Crossne
t
work
Journal
February 1, 2006
Page
64
Jaimie Shores, MD
Division of Plastic Surgery,
Department of Surgery
CP 21126
Loma Linda University Medical Center
11234 Anderson Street
Loma Linda, CA 92354
E-mail:
jshores@llu.edu
Calvary Chapel in Redlands
Resident
Surgical
Rounds
The Role of Residents in Medical
Missions: Operation Good Samaritan
Abstract
Missionary experience during surgical training is an unknown
commodity to most training programs. The value of the experience
and time spent in underserved regions, both domestic and abroad,
has no quantitative value that has of yet been determined to surgical
trainees. This is, by in large, due to void of medical literature
devoted to this subject. However, the good done for patients by
direct care and training of regional health care workers can be
substantial. In this article an introduction to our institution’s outreach
program, reflections from one resident’s experience are presented,
and a brief summary of the data published heretofore are presented.
Introduction
Operation Good Samaritan is medical missionary outreach
program created by Robert Hardesty, MD, and Linda D’Antonio,
PhD, of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Loma
Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA. For many years
it has shown a strong commitment not only to the treatment of
patients in third world conditions with specialized needs, but also to
the introduction of advanced surgical trainees to the care of these
patients. In 2003, Operation Good Samaritan partnered with
Adventist Health International to provide surgical support for some of
its mission hospitals. Adventist Health International maintains
relationships with missionary hospitals throughout the world, and
several hospitals in India. Gifford Memorial Hospital (GMH) has
been serving the community of Nuzvid and the surrounding area for
over 75 years. The hospital has a general/trauma surgeon,
ophthalmologist, and pediatrician. Earlier this year, the division of
Plastic Surgery at Loma Linda University sent a team of plastic
surgeons to GMH. While there, they accomplished astounding feats
