I am writing to respectfully request funding to support my participation in an upcoming surgical mission trip to Nigeria, West Africa, with the Shekinah Global Healthcare Foundation.
As a general surgeon, I plan to actively participate in surgical procedures to serve the local indigenous population. I plan to evaluate the many patients who will be participating in our program, make a diagnosis of their presenting condition, and implementing a surgical plan that will benefit the patients.
Many of these individuals suffer from chronic and acute pathologies and are unable to receive necessary surgical intervention due to financial constraints or a lack of available providers in the region. I believe this mission will make a profound difference in the lives of those who otherwise lack access to such essential care. I believe that through the care we will provide, many will be restored to health from their illnesses, and this I hope will bring joy to the local population, and also encourage and strengthen the commitment of local healthcare providers to continue their service to their community.
The beneficiaries of this project include all adults patients beginning from age 18, both male and female, who choose to obtain care from our foundation. My decision to join this mission is deeply personal. My family was fortunate to receive care from missionaries in the past, and now that I am in a professional position to help, I feel a strong calling to give back to a community with a background similar to my own.
Beyond providing care, I hope to use this experience as an opportunity for professional and cultural growth. I look forward to learning from my colleagues, gaining a deeper understanding of the pathologies afflicting the population in this region, and improving my ability to provide care for patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. In the United States, cultural awareness and sensitivity is also paramount to good patient care, as we are a land whose inhabitants come from various backgrounds. I believe this experience will enrich my knowledge of not only tropical pathologies, but will also allow me to gain experience in cultural sensitivity.
Dear Doximity Foundation,
My heart is full, thank you very much for the wonderful opportunity that your support has allowed me to experience. Words cannot begin to express my profound gratitude for your donation, which enabled me to participate in my first surgical mission trip to West Africa.
On our arrival, we were taken to a local church that served as a warehouse where all the surgical instruments, medications, and donations from the United States were stored. We immediately began setup for the following day.
The next morning, to my amazement, hundreds of patients had traveled from near and far to receive care through our mission trip. By the end of the week, approximately 1,000 patients were screened and served across the various medical subspecialties represented.
I was very fortunate to participate in many of the procedures, contributing to a total of roughly 200 surgeries performed during the trip. I particularly remember one patient who was very nervous about undergoing a soft tissue mass removal. Following the procedure, they expressed immense gratitude—not only because they had lived with the condition for years, but also because they experienced minimal pain and received the care entirely free of charge.
I returned with so many meaningful memories from this trip. What stood out to me most was the simplicity of the operating room setup, the resourcefulness required with limited supplies, and the paramount enthusiasm of the local staff. It was inspiring to work alongside exceptional surgeons, both local and international, who were dedicated to giving back.
Thank you again for your generosity and for making this impactful journey possible.
Best regards,
Karen Massada
