Highland Park plastic surgeon gives children in Peru new look on life

More than 10 years ago when Jeffrey Weinzweig first saw the work of now deceased French surgeon Paul Tessier and how it transformed a child’s severely deformed face into a more normal and functioning smile, he was hooked.

Highland Park resident Weinzweig, now a plastic surgeon who is director of JW Medical Group in Chicago and Highland Park, followed Tessier’s lead. That’s when he formed Komedyplast, an association of surgeons and other medical professionals nationwide who volunteer their time and talent to resculpt the faces of poor children with deformities in Peru.

“As soon as I saw Dr. Tessier’s work, I felt compelled to pursue that,” Weinzweig said.

The native New Yorker moved to Highland Park about 4 years ago to get married and raise their two sons. While he’s blessed with beautiful children, he continues his missions once a year in Peru, usually in February, to perform surgeries on as many as 20 children each time. Then throughout the year, he follows up with his team there to see how the children are doing.

KomedyPlast also teamed up Caring Clowns International, a group of professional clowns based in Seattle that helps to alleviate fear and anxiety in the children as they go through the medical process.

“These surgeries are often complex, because we literally are taking their skulls apart,” Weinzweig said.

The doctors pay for their own expenses on the trip and medical equipment has been donated, he said.

The mission work was recently recognized by Victor Isla Rojas, president of the congress in Peru, who presented Weinzweig and his team with certificates of honor for their care of the local children.

“Every time I return, I’m completely blown away by these children,” Weinzweig said. You can just see they that there’s hope in their eyes.”

Feeding first-responders for free

Howard Bender, owner of Schmaltz Delicatessen in Naperville, offered first-responders to the flood-soaked city a chance to grab a quick sandwich — for free. He said he posted the promotion on Facebook “as we saw and heard so many friends, Schmaltz fans, and family having a rough day to say the least.” He said they needed a break. “They are awesome and deserve it,” he said.

Uncle Dougie’s is official

Hampshire resident Doug Tomek’s Uncle Dougie’s, which makes barbecue sauces and other food products, said he now has the official barbecue sauce and Bloody Mary mix of the Chicago Cubs. He founded the company in 1989 and has since dished up marinades, sauces, rubs, salad dressings and drink mixes without preservatives or fillers. The company playfully promotes them with its “No Crap” symbol. We featured him in the Daily Herald in January.

... And speaking of the Cubs

Chef Alain Roby of Geneva’s All Chocolate Kitchen created an all-chocolate bust of Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks. The bust was made to benefit Cubs Charities, and was presented to Banks at the recent Bricks and Ivy Ball at Navy Pier. Roby holds three Guinness World Records for large-scale chocolate and sugar creations.

FastTrack

Amy Gutierrez, marketing director ofBernina of America, was on hand for the opening of the sewing company’s new Creative Center, next to its corporate headquarters, in Aurora. The center offers hands-on public education sessions and training for Bernina dealers. ... Glenview native Megan Tamte is founder and CEO of Hot Mama, which opened last week at Town Square Wheaton. The retailer, which caters to mothers who want to look trendy, was founded in 2004 and now has 35 stores in 13 states. Tamte now lives in Edina, Minn., by the flagship store.

Esther Wong, president and CEO of Laboratory School for Science & Technology in Naperville, is encouraging parents and students to attend an April 26 event about social entrepreneurship and innovation and how this can impact their education, college, and careers. “High school students are rarely exposed to business start ups so we are providing them the opportunity to meet and hear Dennis Barsema and Alan Hurt of Light Up Africa,” she said.

Ali Setork, owner of DynaCom Management in Warrenville, said the firm will build the iMed Campus this fall. It will be a 4-story medical and professional office building at 75th Street across from the Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve in Naperville. ... Susan Tenney has joined Schaumburg-based Assurance as a vice president. ... Scott Solverson is the new vice president of business development at Frederick Quinn Corp., a construction company in Addison.

Jennifer Mowen of Aurora has been named a senior associate with GreenbergFarrow, a national architecture, planning, engineering and development consulting firm in Chicago. ... Owner Dorothy Rubin said the Illinois Racing Board approved the return of wagering in late April at The Foundry in Aurora. Arlington International Racecourse is adding about 80 flat-screen HD-monitors to the more than 140 sets that already operate at The Foundry. ... Real estate attorney Patrick J. Elder of Naperville has joined the Polsinelli Shughart office in Chicago.

Chelsie Petereit is the new director of marketing and business development for Gurnee Mills. ... George Salti, a surgical oncologist and associate professor of surgery at the University of Illinois at Chicago, has joined the Edward Cancer Center in Naperville. Salti will be the co-medical director of the Edward Cancer Center and medical director of the Edward Hospital Surgical Oncology Program.

Doctors Khalid Yousuf and Junaid Makda, along with Bloomingdale Mayor Bob Iden and others were on hand for the grand opening of DuPage Orthopedics in Bloomingdale. ... Duane Lisowski and Andrew Schweik have been promoted to directors at Crowe Horwath LLP, a nationwide accounting and consulting firm. Lisowski will work in the Chicago office, while Schweik is in the Oak Brook office. ... Matthew R. Stober has been named senior vice president of operations at Lake Forest-based Hospira Inc.

Retirement Plan Advisory group members Chris Reagan of Deerfield was promoted to senior managing director and Kevin Kaiser of Glenview is promoted to senior vice president at Mesirow Financial in Chicago. ... Soren Sorensen, Grundfos Group executive vice president and chairman of the Grundfos North American board was joined by Gov. Pat Quinn and Downers Grove Mayor Martin Tully for the ground breaking for water pump manufacturer Grundfos’ new North American headquarters in Downers Grove.

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