International Pediatric Surgical Mission Trip
By Department of Surgery | Mar 13, 2023
Every year in the month of February, the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America, in partnership with the Ugnayan Pahinungod of the UP-Philippine General Hospital, embark on a medical mission trip to underserved areas in the Philippines.
Hailing from the Philippines, Dr. Francisca Velcek, Division Chief of Pediatric Surgery at Downstate Health Sciences University is an active coordinator and participant in this annual venture. Dr. Velcek’s passion for surgery and medical outreach is unparalleled. Her strength has been a constant source of inspiration to the scores of trainees she has mentored during her monumental career. Under her guidance, six surgical residents had the opportunity to volunteer their services and assist in the successful completion of this medical, dental and surgical mission trip held in the Province of Catanduanes, Philippines.
This year, the mission trip was held at Eastern Bicol Medical Center from February
20th to 24th. Surgical services were divided between the inpatient and outpatient operating rooms
of the hospital. Residents assisted Dr. Velcek in a variety of cases including inguinal
and umbilical hernia repairs, open cholecystectomies, thyroidectomies, orchiopexies,
and ligation of patent omphalomesenteric tract. In the outpatient setting, our residents
helped with excision of subcutaneous masses, lipomas, and sebaceous cysts.
Participating in this mission trip has allowed trainees to experience the healthcare system of the Philippines. They described performing surgeries with the Filipino attending surgeons, surgical fellows and residents was an enriching experience. The nurses, scrub technicians and nursing students were gracious in welcoming the trainees. The gratitude expressed by patients was the highlight of this trip for the residents.
Tags: Global Health, General Surgery