New York Times features program that aids severely burned veterans at no cost.

Timothy Miller, UCLA

The New York Times has written a page one feature on a program at UCLA Medical Center called Operation Mend that provides cosmetic surgery for severely burned veterans at no cost.

The story details how after nearly 30 operations, specialist Joey Paulk began to resign himself to his appearance. But with help from Operation Mend, which aids badly burned veterans, he received surgery that revived his self-confidence.

Operation Mend is a partnership between UCLA and Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. The story notes that philanthropist Ronald Katz helped start Operation Mend, which is led by Timothy Miller, UCLA professor and chief of plastic surgery and a Vietnam veteran.

Read the story and view video