INTERVIEWER: Victims of domestic violence often have a long road emotionally and physically when they are starting their lives again. Often they need help and may not know where to start or how to get it. That’s where GBMC health care comes in, it offers a full range of reconstructive and cosmetic procedures and is now assisting those who have left domestic violence situations here with more information on the face to face program is Dr. Samuel Hahn, welcome!
Dr. HAHN: Hi, thanks for having me.
INTERVIEWER: Happy to have you here, so tell me about the face to face program. What is it exactly?
Dr. HAHN: So the face of face program is a free cosmetic and reconstructive surgery program offered for survivors of domestic violence so a survivor may have scars or other visible deformities that is a visible and painful reminder of their past, so the goal of the program is to allow the survivors to not only recover physically but also emotionally by providing some of these free reconstructive procedures so that maybe they can get a fresh start and move ahead.
INTERVIEWER: And what sort of procedures would it be? I mean. I know you said scars and what-have-you but are there certain procedures that you definitely cover through the face to face program?
Dr. HAHN: So the treatments are for any deformities that may have occurred as a result of a domestic violence incident to the head face or neck region. So certainly scars are one of the more common ones we treat but it could also include a crooked nose from a nasal fracture or something like that as well.
INTERVIEWER: Who qualifies for this program?
Dr. HAHN: The program is open to all survivors of domestic violence so this includes men, women, children, and if they have sustained any deformities that have been caused by a result of domestic violence they may qualify for this program.
INTERVIEWER: And how do they go about applying?
Dr. HAHN: The application process is done through their counselors at a local domestic shelter. Once they apply then they will be paired with a facial plastic surgeon who can provide pro bono free consultation and treatment options for them and the treatments depending on the level of treatment necessary can be done in the office or it might be done in a hospital setting so in my case I’ve partnered with GBMC to support this wonderful program.
INTERVIEWER: And as you’re doing this and you’re partnering with GBMC to do this, I can only imagine how impactful it is for the victims of domestic violence but also for the medical providers to provide the service.
Dr. HAHN: Absolutely, so you know one of the most gratifying things to see is to be able to take someone who’s been very burdened emotionally, burdened by this traumatic event and if they have a visible scar on their face at times if they feel that this scar is the first and only thing someone may see about them, so while we might not be able to completely remove this physical reminder by performing some procedures to minimize it, to camouflage it, maybe we can take the focus away from the victim and empower them. Give them a sense of a fresh start, increased self-confidence and yeah that’s something that is priceless.
INTERVIEWER: Reclaiming their power and starting their life again, it really is amazing work that you’re doing. How long have you been doing it now?
Dr. HAHN: This is going to be our second year.
INTERVIEWER: That’s so great, that’s wonderful. So if people want to get more information of course they can go to GBMC.org also you know we have your office information there as well but if they want to apply for the program, again, they need to go through their shelter to do that correct?
Dr. HAHN: That’s correct.
INTERVIEWER: All right great thank you so much Dr. Hahn and really appreciate you telling us about this program so that we can all spread the word about it as well.
Dr. HAHN: Thanks for having me.
INTERVIEWER: And we’ll be right back with more midday Maryland right after this stay tuned.
