earthMed volunteer medical team continues earthMed's long term medical program support efforts
Continuing earthMed's long term medical program support efforts in Mongolia, earthMed volunteer charitable medical mission to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia was conducted in late 2018. It was earthMed’s seventh mission to Mongolia. The team was led by earthMed’s cardiothoracic surgeon John R. Handy, Jr., MD, HonD, director of Providence Thoracic Surgery and co-director of the Providence Thoracic Oncology Program in Portland, Oregon, and cardiac anesthesiologist Patricia Gramling-Babb.
While in Mongolia, our team performed a needs assessment, provided needed medical equipment and supplies, participated in thoracic and cardiac surgery, and postoperative recovery in collaboration with our Mongolian colleagues in the National Center for Communicable Diseases / NCCD (tuberculosis surgery), and Shastin Hospital / Hospital #3 (cardiac surgery). Notably, a long-needed portable bronchoscope was donated to the NCCD by earthMed, along with detailed usage and sterile maintenance training by Dr. Babb and Lou Schonder.
earthMed’s volunteers have a long-standing relationship with the Mongolian health care system, providing personnel and material support for thoracic and cardiac surgery development since 2001.
The visiting earthMed team also included Dr. Steven J Nisco, MD, Dr. Nicketti M Handy, MD, earthMed Director Lou Schonder, CBET, and medical student Aria L Nisco. Our Mongolian hosts were Prof. Baasanjav of Shastin Hospital and Dr. Rentsen of the National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD).
The earthMed team attended the Congress of Mongolian Surgeons at the Mongolian National Parliament House, where Dr. John Handy presented “Improvements in Lung Cancer Management”, and Dr. Patricia Graming-Babb was awarded the Honored Healthcare Provider Medal. In addition, earthMed’s Dr. Nicketti Handy presented “Education of a Surgeon in the USA” at the ACH Medical University for aspiring Mongolian surgery students.
The earthMed team traveled to Murun, Mongolia, and toured the Murun City Khuvsgul Aimag Hospital accompanied by Dr. Urnult Ganbold MD, interventional radiologist of Ulaanbaatar’s Central Hospital. The Murun hospital performs about 1,000 surgeries per year, including trauma cases. Many nurses at this facility received specialized training in the US.
earthMed’s Lou Schonder met with clinical engineers offering medical device management and support advice, and reviewed the equipment programs. Mongolian hospitals are increasingly being staffed by university-trained engineers, which is improving healthcare technology management.
The NCCD hosted a recognition ceremony for the earthMed team. A review of donated medical supplies with appreciation was offered by Prof. Baasanjav, all NCCD general and assistant directors, and the NCCD thoracic surgery team. A Meritorious Service Medal was awarded to Dr. Handy for his many years of support and effort towards healthcare in Mongolia.
Our next mission to Mongolia is very dependent upon the pandemic. With some luck, a fall 2021 mission could happen.
Your continued support makes this all possible, and is greatly appreciated. Please scroll down to see how you can begin supporting our upcoming mission with financial donations and donations of medical equipment and supplies. |
