Category: Missions

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.

Once again, our October team members returned to Rwanda. The group included Dr. Joan Blomquist, Dr. Sharon Knight, Dr. David Glazier, Dr. Abner Korn, Dr. Bruce Crawford, Dr. Jim Greenberg, Dr. Scott Eder, Dr. Aditya Dash, Professor Janet Dewan, Suzy Arencibia and Melanie Haller.

New team members were Dr. Bethan Powell, Dr. Suzanne Miller, Dr. Ninette Hart, Dr. Stephanie Kielb and CRNA’s Sheila Murphy, Jennifer Buchanan, Jaclyn Shipley, Nurse Robin Laffosse, researcher Emily Evers and our friend and television news reporter, Amanda Sanchez.

Dr. Briana Walton, Dr. Ralph Chesson, Dr. Sharon Knight, Dr. Roberta Blandon, Dr. Rob Gutman, Dr. Liz Erekson, Dr. Fatai Ilupeju, Nurse Anesthetist, Professor Janet Dewan, Nurses Suzy Arencibia and Barb Nalley once again reunited to work together in the fistula program at Kibagabaga Hospital. Joining them were Dr. Patrick Nosti and Dr. Sallis Yip.

Returning to be the Team Leader for Ob/Gyns, Dr. Stacey Knox worked with a new IOWD doctor, Melanie Smith at Muhima District Hospital, while Dr. Claudia (CC) Hays remained at Kibagabaga Hospital to teach the young doctors in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department.

Dr. Susan Abookire, a specialist in Quality and Patient Safety; Anesthesia Nurses Sara Messenger, Marco Loi and Rachel Beers; Physician’s Assistant, Stacey Abrams, and Lida Orzeck, IOWD Executive Board member, rounded out our April team.