12 day trip to screen and operate on those in need of correction for congenital malformations. This includes both adult and pediatric patients. With serial procedures done in consecutive years. There are not enough surgeons in the area with expertise needed to correct the malformations in a timely manner. Patients are able to have their corrective surgeries as infants/toddlers rather than waiting until school age and having their speech impacted.
The underserved populations of Bucaramanga Colombia and surrounding areas, needing surgical correction of congenital malformations.
We typically treat 100-120 patients during a single mission trip. We also collaborate with anesthesia and plastic surgery residencies in Colombia. We share both didactic lectures as well as clinical teaching in the clinic and ORs. I take 3 anesthesia residents with me to Colombia. I am hopeful that after exposure in training that they will be likely to participation in voluntary medical work post graduation.
Milwaukee Medical Mission, Bucaramanga, Colombia
Sarah Titler, MD, MHA
The medical mission trip to Bucaramanga, Colombia with the Milwaukee Medical Mission was a great experience not just for practicing anesthesia in a different environment but also encountering a different culture. Learning how to communicate with other team members when the means of communication is limited due to the language barrier was challenging and at times comical. The difference in the culture and the hospital workflows was challenging, rewarding and educational at the same time. Providing anesthesia care for children and adults in need, I found myself not only expanding my medical expertise but also nurturing the invaluable qualities of teamwork and empathy.
During our mission we screened about 250 patients in clinic during one clinic day. Then throughout the remainder of the mission we provided surgeries for just under 100 patients. The joy shared by the care team and the patients prior to and after their surgeries is something that stays with you. The tears in a mother’s eyes the first time she sees her baby’s cleft lip repair are amazing and moving. This trip was a reminder of the privilege that I have and that I can share that privilege with others.
The scarcity of resources often meant improvising with available supplies and conserving the supplies we did have lasted the whole mission. These limited resources emphasized the importance of efficient resource utilization, the fundamental principles of anesthesia, and ensuring that patient safety was at the top of the priority list. Using everything (clean) until it is gone, rather than disposing between patients, is something used throughout the hospital.
Immersing myself in the local culture was an enriching experience. The people of Bucaramanga were warm, welcoming and curious. This engagement with the community outside of a clinical setting allowed me to appreciate the social and cultural context in which healthcare is delivered.
I look forward to returning to Bucaramanga in the future to continue to provide care to those in need.
