Surgeons of Hope

Surgeons Of Hope logo

Surgeons of Hope' (SOH), is a New York City, NY based non-profit established in 2001. It aims to provide every infant and child with a damaged heart an equal opportunity to receive life-saving surgery.

Motto: "It's not only what we bring. It's what we leave behind." [1]

Heart Ambassador

  • Diego Luna: In July 2018 Surgeons of Hope named their first Heart Ambassador, Diego Luna. The filmmaker, actor, and activist will be traveling with the nonprofit on upcoming missions to ensure that no child is left behind due to inaccessibility of services. [2]

Background

Surgeons of Hope began its life-saving work with pilot programs in Cambodia, Mozambique, Senegal, and Afghanistan. In 2008, it shifted focus to efforts in Latin America. Surgeons of Hope established a program in Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Since 2008, it has constructed an advanced cardiac center, provided training to local medical teams, treated hundreds of children, and has more successful programs in Costa Rica and Peru, and most recently Panama and Paraguay, where we began our assessment missions to provide access to care for those who may not be able to travel, afford, or find life saving cardiac centers. [3]

The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVDs), a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, on our global society is immense. It is the number one cause of death globally.[4] An estimated 17.5 million people died from CVDs in 2015, representing 31% of all global deaths, with over 80% of CVD deaths taking place in low-and middle-income countries.[5] People in low-and middle-income countries often do not have the benefit of integrated primary health care programs for early detection and treatment of people with risk factors. They also have less access to effective and equitable health care services, which respond to their needs. As a result, many are detected late in the course of the disease and die younger. The poorest populations are affected most.[6]

Approach

SOH’s approach and solution is through: 1) CURE 2) CULTIVATE and 3) CONSTRUCT

1. Cure: In order to immediately help children with heart defects, Surgeons of Hope organizes and deploys volunteer medical teams, originating from a number of international and national academic hospitals. Each medical mission is designed to meet the goals and needs of partner communities.

2. Cultivate:

  • On-site Training: Visiting cardiac specialists provide training in the form of hands-on experience and lectures for local and regional medical professionals. Surgeons of Hope has sponsored 25 successful week-long training missions since 2008. The local team is already independently operating and developing their own in-house training sessions.
  • Of-site training: Surgeons of Hope organizes and sponsors trainings for physicians and nurses at cardiac facilities within Latin America.
  • Telemedicine: As a low-cost adjunct to on-site training, telemedicine enables the Surgeons of Hope team to provide long-distance patient management and medical education. Telemedicine also facilitates communication among affiliated clinics within the region.

3. Construct: Most developing countries lack the medical facilities to support basic health care, much less complex procedures like cardiac surgery. Access to a technologically-advanced facility is a critical component of the effort to provide equitable access to pediatric heart surgery. With the aid of partner organizations, Surgeons of Hope constructs and equips medical facilities in communities in need.[7]

