We are international lifesavers.

A message from Dr. Herman Valle

This year, our team had a total of 204 volunteers from the US, composed of 46 physicians, 68 nurses, 6 advance practice clinicians, 1 chiropractor, 3 podiatrists, 1 optometrist, 3 pharmacists, 60 support volunteers, 15 students.

This year, our team had a total of 148 volunteers from the US, composed of 28 physicians, 36 nurses, 2 dentists, 2 optometrists, 2 allied health professionals, 23 students, and 53 support staff.

Amidst the threat of Taal Volcano’s eruption, the medical mission team willingly proceeded with the sole intention of helping the very poor constituents of Baccor and its vicinity. At the very last minute prior to checking in for our flight for Manila, our doctors and other volunteers were able to gather around 4,000 pieces of N95 facial masks to help alleviate the need of the residents affected by the volcanic ash.

Most volunteers stayed at the TRYP Hotel in Manila and a daily bus service brought the volunteers to the various medical mission sites and back. As many know, Manila has one of the worst traffic in the world. Luckily, we were granted 4 motorcycle police escorts that made our travel time shorter. We were very grateful to the police team and honored their great service with a standing ovation at our farewell dinner.

Education

As with our previous missions, we not only took care of the indigent population with their medical needs but also included education as an integral part of our Community Outreach Program. Our Critical Care Team comprised of Dr. Carmen Agcaoili and Pam Dudley (APN) led by Dr. Janice Manjuck taught a 4-hour course that included a lecture on Fundamental Critical Care and a hands-on Skills Station. This course was conducted three times at different venues. There were 62 local nurses from Ospital Ng Paranaque and Olivares Hospital that participated. At the Bacoor District Hospital, there were 17 participants which comprised of nurses, students, midwives and a doctor. The third venue of the course was held at the UERMMMC School of Medicine and was attended by 72 clerks, residents and fellows.

A whole day refresher course on Emergency Skills Training led by Dr. Leslie Sackschewsky (OB/GYN), Gerald Caritan (RN, AHA, CPR-Certified) and Pam Dudley (APN), was attended by around 300 midwives, fire fighters and dispatch teams from Bacoor. Our usual Wednesday evening CME dinner was well attended by both the medical mission volunteers and the local medical society. The CME was led by Dr. Janice Manjuck who covered topics on Medical Concerns and Care for patients exposed to volcanic eruptions. Dr. Leslie Sackschewsky lectured on Opioids use in the OB/GYN setting. A polio update was given by Nikki Roco, a medical student at UERMMMC and the UC Berkeley student volunteers presented a survey of PMSNC Medical Mission participants.

Canceled Major Surgeries

The Taal eruption complicated the logistics of performing major surgeries that have been scheduled. We decided that for the safety of our volunteers it was best to cancel all of them. The supplies, medication including anesthetics and two air conditioners that we brought were donated to General Emilio Aguinaldo Hospital (GEAH) where Dr. Ryan Gamarcha, chief surgical resident and his team will perform the surgeries long after we have gone home. GEAMH Chief of Clinics Dr. Romulo U Lua, Jr will supervise the surgeries.

Technology

Our data processing and statistics team led by Sherman Calinga and Fred Acelar, rolled out an application for maintaining medical records. The application is written by Brendan Hoffman, a UC Irvine student. When approached about the idea of producing a medical record (EMR) application, he embraced the challenge. After half a year of hard work in the summer of 2019, on top of school and leadership roles, he was able to produce a working EMR that helped serve 6,890 patients at the 2020 mission to Bacoor, Cavite.

We plan to continue and improve this method of record keeping for future missions.

Select photography of the 2020 Medical Mission is by volunteer and San Francisco-based photographer and filmmaker Kiko Valle

Baby AlexhaAraceli DeGuzman, MD

The shining star of this mission was our youngest patient, baby Alexha, a four-and-a-half-month-old girl born with congenital club feet (talipes equinovarus).

Inspired by dedicated volunteers and the hospitality of Candon.

A Poem by Pediatrician Volunteer Rosemarie R. Padua, MD, FAAP.

Continuing medical education was provided to volunteers and local physicians with lectures provided by Dr. Sudesh Rattehalli on Graves Ophthalmopathy and by Dr. Janice Manjuck on Methamphetamine Abuse. A team of CPR certified providers led by Gerardo Caritan, RN gave training and lectures on the Basics of CPR, Review of Neonatal Resuscitation, Fundamentals and Essentials of ACLS in Trauma and Critical Care and Basic Life Support were provided to physicians, nurses, medical and nursing students at the Western Visayas Sanitarium, Iloilo Mission Hospital, University of San Agustin, St. Paul University, Iloilo Doctor’s College of Medicine and Western Visayas State University College of Medicine.

All services, medications and supplies were provided free of charge. Funds to support this mission came from volunteer fees, donations and fundraisers held by PMSNC throughout the year. Planning and preparation included applications to the Professional Regulatory Commission of the Philippines for special temporary licenses for physicians, dentists, nurses, optometrist and pharmacist; application with the Philippine Department of Health for the medical mission and special application with the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Karen Francia, President of the Western Visayas Ophthalmology Society was very supportive with the application for POA approval, screening and selection of patients and coordination with our ophthalmology team led by Dr. Stephen Post.

At the conclusion of the mission week, we were able to donate surgical supplies, medications and a set of CPR mannequins to the City of Santa Barbara through Mayor Superficial.

This, indeed, was a mission that was able to fulfill its goal despite challenging circumstances. Several residents of Santa Barbara are now pain-free, no longer blind or disfigured. Several have received helpful information to improve their health. Many can now provide life-saving CPR and several more will be able to receive CPR training.

There were 82 major surgeries (34 general, 11 plastic, 14 gynecological, and 23 ophthalmologic) plus 119 minor surgeries. A total of 3,584 patients were provided outpatient medical care. Another 1,198 patients received optometry services, 968 dental, 53 orthotic and 183 imaging services. In addition, health education, CPR training and continuing medical education lectures were held.

The volunteers not only donated their own precious time and paid for their own travel, but also donated medications and supplies. These same volunteers also participated in fundraising events and packing of supplies. Sihttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSS983KleMm9UhsxAzf2ouewANQwUhuOtQwy6Q7c_R4v2UvfoVX-H8HpQDwrhCyfxNl9r-OVMIvZN5M/pubchart?oid=1222174756&format=interactivex of the volunteers even donated blood to save the life of a patient.

The most memorable part of this year’s mission was our 9 year old hero who, two months before the mission, had found an abandoned newborn baby with a cleft lip in a ditch at a local cemetery. Despite already having 3 children in the family, the parents welcomed the baby as their own. This baby’s cleft lip was repaired by our plastic surgery team. It’s been a great honor to have been a part of this extraordinary story.

We are extremely grateful to all the volunteers and donors who continue to support our medical missions!

Earlier Missions

Ilocos Norte2016

Bohol2015

Tarlac2014

Pangasinan2013

Occidental Mindoro2012

Sarangani2011