It already has been one year since my last volunteer trip and I again travelled to Tegucigalpa, Honduras to work at the Hospital San Felipe, a public hospital. I am currently the Health Volunteers Overseas director of surgical oncology to Honduras, and I am very pleased to serve in this capacity. HVO is a great organization for medical and surgical physicians and I have been very appreciative of their assistance in preparing for this trip.
It again was a great experience. This year I travelled with Dr. Adrian, a fellow in research in Boston with a career interest in urology. We arrived without problems and were met at the airport by Dr. Roberto, the director of the surgical oncology training program and two interns, Dr. Alex and Dr. Jerson, who kindly drove us to the hotel.
We were up and at it early in the morning and were greeted by Dr. Virna (Chief resident) and Dr Jerson and escorted to the hospital. The other residents included Dr. Karina, Dr. Junior Collins, and Dr. Jeyson. It was a pleasure to work with all of them as they proved to be quite knowledgeable, personable and fun to learn of their experiences. It was particularly nice to see Dr. Virna again as I remembered her very well from last year. We did many oncology cases, including some with Dr. Patricia (may be misspelled), a plastic surgeon who is very skilled and proficient.
After work we were treated as true dignitaries. Every night one or more residents and sometimes Dr. Roberto would take us to a local restaurant for dinner. What a treat to get out of the hospital and hotel and out into the community. We also had the chance to visit the medical school and the Hospital Escuela, the largest public hospital in Honduras. Dr. Virna was our guide as she had completed several rotations there. What a place! Busy and crowded, as you would expect at a large public hospital. Next year I am aiming to visit a private hospital, just to appreciate the differences!
The patients again were very appreciative of our work and while my Spanish is very limited, people do communicate on different levels. I keep vowing to learn more Spanish, but really never have the time. Perhaps I just need to make the time! The week passed very quickly and there were no problems. As I like to say, I know just enough Spanish to get myself into trouble!
After work on Friday we again visited Valle of Angeles, stopped at an excellent restaurant for puposas, then a little visiting the local shops for crafts made in Honduras. Yes, there are tourist shops and many Americans were seen walking along the streets of this community.
Here are a few pictures to share with you of our trip and our work in the operating room.
Dr. Adrian (r) and Dr. Jeyson with Wilson, the Anesthesia assistant and the nursing assistant.
All smiles under the masks when the case goes well!
We had really good nursing assistance in the OR.
Time for a break! Caught!
Pre-op and post op recovery room.
Dr. Virna and Dr. Adrian at Hospital Escuela. She is smart, nice and pretty!
View of the medical school (background) from the Hospital Escuela.
Dr Adrian, Dr. Jerson and Dr. Virna in the OR.
We even had a birthday party in the OR lounge! Local treats and cake.
Cannot resist taking a picture of people taking selfies! The lady in the brown scrubs is the Anesthesiologist. She was very helpful and very pleasant.
Sign at the Hospital San Felipe. Opened in 1935.
The hotel started decorating for Christmas. Love the decorations.
I waited all week for them to put up the tree!
The Statue of Christ on the mountain, view from hotel.
All too soon, it was time to wrap up the work and return home. Here is the view of the city from the airplane.
It was a great trip, productive and I gave a presentation to the residents as they are preparing for their examinations. No troubles traveling home, Fionnegan and Gunnarr and Shorty were very happy to see me as I arrived very early in the morning. Lots of kisses and tail wags. They were good while I was away, so they said!
It again was a great experience. This year I travelled with Dr. Adrian, a fellow in research in Boston with a career interest in urology. We arrived without problems and were met at the airport by Dr. Roberto, the director of the surgical oncology training program and two interns, Dr. Alex and Dr. Jerson, who kindly drove us to the hotel.
We were up and at it early in the morning and were greeted by Dr. Virna (Chief resident) and Dr Jerson and escorted to the hospital. The other residents included Dr. Karina, Dr. Junior Collins, and Dr. Jeyson. It was a pleasure to work with all of them as they proved to be quite knowledgeable, personable and fun to learn of their experiences. It was particularly nice to see Dr. Virna again as I remembered her very well from last year. We did many oncology cases, including some with Dr. Patricia (may be misspelled), a plastic surgeon who is very skilled and proficient.
After work we were treated as true dignitaries. Every night one or more residents and sometimes Dr. Roberto would take us to a local restaurant for dinner. What a treat to get out of the hospital and hotel and out into the community. We also had the chance to visit the medical school and the Hospital Escuela, the largest public hospital in Honduras. Dr. Virna was our guide as she had completed several rotations there. What a place! Busy and crowded, as you would expect at a large public hospital. Next year I am aiming to visit a private hospital, just to appreciate the differences!
The patients again were very appreciative of our work and while my Spanish is very limited, people do communicate on different levels. I keep vowing to learn more Spanish, but really never have the time. Perhaps I just need to make the time! The week passed very quickly and there were no problems. As I like to say, I know just enough Spanish to get myself into trouble!
After work on Friday we again visited Valle of Angeles, stopped at an excellent restaurant for puposas, then a little visiting the local shops for crafts made in Honduras. Yes, there are tourist shops and many Americans were seen walking along the streets of this community.
Here are a few pictures to share with you of our trip and our work in the operating room.
Dr. Adrian (r) and Dr. Jeyson with Wilson, the Anesthesia assistant and the nursing assistant.
She is beautiful, don't you agree? Most of my interaction with the OR personnel are with hats and masks and it is sometimes hard to recognize someone in street attire!
All smiles under the masks when the case goes well!
Time for a break! Caught!
Pre-op and post op recovery room.
Dr. Virna and Dr. Adrian at Hospital Escuela. She is smart, nice and pretty!
View of the medical school (background) from the Hospital Escuela.
Dr Adrian, Dr. Jerson and Dr. Virna in the OR.
We even had a birthday party in the OR lounge! Local treats and cake.
Cannot resist taking a picture of people taking selfies! The lady in the brown scrubs is the Anesthesiologist. She was very helpful and very pleasant.
OR Anesthesia assistants, Wilson on the right.
She is enjoying the birthday celebration.
More beautiful OR assistant. Honduras has many beautiful women.
She was also very helpful and pleasant in the OR and a really nice person.
Took a walk around the hotel area. This is a local Roman Catholic Church where they were celebrating multiple baptisms. Lots of little babies!
Hospital San Felipe, as seen from the Hyatt.
Center figure on horseback. I do not to confirm his identity. Was not able to cross the street to look for a sign - construction and heavy traffic.
View of the cityscape and mountains.
This must be a favorite place to stretch after a case.
Dr. Virna and Dr. Jerson
Scrubbing for their cases, It was all quiet and all you could hear was the sound of brushes on the skin.
Charting for Anesthesia
A smile behind the mask.
The team at lunch. Puposas are on the menu. Dr. Roberto in red shirt no doubt telling another spellbinding story!
Pretty flowers at this roadside café.
Orange flowering tree. It is beautiful.
Stopped at a local nursery - the plant kind.
The countryside is beautiful. Mountainous and green.
Sign at the Hospital San Felipe. Opened in 1935.
The hotel started decorating for Christmas. Love the decorations.
I waited all week for them to put up the tree!
The Statue of Christ on the mountain, view from hotel.
All too soon, it was time to wrap up the work and return home. Here is the view of the city from the airplane.
It was a great trip, productive and I gave a presentation to the residents as they are preparing for their examinations. No troubles traveling home, Fionnegan and Gunnarr and Shorty were very happy to see me as I arrived very early in the morning. Lots of kisses and tail wags. They were good while I was away, so they said!
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