Thursday - Firing on all cylinders

Hospital Number One, Day 5 in Mongolia.

I have been working closely with Dr. Hamilton. His experience in endourology has served as a great resource for me as well as the local doctors. We have been performing kidney stone surgery this week in attempts to help improve the techniques of local surgeons. Early in the week we struggled with a few cases and realized the technology available was the problem. We have sicne made adjustments and emphasized the need to make the best use of resources available. Today we felt our surgical cases were performed with efficiency and success. We are excited at the vast differences from Monday to today. We hope that our few days in teaching will allow many years improved patient care.

Today, we also presented scopes donated by the Storz endoscope company to the local doctors. They were most grateful as the last donated scopes were showing their age. The local doctors are compassionate and skilled surgeons and have been adaptable to the equipment available to them. With modern equipment, they have the ability to provide patients with minimally invasive procedures with great surgical prowness.

I find the mongolian people to be friendly and happy people. The local doctors and nurses, the patients, and our translator have all been great hosts. We even have found time in our busy day to laugh, share stories and culture, and even family pictures with the local people.

The team at the Pediatric hospital also had a productive day. The patients' families have been most gracious and shower the team daily with praise and gifts. It is touching to see such display of gratitude. Late in the day we met the team and headed to the local department store for souvenier shopping. We then headed back to the hotel and met for dinner at the Japanese restaurant in our hotel. Nori, our pediatric anesthesiologist, showed us a great time and introduced us to his favorite cuisine. We did have to say goodbye to one of our wonderful nurses. She had an unexpected family matter and had to rush home. We are sorry to see her leave us early but have shared some great times. All in all another great day in Mongolia.

~Mongolia2008