Our friends at IVUmed conducted another successful surgical workshop this spring in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The workshop, which ran May 6-23, included the first-ever laparoscopic nephrectomy in Mongolia. It was performed by Drs. Chris Dechet and Brian Duty, and host Dr. Dagvadorj Bayanundur.
This was the second joint pediatric and general urology IVUmed workshop at State Central Hospital #1 and the Maternal and Child Hospital in Ulaanbaatar. Like all of their workshops, this one focused on “teaching one, reaching many.” The dedicated multinational team served 85 children and adults while providing training for more than 30 Mongolian physicians and nurses. The total value of the services provided was $450,590!
The IVUmed team consisted of four urologists, one pediatric anesthesiologist, one nurse, three trip secretaries, and IVUmed’s first-ever Resident Scholar, Dr. Brian Duty. Japanese anesthesiologist, Norifumi Kuratani, continued his skilled teaching and service as part of the IVUmed team at the Maternal and Child Hospital.
I know that the incredible work provided by IVUmed volunteers hits close to home for many of the locum tenens physicians who work with VISTA. To read more about this historic trip, for information about their upcoming women’s health workshop in Nigeria (August 7-21), or to read real-time blogs from the field visit www.ivumed.org . And please mark your calendar and attend IVUmed’s Annual Benefit, September 12, 2009, in Salt Lake City.