I am traveling with a team of approximately 50 volunteers under Aloha Medical Mission (a well-established, volunteer-led non-profit based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi) to Bacolod, Philippines to provide surgical care to underserved patients. As an otolaryngologist - head and neck surgeon, I will treat mostly endocrine and salivary gland conditions. Joining us on the team are anesthesiologists, general surgeons, OB-GYB surgeons, nursing and OR techs and a dental team. We will two days of patient screening followed by 5 days of surgery.
This year will be my third time on this particular mission. Last year we provided 104 inpatient surgeries, 28 of which were head and neck procedures performed by me and/or my head and neck colleague. The procedures we do are primarily large goiter resections and salivary gland surgeries. Many patients have lived for years with enormous goiters causing difficulty breathing, eating, or turning their heads, while others suffer from visible parotid or facial masses that carry profound social stigma.
This trip provides safe, life-changing operations to underserved patients who otherwise have no access to care. Many of the individuals we treat are poor farmers living in rural communities, for whom even basic medical services are out of reach. This mission is built on decades of trusted partnership and collegial collaboration with local physicians, ensuring sustainable impact and culturally respectful care. By participating, I will help deliver essential surgical treatment that directly restores health, dignity, and livelihood for some of the region’s most vulnerable people. Your support will allow me to serve these communities with the highest standards of compassion, skill, and surgical safety.
The primary beneficiaries of this project are underserved patients in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, many of whom are extremely poor and have little or no access to safe surgical care. This population is prioritized because their geographic isolation and limited medical resources leave them with conditions that often progress to debilitating or disfiguring stages before treatment is available. For many members of our Honolulu-based team, including those with Filipino heritage, this mission is also a meaningful opportunity to support a community that reflects their cultural roots and shared history.
The expected impact of this project is the delivery of high-quality surgical and dental care to hundreds of underserved patients in Negros Occidental, building on last year’s mission, which provided more than 100 major surgeries, over 2,500 dental procedures, and thousands of dollars in equivalent medical services to the community.  The experience also strengthens collaborative systems with local hospitals, improves screening and surgical workflows, and deepens relationships with Filipino partners—lessons that enhance safety, efficiency, and cultural competency for future missions.  After returning home, these learnings carry forward through improved team training, refined clinical protocols, and better logistical planning, ensuring that each subsequent mission is even more effective and impactful.
The Aloha Medical Mission team provided over 120 major surgeries for the people of Negros Occidental. Our team included general surgeons, obstetrician- gynecologists, head and neck surgeons, anesthesiologists/ CRNAs, nurses, scrub techs and many other willing volunteers. I performed 14 cases for patients ages 5-73, including hemithyroidectomy, parotidectomy, submandibular gland excision and congenital neck mass excisions. Most of our patients were from rural communities with poor access to medical care and very little money. All of our patients did extremely well and were discharged home at the end of our trip. This is a long-standing mission (22 years and going strong) that has strong support from the local community in Negros. This was my third year on the trip. Thank you, Doximity, for enabling me to participate in this meaningful opportunity!
