Report on Humanitarian Medical Exchange Program with Mittaphab Hospital, Vientiane, Laos

Prepared by: Hal Starnes, Harriet DiTondo

Date: March 2025

1. Introduction

In March 2024, Global Healing Hands (GHH) initiated efforts to set up an educational exchange program with a medical school and medical center in Vientiane, Laos. This was made possible with the assistance of Ms. Sarah Cummings at the U.S. Embassy, who connected us with Dr. Sonexay Rajvong, the Chief of the Board of Directors at Mittaphab Hospital, the leading trauma hospital and medical center in Laos.

2. Initial Planning and Proposal

Upon establishing contact with Dr. Rajvong, we sent a formal action plan and proposal to GHH, a gynecology-focused NGO with which we collaborate, alongside our general surgery-focused team. The Mittaphab Hospital Board approved the plans, and we began preparations for a site visit. 3. Site Visit (May 2024) In May 2024, Nick Limoncelli, PA, and I visited Vientiane to meet with key stakeholders at Mittaphab Hospital. During the visit, we engaged with the following individuals:

● Dr. Sonexay Rajvong – Chief of the Board of Directors

● Dr. Bounphet Thammavong – Director of General Surgery

● Dr. Chouang Inthavah – Chief of ENT

● Dr. Phouthasone Phommachanh – Chief of Gynecology ● Dr. Viengsavanah – Head of GYN-Oncology

● Dr. Palamy – Chief of Anesthesia

● Chief of Orthopedics

In addition to these meetings, we conducted educational sessions with the local attendings and doctors in managing cholecystectomy and thyroidectomy patients.

4. Preparation for the Mission

With the support of Dr. Paula Dhanda from Worldwide Healing Hands (WHH), and her coordinator, Ratana Banban, we were able to compile preliminary logistics for February. The mission team, composed of 25 professionals, included:

● General Surgery Team:

○ 3 Attending Surgeons (Endocrine, General, Trauma Medicine)

○ 3 Physician Assistants (2 from NY, 1 from TN)

○ 1 Nurse Practitioner (NY)

○ 2 Registered Nurses (CA)

○ 2 Scrub Nurses (CO, NM)

● Worldwide Healing Hands Team:

○ 4 Surgeons

○ 10 Nurses

5. Mission and Surgical Activities (February 3-7, 2025)

The mission officially began on Monday, February 3, 2025, with a warm welcome from Dr. Rajvong and the Mittaphab Hospital Board. Over the course of the week, the General Surgery team performed 10 surgeries:

● 5 thyroidectomies for symptomatic goiter

● 2 neck tumor surgeries

● 3 cholecystectomies

Local attendings and the Mittaphab hospital doctors in training scrubbed in for all 10 cases, ensuring an educational experience that was hands-on and practical.

Simultaneously, the gynecology team, led by Dr. Chen and Dr. Dhanda, conducted several cases, including a radical hysterectomy for invasive cervical cancer, which was identified through the team’s cervical cancer screening program. The gynecology team, alongside Dr. Hassan also screened over 300 women for cervical cancer in Vientiane. Further details regarding their patients are available by reaching out to their team.

6. Educational Outreach

On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, the general surgery team, including Dr. Angotti, Dr. Makethyse, Dr. Starnes, and Dr. Hassan, provided lectures to the local medical professionals at Mittaphab Hospital. The topics covered included:

● Management of open bone fractures

● Management of abdominal trauma

● Skin cancer treatment approaches

● Laparoscopic surgery techniques

These sessions were attended by about 45 local medical professionals, including residents and faculty. The goal of these lectures was to ensure that the local teams could carry forward the knowledge and skills gained during the mission, improving patient care both during the mission and in the future.

7. Cultural and Diplomatic Engagement

During the mission, our team had the privilege of visiting the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, accompanied by Dr. Rajvong. This visit allowed us to express our gratitude to the U.S. Embassy for their instrumental role in facilitating the mission.

On the evening of February 5, the team was treated to a celebratory meal at La Seine, along the banks of the Mekong River. This dinner, organized by Dr. Starnes and his NGO, was a small gesture of appreciation for the successful completion of the mission.

On February 6, the Mittaphab Hospital Board held an awards ceremony, honoring the contributions of the visiting teams. This was followed by a lunch hosted by Mittaphab Hospital in recognition of the efforts and achievements of all involved.

8. Conclusion and Future Plans

This mission was a significant step in our efforts to provide humanitarian, pro bono education and surgery. The collaboration between GHH, Mittaphab Hospital, and the local medical teams in Vientiane has laid a strong foundation for ongoing medical education and improved healthcare services in Laos. We are excited about continuing this partnership and look forward to building upon the successes of this mission in the coming years.

We aim to expand and further develop this program, ensuring that local professionals in Laos continue to benefit from high-quality educational experiences, which will enhance the care they provide to their patients.