Trip Report 2019
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Surgeries
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Volunteers
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Patients Helped
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Working days
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Meet Our Team
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Dr. Mark Kayanja – Epilogue
It had been a while since my last mission trip. The needs were still great, large numbers of patients and the difficult decisions of triaging who we could help. It was a sobering experience once again, understanding how others have greater needs than ours. I will keep going.
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Dr. Isador Lieberman – Epilogue
This year’s mission was about commitment and change. I observed with great pride as the team worked, and I witnessed, their uncompromising commitment. I noticed this year through our travels around Mbarara and within the Hospital the extent of change, both in infrastructure and attitude. My first visit to Mbarara was in 2006 when a young Dr Mark Kayanja coerced me into a trip that I would have never considered part of my personality. Mark’s commitment transferred into my commitment and now into the commitment of over 90 volunteers during the 14 years. The city of Mbarara, the Mbarara regional Referral Hospital, the Mbarara University of Science & Technology (MUST), and in fact Uganda, have all evolved reflecting a change for the better. It is evident that the economy is booming by virtue of all the construction and local population growth. Not to discount the commitment or change in any way there is still so much to be done. As I am fond of stating “everything responds to slow gentle pressure”. I am so very grateful to my family, friends and colleagues who allow myself and the team to continue our commitment to affect the change.
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Dr. Michael Hisey – Epilogue
He shared insights into the complexities of spinal deformity surgeries and praised the incredible progress made by Ugandan clinicians year after year.
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Dr. Sue Benton – Epilogue
Dr. Benton focused on the importance of anesthesia safety and the challenges of working in remote, resource-limited environments.
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Dr. Stephen Gorlick – Epilogue
This year’s Mission was as rewarding, productive and smooth as any I have participated in. In some ways, "less is more”: While our total number of surgeries may have been slightly reduced over previous years, our broadened involvement and impact has been more than any other. We had wonderful interactions with students (medical or otherwise), local surgeons, and health care staff, as our relationships continue to build.
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Dr. Nathaniel Schaffer – Epilogue
On the mission we get to enjoy the reasons we work in healthcare in their purest form. We work in the absence of distraction or extraneous tasks, devoting ourselves fully to the betterment of truly grateful patients for whom there would be no help without us. We of course encounter challenges and difficulties that we do not face at home, but for a short time, we are able to insulate ourselves from everything but doing the most possible good for the most people. It helps me remember why improving other people's lives is the greatest calling a person can have.
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Teteisha Pearson – Epilogue
After my first mission trip in 2018 with Uganda Spine Medical Mission, I knew I wanted to come back. I was delighted when Dr. Lieberman asked Dr. St Clair if I wanted to attend again. I was absolutely ecstatic to go. I immediately started asking the hospital and pharmacy staff for medical supplies (both medication and medical supplies). I was walking around the facility asking and collecting whatever I thought would be useful. I was seeking supplies not only for my practice, but for the municipal of Mbarara. Many of my coworkers assisted me by collecting whatever they assumed would be useful for me. I ended up with an astonishing amount of items. The majority of them were unable to make it on the flight with me, thanks to delta!!!. At the airport, I had to immediately store the rest of the items in my car because of the luggage height was greater than airline requirement. During this hassle, I had almost missed by flight. I heard my name being paged over the airport speaker and I was praying to the Lord that “please don’t let me miss my flight”. I finally reached my gate and the door was closed. The airline gate agent looked at me and asked, “are you Ms. Pearson” and I said “yes”. She then replied, “you almost missed you flight” and she opened the door at gate. I was relieved and my heart filled with joy as I walked through the door and boarded my flight. After meeting some of the team members in Amsterdam, we then landed at Entebbe. I was delighted that I returned to do what I love to do. When we arrived at the hotel, there was no down time. It was work time. We headed straight to the hospital and started unloading supplies and preparing for surgery. The rest of the team were doing patient consults. We started our cases early the following morning and worked the entire day. This process continued each day. After a while I was getting tired, but I really love and enjoy what I do. I have had the desire to do medical mission for many years and this desire continues to grow inside of me. This desire fuels me, so leaving late didn’t really bother me since I was making someone’s life better. That superseded any of my complaints. I was able to follow-up on some of my patients post operatively, not as many as I would have liked, because the majority of my time was spent in the operating room. I was consumed with many emotions because of how wonderful and successful both surgery and anesthesia was. I would never forget, the time I had assisted the Ugandan staff with a cardiopulmonary arrest. I was glad to have assisted them and to know the patient survived and recovered well. When I was leaving the hospital on my last day, I was sad because I could not stay longer. I would always be grateful for the experience that I had, both at the facility and the people whom I encountered. If anyone ask me if i would participate in any medical mission again, my answer will be overwhelmingly “I love what I do” and “absolutely I would do it again”. Thank you everyone for allowing me to come and join this medical mission. Thanks so very much.
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Ashlee Gentile – Epilogue
Ashlee shared her role in neuromonitoring and the crucial nature of real-time feedback during spinal surgeries in resource-limited settings.
