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By Mario Gutierrez — Surgicorps Volunteer

One of the unique and wonderful aspects of Surgicorps is our desire to include a variety of individuals on the surgical missions to experience firsthand what we do, and interact with the people and culture of the places where we go. This past April, the team in Bhutan was composed of 28 individuals, the largest team to date. In addition to our core group of surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses, our team included a budding young third year plastic surgery resident, a medical student from the United States and one from New Zealand, and a volunteer preparing to enter medical school. Also for the first time our Bhutan team included dentists. Dr. William Manteris, the leader of the dental team, who on his own, has traveled internationally providing volunteer dental care to those in need, joined a Surgicorps team for the first time. Willie brought a team of two young dentists who conducted educational and restorative care for more than 1,000 children and adults in several isolated rural villages during our week in Bhutan.

[Read more…] about New Faces and Friends — Bhutan 2012

Surgicorps received a Certificate of Appreciation from Her Majesty’s Tarayana Foundation at a ceremony during the Inaugural Session for the Tarayana Annual Fair in Thimphu, Bhutan on Friday, May 4th. Surgicorps is the first international organization to receive this honor recognizing our work on behalf of the Bhutanese people over the past six years. Founder Jack Demos and his father and fellow board member, Tony Demos, returned to Bhutan earlier this week to accept the award in person.

Stories and images from the recently completed Surgical Camp in Paro will be posted soon. The 28 member team completed 59 surgeries, 125 knee injections and the first-time dental camp reached more than 1,000 Bhutanese children in a one-week period. This was Surgicorps’ 6th trip to the Kingdom of Bhutan.

In the words of volunteer Marina Llull from Mallorca, Spain

Surgicorps once again has managed to recruit some of the best doctors, nurses, anesthetists and other helpers to travel all the way to the other side of the world with the only goal to provide medical attention to anyone who reaches out for their help.

On the 27th of October all of these hardworking people paused from their everyday lives to make many other lives a thousand times better. Leaving their jobs, routines and their families and friends, these volunteers were willing to go beyond feeling solidarity and take one more step. Spending their own money and time, which we sometimes forget is something pretty hard to find, these special people want to actually make a difference. [Read more…] about All the Way to Vietnam

Alex Kim blogs about his second trip to Guatemala as a Surgicorps International volunteer. Alex’s dad, Dr. David Kim, is leading the trip’s medical team this year.
[Read more…] about Guatemala Diary

Rita DeFrancesco and Katie Babin shared the same operating room (general surgery) this August in Guatemala, but how they came to be there – well, those are two different stories.

Rita was making her 13th trip, Katie her 1st.

Rita lives in Pittsburgh, close enough to visit the Surgicorps office and warehouse regularly. Katie lives in Michigan and found Surgicorps on an internet search.

But thrown together, they make an efficient and dedicated team.

Rita has worked with Surgicorps teams in Brazil, Paraguay, Nepal, Vietnam, Africa, Bhutan and Guatemala.
She has been awed by the beauty of the land in Nepal and the tranquility of the people and the country of Bhutan.

She has been impressed by the paradox of the poverty of the people and the richness of the land in Africa.
A veteran of so many trips, she finds it comforting to know, “I can still contribute in a meaningful way and survive the rigors of a Surgicorps trip.”

Indeed, she can.

“Divine intervention.” That’s how Katie describes her opportunity to join a Surgicorps mission. She had signed on, and was trying to figure out how to finance her trip, when she received an unsolicited check in the mail from her brother.

Divine intervention, indeed.

Of her co-workers in the operating room, Katie felt, “People were volunteering their time and efforts, and what made it so special was that we all wanted to be there – in another country for no money.”

“But I received something so much more valuable. I got to work with people who were generous and dedicated to serving others. I got to see people who were genuine when they said, “God will bless you.”

In Katie Babin’s words, “Thank you, Surgicorps International, for allowing me to join your family. I hope I will see you again soon.”

Katie and Rita, we at Surgicorps hope we see both of you again soon.