I will be serving on an international medical mission providing anesthesia care for patients in underserved communities with limited access to safe surgery. As a CRNA, I will deliver evidence-based, compassionate anesthesia while collaborating with local healthcare teams to promote patient safety, share clinical knowledge, and strengthen perioperative practices. My goal is to help expand access to safe surgical care and create sustainable impact through partnership and mentorship.
Patients in Zambia with limited access to healthcare will benefit from this project. Many are unable to afford necessary treatment or surgery, and iodine deficiency in the region has led to a high number of untreated goiters. By providing surgical and anesthesia care to remove these large goiters, we help restore patients’ health, comfort, and ability to return to normal daily life.
The immediate impact is providing life-changing surgical care to patients in Zambia. Long-term, we build sustainable capacity by training local surgeons and residents. By sharing knowledge and reinforcing perioperative safety practices, the learning continues well beyond the mission itself.
One of the most rewarding parts of this mission was having the opportunity to work alongside the local anesthetists. We shared knowledge, exchanged ideas, and I was able to demonstrate some of the techniques and practices we use in the United States. It wasn’t just about teaching—it was about learning from one another. Despite working in very different environments, we all shared the same goal: providing the safest and best care possible for our patients. I hope the knowledge and experiences we shared will continue to benefit their patients long after we returned home.
The people we met also left a lasting impact on me. Their resilience, kindness, and gratitude—even while facing challenges most of us can hardly imagine—were incredibly humbling. Every smile, every handshake, and every patient who trusted us reminded me that medicine is about so much more than procedures. It’s about human connection, compassion, and hope. While I hope we made a difference in their lives, I know they changed mine just as much. I returned home with a renewed sense of purpose, a grateful heart, and memories that will stay with me for a lifetime.