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Kari Zagar – Epilogue
Although I have been on this mission for several years now, each experience is unique and touches me in new ways. This year, we were honored by a local patient, who invited us into his home for a feast as a thank you for our work. The Uganda Spine Mission Team had operated on him several years ago, and each year in his follow up appointment, he has begged Dr. Lieberman to bring the team over for a feast. So Friday night we joined in with his family and neighbors for a feast, and the experience was incredible and resonated with me on multiple levels. We were surrounded by family, amazing food, hospitality, and appreciation. Back home in the US, because my role is specific to the operating room, I don’t get to spend a lot of time with patients before and after their surgeries, so to visit with a patient years after surgery was a new experience. And it was incredibly special, to be with him and his family and to celebrate the healing power of surgery. As we sat and listened to the stories of his chronic pain, I felt a sense of common humanity. That we all may experience suffering in our lives, and that chronic pain is debilitating to people, and also to their spirit, their family, and their community. As we sat and listened to them speak, I truly felt the power of this mission, and the ability it has to turn around many lives. Sometimes missionary work can be hard because it feels like we are barely making a dent, but to this one patient and his entire family, the mission changed their lives on a practical level, and also on a deeper level, by giving them a renewed sense of hope and well-being.
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Sherri LaCivita – Epilogue
Sherri highlighted the challenges and rewards of surgical support in the field and the importance of teamwork in high-pressure settings.
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Jason Ash – Epilogue
This was my second year to attend the spine mission to Mbarara. Just shy of 2 months before the trip, my family and I lost our house and our cars to a house fire. Total loss. My passport and my yellow fever card were 2 of the ONLY things to come out of the fire. I knew I still must go to Uganda.... The trip was just like last year to me; the opportunity to see in a totally different light, how we are all blessed in our lives, total house fire or not... The time in Africa is so rewarding to the soul. We as healthcare workers, get the opportunity to see other facets of patient care, like clinic, going on rounds, post-operative care, etc. I also make it a point to bring clothes and food for all the people that I can staying in the hospital, and their families. The comradeship between all of the volunteers is amazing. Volunteer workers, who are now part of your family.... We share a special bond working together for the people of Africa. Lessons are learned there that cannot be learned here in America... because there is no time to stop, to reflect, to step outside of your normal daily obligations; and give WHOLLY in the service of others. You really can see a special side of helping others, when there is nothing else to do but just that... Going on these mission trips has become my “CTRL+ALT+DEL”, or “yearly reset” button. It gives me a chance to see how truly fortunate we are in Dallas, Texas; in both our professional and our private lives. It also shows me that we, as Americans, have so much to be thankful for, that we treat with little to no respect. God, may you watch over this mission trip, its volunteers, its patients, and the future of the mission. I am honored to be a part of it all.
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Sherron Wilson – Epilogue
It’s become a tradition, following our evening meal, to ask each member to share with the group a lesson they had learnt that day. One lesson, given by Ms. Sue Benton (our Anesthesiologist) stood out, and I quote, “Failure to adapt is the failure to succeed”. My reflection validated her statement. During the first week of the mission we encountered many challenges. In addition to not having an instrument representative, the shipment of sterile packs necessary to set up the cases, were delayed in Kampala pending an official’s order to release. We were obliged to look at practical solutions and find work-around, in order to deliver the care we came to provide. It quickly became evident that we had to resort to making our own surgical packs, being careful to maximize the meager resources that were available. We substituted plain gauze for Raytec (an x-ray detectable gauze), and used Cidex (Glutaraldehyde Solution), for high level disinfection of heat sensitive equipment such as suction tubing and electro-cautery pencils, and sterilized towels and half sheets for drapes. Sister Rose, the Charge Nurse of the theatre, was sympathetic to our predicament and miraculously provided us with some sterile laparotomy drapes and other necessary items. Notwithstanding the challenges, the team collaborated together and we were able to complete 12 (twelve) surgical procedures. It is indeed true, that when we are attentive and steadfast in accomplishing our central goal, that we can thrust ourselves beyond what we thought was tenuously possible, to achieve that goal. Of my many trips with the Uganda Spine Mission, I can say assuredly that I have gained added respect and appreciation for all the members of the team (veterans and rookies) who selflessly donate their time and expertise to care for others. Personally, the added responsibilities that I shouldered, afforded me fresh fortitude and dedication to the Team and all the Patients of the Uganda Spine Mission that we serve.
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Brian Failla – Epilogue
Brian discussed the importance of equipment preparation and maintenance for successful surgeries, especially in underserved regions.
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Taylor Nack – Epilogue
Though this was my first time traveling to Uganda with this mission, I have been to Uganda on three other mission trips. Through those trips, I developed a love for the Ugandan people and for serving them. As an undergraduate student pursuing medicine, being invited to go on this trip seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime—I would have the chance to combine my love for Uganda with my interest in medicine and medical missions. The trip was more amazing than I ever could have dreamed of. Chiefly, the trip gave me a glimpse into the future that I could have as a physician and how I could incorporate my passions into my future career. I am so grateful to everyone that made this trip possible and I hope that as I continue in my training, I will be able to return and continue the amazing work that is being done in Uganda.