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Promoting Health and Healing Around the World

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Blog

March 25, 2020 By globalmedsurge

Doctoring in the era of the COVID19 pandemic

I wrote this post on Facebook on a whim tonight. It isn’t professionally written, but it is from the heart and real and true. It is the accidental start of me blogging about COVID19. I’ve decided to post articles, information and advice here so my friends and family can find information easily. Please always defer to the advice of your personal physician, but maybe you’ll find some useful information here.


Guys, this was a hard day. I like being a doctor, I enjoy seeing patients and helping people. I really like to talk to my patients, examine them, get to know them and hope I can make a difference in their lives. Today I did telemedicine instead. I think I helped, but it is so hard to have skills and to not be able to use them. To talk to a screen and not touch them. To know people need help but it isn’t safe for them to leave their homes. To participate in a meeting with colleagues and hear that the impending shortages of supplies means that people will likely die here in my city in the coming weeks that could have been saved if we had adequate supplies. Even though I miss seeing you in my office, PLEASE stay home so you and your friends and loved ones and complete strangers won’t be the ones we can’t resuscitate or intubate or ventilate in the coming weeks. This just sucks. And no, we don’t need to fill the churches with smiling faces on Easter, because that will lead to more death and destruction and grief and that is not beautiful.

Tears roll down my cheeks
Fear for loved ones and strangers
Unmasked faces wait


COVID-19 Links & Resources


Filed Under: COVID-19

February 16, 2020 By globalmedsurge

An Observer in the OR

Justus pictured on left

In January we were joined for a few days by Justus Kakuru. Justus, who is the nephew of one of our local partners in Kyotera, is a medical student in his last year before residency.

Justus, on right, translates for a mother

During his time with us Justus served as a translator and scribe. His knowledge of local dialects, Ugandan culture, and medical terminology proved an invaluable asset to the GMAST team.

Justus took full advantage of his opportunity to observe cleft operations and learn from our doctors. Teaching and education are integral to our mission.

Filed Under: 2020 Uganda

January 29, 2020 By globalmedsurge

Training Dr. Robert Wangoda

For the past two trips to Kyotera we were lucky enough to be joined by Dr. Robert Wangoda. Dr. Wangoda is an accomplished general surgeon in his community of Masaka, and he is learning about cleft lip and palate repairs from our GMAST doctors. It is the mutual aim of Dr. Wangoda and GMAST that he take over the program in the coming years. With this goal in mind he scrubbed in for every day of surgery and assisted our doctors in both lip and palate operations.

Filed Under: 2018 Uganda, 2020 Uganda

January 20, 2020 By globalmedsurge

Follow-Up with Previous

Today, we were surprised, yet pleased, to see eleven-month-old Previous. Last spring, Previous came to us malnourished due to her bilateral cleft lip. We performed a repair and are glad to report that today she was happy, healthy, and healed! 

Filed Under: 2020 Uganda

November 24, 2019 By globalmedsurge

Thanksgiving Reflections

Dear Friends,

Two years ago my dream became a reality when I started Global Medical and Surgical Teams. I want to thank you for your support and tell you what happens when you contribute your time or donate your money to GMAST: Lives change. It seems a trite statement but it is true.

Because of your gifts, people in remote areas of the world  have access to necessary medical and surgical care:

  • A tiny baby born with a cleft lip can now breastfeed and get proper nourishment from her mother.
  • The baby’s mother, who was shunned by family and community members for giving birth to a baby with a cleft lip, is reunited to her social network
  • A 21-year-old man rejoiced, “I can now get married!” he said after his cleft lip was finally repaired
  • A 30-year-old woman who had been living with a poorly repaired cleft palate received an obturator (prosthetic device) to close the gap between her mouth and nose so she can speak better and can at last eat and drink without food and liquid spilling out of her nose

Your gifts have further impact:

  • These trips are valuable experience for volunteers who travel with our Team. Volunteers often return home resolved with new commitments to help others. 
  • People who live in Kenya or Uganda are encouraged by our presence and work  – as we come alongside them in their need.
  • Medical personnel are able to exchange information and learn new skills as they collaborate in the work  to care for patients. We partner with local medical teams to invest in long-term, sustainable outcomes.

You change lives through your contributions and we are grateful. 

Some examples of how your financial gifts are spent:
We purchase a lot of medical equipment and supplies for each trip. Although we receive some donated supplies, the countries that we travel to have very specific expiration date requirements and many donated medications and sutures have expiration dates that do not meet these requirements. For instance, in Uganda,  if we bring ANY medications that expire in less than one year from the date we enter the country, the Ministry of Health can confiscate ALL of our supplies until they have inspected everything and properly disposed of those “short expiration” items. Obviously, this would tie up our supplies until far after the date of our return airplane tickets. We simply can’t take the risk, and so we must purchase longer expiration items to minimize potential risk.

We are committed to providing safe anesthesia and safe surgery so we travel with our own mini hospital of providers, equipment and medication. We also partner with local providers and facilities to enable training and sharing skills and supplies.

We could not do this without you! Each person that travels with us buys their own plane ticket. If we are able (some donors give specifically to help with volunteer expenses), we cover the lodging and food for the volunteers. We also require that each volunteer have travelers’ medical insurance. Last year, an anonymous donor covered this expense for our Uganda team (ranges from $50 to $100 per team member depending on their age). We are grateful for donors who can help with these travel expenses! 

I am so proud of our organization and the work that we do. I am moved by the amazing people that I have met during my volunteer medical travels and I am so grateful for the support of friends, family, and complete strangers! You guys are awesome and we truly could not do this work without you. Thank you!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and know that you are making the world a better place, one smile at a time.

Sincerely,
Michelle B. Vessely, MD

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Filed Under: News & Updates

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