One of the highlights of A/Prof Marucci’s practice is his volunteer work with Interplast Australia. Interplast is a not-for-profit organisation registered with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and is registered by the Australian Charities and Not For Profit Commission. Interplast has sent hundreds of volunteer plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and allied health professionals across the Asia-Pacific since 1983. A/Prof Marucci has been a volunteer surgeon with Interplast for the past 10 years. He went on an initial program to the Philippines, but now travels almost exclusively to the beautiful islands of Samoa for a week or more each year.

Samoa is an island nation in the south Pacific, with a population of around 200,000 people. Although not a wealthy country, the Samoan government provides excellent health care to the local population. Unfortunately, there are no plastic surgeons in Samoa. Interplast is able to provide plastic and reconstructive services to the local Samoan population out of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole (TTM) Hospital in Apia. This is a modern facility that was completely re-built in 2016.

Interplast send “Team Samoa” -usually comprising Dr Ben Norris (Team Leader), A/Prof Damian Marucci, Dr Alan Goodey (anaesthetist from New Zealand), MJ Laing RN and Katie Anjou (a hand therapist). There is always an anaesthetic nurse as well – recent participants have included Lauren Harrower RN, Simone Kairouz RN and Caroline McLoughlin RN

The motto of Interplast is “repairing bodies and rebuilding lives”. This is true in every sense. Interplast programs are provided to communities which have no access to plastic and reconstructive surgery. Without aid organisations like Interplast, children with cleft lips would grow up, unrepaired, suffering the social stigma and isolation that accompany facial deformity. Those affected by burns that have been inadequately treated, may suffer from scar contractures which may great impede movement and function of the body or limbs. Various tumours or congenital conditions which may beyond the ability of local surgeons to treat would continue to grow and worsen. Interplast not only provides the relevant medical, nursing and allied health staff, it also provides all the sutures, medicines and surgical instruments the team will require, in order to limit the impact the team’s visit has on the local community.

A/Prof Marucci’s main caseload in Samoa revolves around the treatment of cleft lip and palate. Some children present just with a cleft lip, others just with a cleft palate and a third group still have both a cleft lip which is continuous with a cleft palate. A cleft lip causes an obvious facial deformity, but usually doesn’t affect the ability of the child to feed and learn to speak. A cleft palate is a different story. Children with just a cleft palate will have a normal face, but their speech and ability to drink and swallow can be affected. Patients with a complete cleft lip and palate have the worst of both worlds, with a facial disfigurement combined with the functional impact on speech and swallowing of a cleft palate.

Here is what A/Prof Marucci had to say about his work with Interplast in a recent interview:

Interplast programs are a win for everyone. We provide surgical care to communities who otherwise would have to go without. We provide training for the local nursing, medical and allied health staff to improve the standard of care in these developing nations even after we leave. On an individual level, it is very satisfying to be able to put the skills and knowledge that we have spent years accumulating to good use. Often we are dealing with complex conditions that we might not have seen before without the assistance of medical imaging or the ideal surgical instruments. This stretches you as a doctor makes you appreciate your training.

I always look forward to the Samoa program every year. It is a chance to catch up with old patients and old friends. The Samoan people are so patient and relaxed. All the patients in hospital are surrounded by the love of their families, who travel long distances and at great expense to care for their relative recovering from surgery. Every time I go, the Samoan patients and their carers teach me the importance of family in one’s life. Although going overseas with Interplast takes you away from your family and friends for a short period of time, it makes you love and appreciate them more when you return.