Pilot Programs

  • Cambodia: (2001-2006) The development of the Phnom Penh Heart Center was led by La Chaine de l’Espoir, the sister organization of Surgeons of Hope. The 28-bed Heart Center and 22-bed Children’s Pavilion officially opened in 2001, following an inauguration by King Sihanouk, the Prime Minister of Cambodia, and the Minister of Health in Cambodia. Since the opening of the center through 2006, Surgeons of Hope provided financial and surgical support, including three surgical missions, which resulted in 75 cardiac surgeries for children in need. Thanks to the financial support of our generous donors, including Central Presbyterian Church, Edwards Lifesciences, Irving, and AGA Medical Corp, all of the children treated during Surgeons of Hope missions could be accommodated by a member of their family at the Children’s Pavilion. The Phnom Penh Heart Center also received important donations of equipment and supplies through the support of Surgeons of Hope, including an echocardiograph machine, three Philips ultrasounds from New York Presbyterian Hospital, 600 stents from Medtronic, and more than 60 cardiac valves, courtesy of Edwards Lifesciences and Saint Jude Children’s Hospital.
  • Afghanistan: (2005-2007) For decades, Afghanistan has faced constant political instability, conflict, and the destruction of its infrastructure, economy, and environment. The healthcare system is one of the worst affected social sectors, with the majority of the population depending on external assistance. Shortly after 9/11, the founder of La Chaine de l’Espoir worked alongside the Afghani government and President Amid Karzai to develop plans for the French Medical Institute for Children in Kabul. The first Cardiac surgeries were performed on Afghan children in 2005. In cooperation with La Chaine de l’Espoir, Surgeons of Hope sent a medical mission led by Professor Lacour-Gayet of the University of Colorado and Children’s Hospital. During this mission, 15 cardiac surgeries were performed on Afghani children with heart defects.
  • Mozambique- (2001-2007) In 2001, the Maputo Heart Institute opened in Mozambique. Former Vice President of la Chaine de l’Espoir and board member of Surgeons of Hope, Dr. Daniel Sidi, led the initiative. The Maputo Heart Institute was designed to provide preventative care and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, as well as to operate as an academic center for cardiac research and training. In 2001, the 30-bed hospital opened. Several years later, in 2006, the research center on cardiovascular diseases and endomyocardial fibrosis, opened. Through 2007, Surgeons of Hope and other affiliates sponsored up to five interventional surgical missions every year.
  • Senegal: (1999-2004) For over ten years, La Chaine de l’Espoir has been actively involved in Senegal to help children with heart defects access medical and surgical care. the contributions of La Chaine de l’Espoir and Surgeons of Hope Foundation have led to life-saving treatment or surgery for over 150 children and the donation of over $300,000 of medical supplies and equipment, as well as training for local healthcare providers.[8]

Nicaragua Program

SOH started working in Nicaragua with La Mascota Hospital in Managua in 2008. Nicaragua is a lower middle income country with a GDP of $10.51 billion in 2012.[9] There are 14 health projects monitored by the World Bank in Nicaragua; 3 dealing with Hurricane Felix reconstruction, 3 dealing with healthcare modernization, 2 dealing with community health, and only 1 focusing on children.[10] According to the WHO about 25% of Nicaragua’s entire population die from Cardio Vascular Disease(CVD).[11]

In 2011, SOH began constructing a pediatric heart facility in Managua in conjunction with the Ministry of Health. The facility officially opened in July 2013. As of 2016, just three years after opening, this local program completes four operations per week in complete autonomy. In addition to treating children, the missions serve as a collaborative teaching source within the community.

Thousands of children and babies are waiting for our medical professionals to arrive and give them a chance at childhood. This past year (2017), our talented volunteers performed an astounding 19,210 outpatient consultations and 447 complex and delicate surgeries on babies and children, mending tiny hearts and giving families joy on every mission.

Costa Rica Program

Surgeons of Hope’s first mission to Costa Rica took place in February 2016. The foundation was invited to travel to San José to enhance an existing surgical program at the Hospital Nacional De Ninos (National Children’s Hospital). The goal of the mission was to perform 10 open-heart surgeries on infants and children with congenital heart defects and to provide coaching on complex procedures for the resident medical staff. Twelve volunteers led by Dr. Chai, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital, made up this team.[12]

Pediatric Heart Center of Nicaragua in construction

References

  1. ↑ "Overview".
  2. ↑ https://surgeonsofhope.org/heart-ambassador/
  3. ↑ "Thanks to your help great things will happen in 2016".
  4. ↑ "Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)".
  5. ↑ "Heart Disease, Stroke and Research Statistics At-a-Glance" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)".
  7. ↑ "Our Solution".
  8. ↑ "Pilot Programs".
  9. ↑ "Nicaragua".
  10. ↑ "Projects & Operations".
  11. ↑ "Statistics" (PDF).
  12. ↑ "Thanks to your help great things will happen in 2016".
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