In early May, a group of five medical professionals from Essentia Health traveled to Honduras to perform surgeries at San Benito Jose Medical Center. Dr. Phillip Thomas, an orthopedic surgeon, was part of the team and shared that they completed close to 30 surgeries in just five days, highlighting the gratitude and appreciation of the local community towards their work. This was Dr. Thomas’ first time in Honduras, while his colleague Dr. Mike Torchia had been on eight such trips before.
Dr. Torchia shared that returning to Honduras held a special significance for him as it was where he decided to pursue a career in medicine, particularly in orthopedics. He emphasized the unique opportunity these trips offer to witness and appreciate different skill sets among colleagues, allowing for better understanding and collaboration.
The group included Joni Kearns, a surgical assistant, Maura Chernov, an RN, and Dr. Lee Stokes, an anesthesiologist. The Essentia Health Foundation funded the necessary medications and supplies for the surgeries while also bringing along stuffed animals for the children at the center. The outreach program is organized by Aloha Medical Mission, which conducts annual trips to San Benito Jose Medical Center to provide various surgical procedures.
For more information on Essentia Health’s trip to Honduras and their work with Aloha Medical Mission, visit their website at https://www.essentiahealth.org/about/essentia-health-newsroom/essentia-health-team-brings-medical-care-to-honduras/.
