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About Us
At The Strength of My Scars, we create illustrated, medically-vetted books that demystify complex health topics and transform fear into understanding for patients, children, and their families.
Founded by two sisters, transplant surgeon Maria Baimas-George, MD, MPH, and Lianna Baimas-George, MBA, MEd, our mission is to empower patients through empathy, clarity, and health equity. Every story is rooted in collaboration with care teams and built on clinical integrity.
We believe that education should be accessible, inclusive, and inspiring, so every family can feel seen, supported, and confident on their health journey.
Our Innovation Story
Born from her experience as a surgical resident, Maria Baimas-George MD MPH recognized a critical gap: patients and families feeling overwhelmed, with unanswered fears and confusion, after learning their diagnoses. She began sketching simple, child-friendly illustrations to explain anatomy, surgical processes, recovery, and emotions.
That small act blossomed into The Strength of My Scars series — each book carefully reviewed by clinicians, written at accessible reading levels, and tailored to reflect diverse identities. By marrying art, evidence, and real patient voices, our model humanizes medicine.
We bridge the gap between clinician and family, making knowledge accessible, reducing anxiety, and helping each reader embrace their scars as symbols of resilience and hope.
Innovation & Research Highlights
Illustrated children’s books boost caregiver comprehension, satisfaction, and reduce anxiety in pediatric surgery contexts
A randomized controlled trial shows educational, illustrated books for caregivers significantly enhance understanding, satisfaction, and decrease anxiety in pediatric surgical care.
Winner of the 2024 Health Literacy Award for Published Materials from the Institute for Healthcare Advancement
The Strength of My Scars proudly received the 2024 IHA Health Literacy Award for Published Materials, recognizing our commitment to creating clear, accessible, patient-centered educational resources.
Illustrated transplant booklets improve patient-reported and hospital outcomes and reduce readmissions
Surgeon-created, literacy-sensitive booklets significantly reduced unplanned care and 30-day readmissions, while also improving comprehension, easing fear, and boosting satisfaction among transplant recipients and donors.
