Author: TEAM IOWD

After a long summer hiatus, IOWD returned to Kigali in late September. We were welcomed by a new Director of Kibagabaga Hospital, Dr. Osee Sebatunzi and his Clinical Director, Dr. Alphonse Umugire.

Joining us on this mission were our returning doctors, Drs. Joan Blomquist, Sharon Knight, David Glazier, Abner Korn, Bethan Powell, Aditya Dash, Jim Greenberg, Scott Eder, and Michael Yaker. Returning Nurse was Melanie Haller and returning Anesthesia Nurses were Janet Dean and Sheila Murphy.

New to the mission were Drs. George Klauber, Lisa Bazzett, Christian Seefelder, Grace Chen, Renata Scott, Victor Long, and CRNA’s Kara Southard and Jennifer Phelan, and medical student Lena Vayenberg.

Dr. Anita Asiimwe, Minister of State for the Ministry of Health presented Kibagabaga Hospital with a new anesthesia machine. We were able to borrow another anesthesia machine from a rural district hospital, allowing us to do many abdominal surgeries. With excellent equipment, tremendous organization and cooperation, our surgical teams consisting of IOWD and Rwandan doctors and nurses succeeded in repairing every patient who was operated on!

Our April team was made up of our long-time regular members, Drs. Roberta Blandon, Ralph Chesson, Karolynn Echols, Elizabeth Erekson, Fatai Ilupeju, Sharon Knight, Stacey Knox, Briana Walton and Sallis Yip and RN Barb Nalley.

New to this team were Drs. Teresa Duncan, Mark Hathaway, Lauren Prescott, Karen Soules, and Tanmay Panigraphi; Anesthesia Nurses included Erin Cushing, Shiro Njoroge and Laura Niday; Pediatric Nurse, Hazel Paz and pre-med student, Caitlin Hester .

This was our 10th mission to Rwanda…and it turned out to be an extremely successful one. Every single fistula patient who had surgery, was sent home dry!

Unquestionably, this was one of the largest groups to go to Rwanda.and it was a fabulous one! Joining us again was Dr. Star Hampton, Dr. Saifuddin Mama, Dr. Blair Washington, Dr. Rob Gutman, Dr. Greg Owens, Dr. Josh Holden, Dr. Eric Fassler, Dr. Jessica Salak, Dr. Dave McDermott, Dr. Charles Marboe, Dr. Yonas Tesfaye, Professor Janet Dewan, and RN Suzy Arencibia.

New to IOWD were Dr. Linda Milhalov, Dr. Nicole Korbly, Dr. Ladin Yurteri-Kaplan, Dr. David Fish, Dr. Richard Garfinkel, Dr. Sara Lozano, Mid-wife Edie McConaughey, Nurses Danielle Lock, Tracy Glenn, Maureen Pennino and Cynthia Gordon; Anesthesia Nurses, Mark Blazey and Jessica Hamilton, and Physical Therapists Mary McVearry and True Hampton.

Our doctors and nurses worked at Kibagabaga Hospital, Muhima Hospital, King Faisal and Kanombe Military Hospital. All the surgeries that involved fistula patients, obstetric and gynecology patients, and pediatric urology patients totaled close to 100!! Our physical therapists worked with many patients and students, and IOWD retina specialist, Dr. Rich, attended to innumerable ophthalmology patients, using the laser he donated. We are proud to have been able to serve so many people in February.