Following a recent pause in sending international surgical missions to assist our friends with the Treating the Wounded Syrian Program, LEAP Global Missions and ISAPS are proud to announce that we are once again coordinating teams of plastic and reconstructive surgeons to treat war-wounded Syrians. Thanks to the generous financial support provided by the Syrian American Medical Society covering the anticipated costs of surgical procedures, two teams have been scheduled to volunteer in November 2015 and January 2016.
Participating in the November mission are ISAPS member surgeons Dr. Argentina Vidrascu (Romania) and Dr. Evando Lauritzen (Brazil). Participating in the January mission is ISAPS member surgeon Dr. Ali Juma (UK) and LEAP volunteer surgeon Dr. Robert Anderson (USA).
Both missions will take place at al-Maqassed Charity Hospital in Amman, Jordan where we have previously sent 16 surgical missions during the period of October 2013 to November 2014.
Like many hospitals and surgical centers servicing war- wounded Syrians throughout the Middle East region, al-Maqassed Charity Hospital continues to admit capacity levels of patients presenting with acute blast injuries, as well as a wide variety of chronic burn and gunshot wound injuries. In order to help meet the challenges pertaining to these consistent patient flow numbers, we have been asked to coordinate bi-monthly ISAPS-LEAP Surgical Relief Teams©.
Accordingly, we are at this time newnewing our request for experience ISAPS members to volunteer their skills during an upcoming week-long mission. For those members unable to participate in one of these trips, we ask that you consider making a financial contribution to the ISAPS-LEAP Surgical Relief Teams© fund available through the ISAPS website.
Join us in our efforts to offer emergency and essential surgery to those in dire need. Together, we can make a world of difference in the lives of our Syrian brothers and sisters.
by Ryan Snyder Thompson, Director of International Disaster Relief
Published in ISAPS Newsletter, Volume 9, Number 3