PFP President and Chief Executive Officer Brigadier General Ron Sconyers (USAF, Ret.) (left) presents Michael Serghiou (center) and Jonathan Niszczak (right) with the 2013 Medical Diplomat Award for their outstanding contributions to international medical education.
Each year at the Physicians For Peace annual gala, outstanding volunteers are recognized for their contributions that have made an extraordinary impact on their mission. This year Physicians For Peace presented a joint award to Michael Serghiou and Bio Med Sciences’ very own, Jonathan Niszczak for the 2013 Medical Diplomat Award in the Healthcare Provider category.
Michael A Serghiou MBA OTR is the Director of Rehabilitation Services at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas and Jonathan Niszczak MS OTR/L is a Clinical Specialist with Bio Med Sciences in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Both of these individuals are considered experts in the field of burn rehabilitation especially with burns involving the face and upper extremities and are active members of the American Burn Association. Together these two individuals have over 35 years of combined burn rehabilitation experience and knowledge. Since 2010, Michael and Jonathan have worked tirelessly to improve the level of burn care provided in Central America and in the West Bank. They are passionate about bringing their expertise to the field and empowering local therapists to combine theoretical knowledge and creativity to ensure optimal outcomes for patients.
Together this dynamic duo has traveled to 6 countries, donating 21 weeks of professional time as representatives of Physicians for Peace. Their extraordinary willingness to dedicate their time, expertise and enthusiasm in support of the Physician For Peace burn rehabilitation programs has meant that burn victims have a better chance to moving from surviving to living. They have used their skills to provide a training platform upon which competent, in-country, burn specialists can learn and exchange training skills in their own country and readily transfer the knowledge and aptitude that will be used long after the mission has left the country. “We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with an organization like PFP and to be able to provide assistance and skills to help these bun patients rehabilitate and become empowered survivors” said Serghiou.
In addition to donating their time and energy, this team has been able to help bring much needed scar management resources like Silon-STS and Silon-TEX to these patients through generous donations from Bio Med Sciences. Collectively, through the volunteer service and needed material donations, this team has created a network of competent burn rehabilitation providers ensuring that future victims of burns will receive the highest level of rehabilitation. “Bio Med Sciences is pleased to support the important volunteer work that Jonathan and Michael do. We are happy to contribute by providing donated materials to help these underserved burn survivors. It is essential to our mission as a company and as a member of the worldwide burn treatment community” said Mark E. Dillon, President of Bio Med Sciences.
Physicians for Peace recognizes that their healthcare volunteers, whom they call their International Medical Educators, are at the heart of their organization. These talented and caring individuals perform all the “heavy lifting” in their quest to train, support and empower those providing year-round care to the world’s underserved populations. Please join their community by showing your appreciation of their tireless passion by sharing this story, leaving a note of gratitude and donating a gift in their honor.
Please visit www.physiciansforpeace.org to learn more about this incredible organization, to become a volunteer or to make a donation.
