Virtue Foundation sponsors team of 24 medical professionals and obtains more than $900,000.00 USD worth of equipment and supplies to implement fourth surgical teaching mission in Ulaanbaatar and Khovd, Mongolia.

In May 2012, a team of 24 volunteer surgeons, residents, nurses, medical students and support staff joined Virtue Foundation’s Director of International Programming and Global Health Dr. Ebby Elahi and Co-Founder and Vice President Dr. Joan LaRovere to perform free, essential surgical care and to train local surgeons toward sustainable advancements in surgical healthcare delivery in Ulaanbaatar and Khovd, Mongolia.

Virtue Foundation sponsored the team of ophthalmologists, ENT and facial plastic surgeons, liver cancer surgeons, micro-vascular surgeons, anesthesiologists, residents, medical students, and nurses from four different countries, including the US, France, Israel and India, to work alongside teams of local surgeons from the First Hospital, Third Hospital, Children’s Hospital, the National Cancer Center and the Khovd Regional Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Mongolia.

In preparation for the mission, Virtue Foundation volunteers gathered more than $900,000.00 USD worth of medical equipment and supplies. These donations enabled the team to serve more than 750 patients, perform approximately 175 surgeries and provide more than 900 hours of best-in-class clinical training using the latest innovations in surgical techniques. In addition to providing critical care and skills training, the Foundation donated close to $200,000 worth of equipment and supplies to local hospitals and medical professionals.

As part of this year’s expansion efforts, the team piloted a cataract, glaucoma, strabismus, and oculofacial surgical mission in the western provincial capital city of Khovd. Surgeons examined more than 300 patients and performed 120 sight-restoring and reconstructive operations. The Foundation was awarded a medal of honor from the City of Khovd for its volunteers’ incredible contributions.