Pitching in to Help Dominicans with Otolaryngologic Disorders
Vivian Kaul, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, was among 25 otolaryngologists and anesthesiologists who extended their practice beyond the walls of American hospitals to the Dominican Republic, where they spent a week treating underserved adults and children with ear disorders. Her participation in the mission was funded by an American Academy of Otolaryngology Foundation travel grant.
The group treated patients at Elias Santana Hospital in Los Alcarrizos through Project Ear. “This is a hospital for the poorest of the poor,” says Dr. Kaul, who serves on the AAO’s Humanitarian Efforts Committee. “Annually, Project Ear’s population includes about 300 underprivileged children and adults in the Dominican Republic who have no access to private or government health systems. The public health system is grossly understaffed and has few resources for diagnosis and treatment. We have to bring in everything we need for surgery, including all our instruments and equipment, implants, drapes, tubing, bandages, and medications.”
The AAO’s Humanitarian Efforts Committee sponsors missions in the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Africa, Middle East, China, Southeast Asia, Philippines, and the United States. “It was my first medical mission trip, and I want to go back,” she says. “I highly encourage other otolaryngologists to get involved. We’ve updated the map on the committee’s web page. Look there as a starting point, apply for the AAO’s travel grant, and go on a medical mission at least once. It is a life-changing experience. The perspective you gain is invaluable. Every patient deserves the best care, and being in this environment is a reminder of how privileged we are. It also reconnected me with my motivation for choosing medicine.”
For more information on the Humanitarian Efforts Committee, visit https://www.entnet.org/get-involved/humanitarian-efforts/.