Dr. Eric StelnickiChairman of Plastic Surgery at the Joe DiMaggio's Childrens' Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
by Dr. and Mrs. James Stelnicki
Dr. Eric Stelnicki is presently in private practice in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where he is also chairman of plastic surgery at the Joe DiMaggio's Childrens' Hospital. Eric contributes his time and his funds to local charities as well. While he was still a resident, he single handedly started his foundation, Facing it Together. This foundation is designed to help children and adults from all over this country and other countries, as well who have cranial facial defects that for one reason or another cannot have repaired. The foundation functions on private contributions and operates primarily on people who could never afford to have the surgery. All of Eric's time is donated and he can usually talk other physicians involved in the case to donate their time, as well. Any expense that is not donated is paid for by Facing It Together Foundation.
Dr. Eric travels annually to such places as China, Philippines, Spain, Africa, etc. to do and teach advanced surgical techniques for people in need. He has also contributed his time and his surgical skills to Barry University, crippled childrens' program in Yucatan, Mexico.
Dr. Eric runs a research program through his foundation at Nova University. They have been working on the gene that causes scarring in adults since we know the fetus will not scar in the womb. They feel in time, they will be able to correct a cleft pallet in the womb. By the time the baby is born, there would be no scarring and the child should not have to suffer the social stigma of having a "hair lip" deformity.
Other Contributions and Achievements:
1. He designed a set of surgical instruments that are referred to as the "Stelnicki Instruments" that are being used internationally to make operating on pediatric cranial facial defects easier.
2. He has designed, developed and brought to market a crib mattress that helps prevent skull flattening in infants up to around 5 months old while conforming to guidelines for preventing SIDS.
3. He developed a helmet to be used by children to correct flat head deformity.
4. Eric has developed and written about numerous new surgical techniques for repairing cranial facial defects in children.
From: Polish Cultural Club of Greater Hartford, 2006