Author: TEAM IOWD

April 2010

Our first medical trip to Rwanda was a wonderful experience. The Kibagabaga team was extraordinarily welcoming, and worked so hard to help us set up our fistula program. Joining us on this trip were: Dr. Karolynn Echols, Dr. Briana Walton, Dr. Sharon Knight, Dr. Cynthia Hall, Dr. Roberta Blandon, Dr. Kristi Pielstick, Dr. Ralph Chesson, Dr. Greg Owens, Dr. Josh Holden, Dr. Jeannie Kim, Dr. Scott Eder, Dr. Fatai Ilupeju, Anesthetists Janet Dewan and Sarah Ranahan, and Nurses Suzy Arencibia, Louise Gilbert, Kathleen Scott and Elyse Sevigny, Gail Simmons, Nana Mensah and Nataki Jarrett-Henry.

October 2009

In October, IOWD doctors and nurses traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam to work in the National Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Participating in this new and exciting program were Drs. Kaytan Amrute, Joan Blomquist, Jeffrey Freed, David Glazier, Sharon Knight, Vanny Le, Paul Ritchie, Stacey Wallach and Nurses Njoki Ng’ang’a and Evangeline Epper. Our friend, volunteer, DeAnna Stevens, also joined the team.

Dr. Vanny Le, an anesthesiologist, spoke fluent Vietnamese and was much in demand for translating!! Vanny was a valuable new member of our team!! We truly appreciate her language skills in the operating rooms and in meetings.

The generosity and graciousness on the part of the Vietnamese people was absolutely fantastic! We were made to feel ‘at home’ immediately. Wherever we were…in the hospitals, in the streets, in restaurants, in shops…we were welcomed. It was a wonderful beginning!

April 2009

April’s mission is usually our largest group and this year we saw the return of our “regulars”: Dr. Ralph Chesson, Dr. Karolynn Echols, Dr. Robert Gutman, Dr. Cynthia Hall, Dr. Star Hampton, Dr. Sharon Knight, Dr. Saifudden Mama, Dr. Briana Robinson-Walton, Dr. Fatai Ilupeju, Dr. Ricardo Palop, Janet Dewan, Nurse Anesthetist, Kathleen Scott, RN, and Holly Rae Stone, RN.

Joining our April team were Dr. Mark Helbraun, colon-rectal surgeon, Fellow Dr. Elisabeth Erekson, and Anesthesiologists, Dr. Kristi Pielstick and Dr. Yonas Tesfaye. RN’s Evangeline Epper and Mary White completed our medical team. John Alexander, our Director of IOWD’s Music Program at CES Rive Droite High School returned again to continue working with his students, and overseeing our supply room. Volunteer Matt Murray joined our team and was an invaluable member!

Dr. Lauren Eder, Professor at Rider University; Assistant Dean Stacy Parrado and John Sudol traveled with us as well. Rider University will be starting a program with the University in Niamey…beginning in January 2010, 10 Rider University students will visit Niamey and work with 10 Nigerien University students for an intense course in Business Literacy. Dr. Eder, Dean Parrado and Mr. Sudol came to Niger to finalize the preparations for this special exchange. They were welcomed with graciousness and warmth on the part of the Nigerien University Director and Professors. Choosing the final 10 Nigerien students will be very difficult as so many wish to participate in this program!