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+++++++++++++++++++++++++ + + +++++++++++++++++++++++++ PHYSICIAN PROFILE +++ +++ MEDWISH FOUNDER Receives Prestigious Social Entrepreneurship Award C LEVELAND SURGEON Lee Ponsky, MD, founder of MedWish Internat ional, r e c e i v e d t he R i ch a rd Co r nu e l l e Awa r d f o r S o c i a l Entrepreneurship from the Manhattan Institute, along with a $25,000 grant, for his development of an innovative solution to one of the world's most pressing problems: the lack of access to adequate medical care in developing countries. MedWish is committed to repurposing medical supplies and equipment discarded by the healthcare industry with the objectives of provid- ing humanitarian aid in developing countries and reducing the United States' environmental impact. More than 10 million children under the age of five will die this year due to lack of access to adequate medical care. Meanwhile, hospitals in the United States annually discard 2.2 million tons of medical surplus, much of which is unused medical supplies and equipment. In 1993, a young but driven Dr. Ponsky spent his summer vacation traveling to Ogbomosho, Nigeria, where he worked as a surgical assistant at a local medical compound. There, he witnessed first-hand the obvious lack of medical supplies and equipment in third world countries — doctors using empty bread bags as surgical gloves and fishing line for suturing. Dr. Ponsky knew he could not simply stand by while children and families in developing countries died from treat- able and curable diseases. Thus, the idea for MedWish International was sparked to help bridge the gap between our abundance and their need by recov- ering, repurposing and redistributing medical supplies and equipment that our hospitals could no longer use. It just made sense. From its humble start in a garage to its cur- rent 38,000 square foot facility in Cleveland, MedWish International's operations have greatly expanded. Over the past five years alone, MedWish International has recovered 2.2 million pounds of medical supplies and equipment from over 50 hospitals in the US. Just last year, MedWish recovered 866,000 pounds of medical supplies and equip- ment, keeping this valuable life-saving surplus out of landfills and putting it directly into the hands of people in need around the world. For more information or to find out how you can donate your unused medical equipment and supplies to MedWith International, visit www.medwish.org or call 216-692-1685. ■ 14 | Cleveland-Akron-Canton MD NEWS MDNEWS.COM JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2012