Through Operation International, our team will assist with establishing new mission site in Zambia in which we will perform surgeries for patients who would not normally have access to this surgical care, assist with training local staff, participate in critical care exercise. These are vital services not offered to these underserved populations.
The final city location within Zambia is yet to be determined, but we will be partnering with a local hospital to expand their capacity and capabilities to perform necessary ENT and General Surgeries on patients that would not otherwise have access to these surgeries in their local communities. We believe health and well-being are basic human rights and seek to use our time and talents to assist in bringing those to the Zambian people. We will also participate in training local healthcare practitioners to allow lasting effects to take place.
Our team is united by a shared commitment to delivering advanced Head and Neck and ENT surgical care to underserved communities around the world. Established in 2024, our team’s mission is to provide specialized, life-changing surgical interventions wherever the need is greatest and to share knowledge with local healthcare professionals in order for mutually beneficial learning opportunities to take place. Personally, I am pursuing a Master's in Public Health with a Global Health emphasis, and this trip aligns perfectly with my desire to use my skills as a PA to benefit underserved people across the globe. I will take what I learn on this trip and apply it to my future work as a PA and as a Public Health practitioner.
This trip helped remind me why I became a Physician Assistant to begin with: to help people.
It also blessed me immensely to see medical professionals from such diverse backgrounds with a common goal of bringing surgical treatments to those who would ordinarily not have those options. We had surgeons, anesthesia providers, scrub techs, nurses, and advanced practice providers. Being part of a team to bring surgical options to patients with disfiguring and stigmatizing neck masses (often present for many years!) was incredibly rewarding. The smiles on the patients’ “after” pictures say it all. I am so grateful.
Additionally, earning the trust of the hospital staff and patients was particularly memorable and meaningful to me. Our first day, the patients were scared, and the staff was unsure. Spending time with them, learning from them, sharing our experiences and expertise make positive impacts in our interactions as the week progressed.
