Surgical Team in Iraq

Approximately 1.4 billion people live in poverty globally. A third of the diseases in developing countries are potentially treatable by surgery. Surgical disease represents a substantial global burden of disease. There is an enormous unmet need of surgical care in developing countries. Surgeons in the U.S. can play a pivotal role in addressing the above burden via volunteerism. Although, several members of this team have been doing medical charity work in Kurdistan of Iraq since the first Gulf War, this Medical Charity Team is the first that was so comprehensive. It was Co-Sponsored by the International College of Surgeons(I.C.S.), Operation Hope (O.H.)and the American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (A.H.P.B.A.).

 

Our team consisted of the following team members. Drs. Quyen Chu (Surgical Oncologist), Michael Moore (Hematologist / Oncologist and Hematopathalogist), Susan Shattuck (OBGYN), Mark Dean (ENT) and Gazi Zibari (Transplant and HPB) from Shreveport, Louisiana, and Dr. Lou Smith (Trauma and Critical Care) from Knoxville, TN; and Drs John Thomas (Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon), Patricia Aldridge (Plastic Surgeon) Dr. Kirk Labor (Ophthalmologist) from TX, Scrub Technician Gabriel Joseph Buentello, TX, KMAC News, ABC affiliate News Reporter Stephanie Berzinski and cameraman David Morris, TX.

 

We dedicated two days to The State of Art First Annual Scientific Medical Symposia in Kurdistan, Iraq which was followed by treating patients both in the operating room as well as at clinic and not to mention daily rounds and lectures which it was given to house staff and medical students. Surgeries performed ranged from Ophthalmology to Head and Neck to OBGYN surgeries, to mastectomies, G.I. and advanced laparoscopic surgeries, and complex hepatopancreatobiliary surgeries, as well as renal transplantation. Additionally, our trauma Surgeon Dr. Smith taught and educated the locals about Management of Rural Trauma…etc. The team was received by President of Kurdish Regional Government Mr. Barzani. We are very grateful to the Kurdish Regional Government for their warm hospitality.