Dr. Jay Dutton travels annually to the Dominican Republic with the Rush Global Health team to perform surgery on patients living with facial deformities in Peralta, Dominican Republic. Dr. Dutton, who is double board-certified in otolaryngology head and neck surgery and facial plastic surgery, has made this trip seven times leading a team of surgeons to perform cleft lip and palate and pediatric head and neck surgery.
Peralta rests in the mountains of the southwest corner of the Dominican Republic and has 7,200 inhabitants. Most the residents have minimal access to very basic medical care and have a higher rate of pediatric malformations. The multidisciplinary team has been providing care in the area for nearly a decade. They have also undertaken non-medical projects such as restoring running water and electricity to the community.