Kingstown, St. Vincent & the Grenadines – World Pediatric Project’s (WPP) Upper Extremities Orthopedics team concluded their diagnostic and surgical efforts in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Friday November 11th, 2022. The trip began on November 6th, 2022 and was led by pediatric hand surgeon, Dr. Chuck Goldfarb. The team consisted of a hand surgeon fellow, Dr. David Wright, anesthesiologist Dr. Michael Montana, and OR nurse Elizabeth Bretwisch. Along with them was occupational therapist Michelle Burke and scribe Jake Goldfarb. Occupational therapy is a critical part of the post-operative healing process and overall development, independence, and confidence in the children’s lives.
The team, traveling for the first time in over two years, was able to evaluate and provide specialist pediatric care to 53 patients, both local and regional. From the region, 7 patients came from Barbados, 1 from Grenada, 3 from St. Kitts, 4 from St. Lucia, 1 from Trinidad and Tobago and the remainder from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A total of 18 complex surgeries were completed during the week, 7 for Vincentian children and 11 for regional pediatric patients.
The success of this team can be credited to the aforementioned medical volunteers with World Pediatric Project, collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Milton Cato Hospital, as well as generous funding partners who make this work possible: the Mustique Charitable Foundation and the Touching Hands project.
WPP will continue its mission of providing advanced pediatric healthcare for our local and regional children with the Orthopedic Spine team, led by Dr. Steve Hwang, set for November 27th – December 3rd, 2022. Individuals interested in supporting the work of WPP can contact the local office at 784-451-2989.