include Gabon (June), Ghana (October), and Senegal (December).