Mission Statement – SAGES HELPS
To employ the resources of SAGES and its members for humanitarian purposes in bettering the health of patients in the U.S. and in developing nations.
Goals:
- To gather information concerning SAGES members existing activities
- To gather information concerning volunteer opportunities in the surgical community here and abroad
- To focus the attention of our members on opportunities to serve through various means of communication To enable/facilitate the joining of resources with other like-minded groups
- To highlight our humanitarian initiative in focused programs/efforts during the SAGES annual meeting
- To develop an annual project that enables patients with little access to care to have increased access through SAGES and its members
- To obtain a sufficient budget to carry out these goals
SAGES HELPS 2011
“SAGES HELPS” was launched like a boomerang at the 2011 San Antonio Meeting.
- Habitat for Humanity
Thirty four (34) surgeons and family members bussed to (get name of neighborhood from Aaron) where they worked for much of the day to complete a house for low-income residents. Painting, glazing windows, building kitchen cabinets was sweaty and rewarding for the group. We know a secret. Some surgeons are better with a needle driver than with a screw driver. - Blood Drive
More than two dozen showed up for testing and 20+ gave a pint of blood to the American Red Cross on Friday during the meeting. Every surgeon who ever said “two units of B positive” and the patients who needed those units say “thank you” - Bone Marrow Drive
It’s easy. It’s quick. It’s potentially life saving. Just get your mouth swabbed, fill out come papers and become part of the national bone marrow registry. You only have to do it once and you’re signed up permanently. If you are called you’ll have the opportunity to actually donate marrow patient. Your scalpel and scopes are only two ways to save a life. - Book Drive
We asked you to bring extra medical text books and more than 100 of you did! Thanks. The books will be sent to hospitals and other teaching institutions in China through books for China. Knowledge flows across borders through SAGES. - Instrument Drive
We are partnering with MedWish a Cleveland foundation that gathers medical supplies and equipment and sends it all over the world. Some of you brought instruments. Many more of you asked where to send them after the meeting. Send your “extra” instruments and supplies to the address below. If you want a tax receipt, please include your name address, phone and email address. - Sign up for Doctors without Borders
About a hundred attendees picked up information at the SAGES meeting. We hope many will sign up for this worthwhile international group that provides medical care to underserved communities around the world both routinely and during disasters.
Surgical Volunteer Opportunities |
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Angel Wings International | Haiti | 5-7 days | $750 plus airfare | Medical |
Esperana | Bolivia | 14-16 days | Airfare and “gathering surgical supplies” | Surgical |
Global Health Ministry | Latin America, Caribbean | 7-14 days (weekend orientation required) | $1500 – $2200 plus airfare and contributing medical supplies | Surgical |
Hopital Albert Schweitzer | Haiti | To volunteer, directly contact Dr. Silvia Ernst, the HAS Medical Director | Surgical | |
International Medical Relief | International | 10-14 days | $2700 – $3600 | Medical and surgical |
Medical Reserve Corp | Local | Ongoing and emergency response | No Costs | Medical, public heath awareness |