May 16-23, 2025
Flights: Round trip  JFK-Quito, Ecuador
We are accepting donations through our PayPal  link to assist in purchasing medical & surgical supplies for the mission.

Volunteers needed

Medicine team: they will travel to communities for 4 to 5 days

• 3-4 MDS of various specialties
• 1-2RNs
• 1pharmacist
• 1 optometrist & 1 ophthalmic tech
• 1-2 medical residents & 1-2  medical students
• 1 administrative assistant
• 2 translators

Surgical Eye Team: the surgical patients will have already been selected, the team will operate out of Fibuspam Hospital

•  2-3 ophthalmic surgeons
•  2-3 RNSs or CSTs for OR with ophthalmic experience
•  2-3 floaters for OR
•  1 ophthalmology resident
•  1-2 anesthesiologists or critical care physicians
•  1 preop/postop RN
•  1 sterilization tech
•  1 administrative assistant
•  2 translators

There will be an opportunity to visit the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon or hiking Cotopaxi after the mission is completed. There will be a travel agent who can guide you through the process. Otherwise, you can return with the main group on May 23rd.

If you are interested in joining the Sights on Health team, please email Dr. Debra Messina for an application no later than 12/3/2024 Thank you!

May 16-23, 2025
Flights: Round trip  JFK-Quito, Ecuador
We are accepting donations to our paypal to cover the coast of airfare for the team.

Volunteers needed

Medicine team: they will travel to communities for 4 to 5 days

• 3-4 MDS of various specialties
• 1-2RNs
• 1pharmacist
• 1 optometrist & 1 ophthalmic tech
• 1-2 medical residents & 1-2  medical students
• 1 administrative assistant
• 2 translators

Surgical Eye Team: the surgical patients will have already been selected, the team will operate out of Fibuspam Hospital

•  2-3 ophthalmic surgeons
•  2-3 RNSs or CSTs for OR with ophthalmic experience
•  2-3 floaters for OR
•  1 ophthalmology resident
•  1-2 anesthesiologists or critical care physicians
•  1 preop/postop RN
•  1 sterilization tech
•  1 administrative assistant
•  2 translators

There will be an opportunity to visit the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon or hiking Cotopaxi after the mission is completed. There will be a travel agent who can guide you through the process. Otherwise, you can return with the main group on May 23rd.

If you are interested in joining the Sights on Health team, please email Dr. Debra Messina for an application no later than 12/3/2024 Thank you!

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” -Martin Luther King Jr.

I woke up today in Ecuador rested and refreshed to a view that filled me with awe. The volcano in the distance stood tall and proud, reminding me of the information Wilson shared with us yesterday about Ecuador’s unique geography. I kept this view in mind as I enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Hotel Zeus.

After boarding the bus by 7:15 am, our team was in for a treat once again when we had the opportunity to learn from Wilson. He explained the history of the Incas in Ecuador and the differences in languages across the country. We learned that there are 14 indigenous nationalities in Ecuador. Living in the Andean highlands, the indigenous communities have adapted to the high altitude, tending to be shorter in stature and to have increased lung capacities. We were all engrossed in this information and before we knew it, we had reached the clinic.

Using the insights from yesterday, we began the day’s work in a more coordinated, efficient manner. The ten patients from yesterday were seen from 7:45 am onwards for post-operative follow-up and eye exams.

One such patient was Franklin, a 54-year-old male farmer who experienced a severe trauma to his left eye from a metal wire while working in the fields. The corneal laceration that resulted was operated on in July of this year. The patient came to the clinic yesterday for cataract surgery on the same eye that occurred after the trauma. The patient was in good spirits and was accompanied by his family. During the follow-up visit, he took the tape and bandage off his left eye. The room then erupted with laughter. Tears of happiness streamed down the cheeks of the patient and his family who were overwhelmed with gratitude for the miracle of vision restoration. Hugs were exchanged and a wave of optimism spread throughout the clinic. It was truly a “sight to see!” During this encounter, our ophthalmologists, surgery technicians, nurses, and volunteers continued to work cooperatively to complete new cases and multiply this joy.

Meanwhile, the dynamic duo of Ken Roberts and Ana Lucia Lema Curichumbi was busy in the sterilization room. The sterilization team serves as the backbone of the mission because the surgeries are not possible without sterile instrumentation.

A while later, I noticed Ken sitting down on a stool… or so it seemed. For our collective enjoyment through this blog, I captured my confusion and eventual realization that Ken was actually doing wall-sits for a while to strengthen his legs and core. Are there any soccer teams in Ecuador that could use an extra player?

Our team ate lunch in shifts between 12:15 pm and 2:30 pm to maintain the flow of the clinic. We enjoyed barley soup, rice, lentils, omelets, chicken, and blackberry juice. After lunch, I walked up to the roof of the clinic for some fresh air and was stunned once again by the gorgeous views. It was a cloudy day so the volcano I had seen in the morning at the hotel was playing hide-and-seek, but I was able to appreciate striking mountains that lie adjacent to the volcano.

By 7:10 pm, we had completed twenty surgeries – double that of yesterday! We prepared for the next day, boarded the bus, and returned to the hotel. Some of us ate a wonderful dinner of pasta, fries, garlic bread, fruit, and ice cream at Hotel Zeus, while others enjoyed lobster and steak at a nearby restaurant. We all used the time to decompress, bond, and relax together before the start of another fulfilling day tomorrow. ¡Hasta mañana, familia!

“Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones.” -Phillips Brooks

After over 18 hours of travel yesterday, our team rested well and was looking forward to the scrumptious breakfast offered by Hotel Zeus of eggs, fruit, cereal, yogurt, tea, bread, and jam. A few team members left the hotel at 10:00 am for the clinic. The rest of the team traveled together on the bus and joined about half an hour later. Wilson kindly taught us about the geography of Ecuador during the bus ride. Ecuador is divided into twenty-four provinces. There are ninety-six volcanoes, twelve of which are active with steam and three of which are in the process of erupting. Chimborazo is the highest mountain from the center of the earth and is higher than Mt. Everest which is measured from sea level. The capital of Chimborazo is Riobamba in central Ecuador with a population of 220,000. Riobamba is one of the five largest cities in Ecuador and is called “La Sultana de los Andes” because it is surrounded by four volcanoes. Wind blows in from the Amazon region and causes Riobamba to be very cold at times, giving way to the playful nickname, “Fríobamba.” Riobamba is near the equator line and the strength of the sun must be taken seriously. Ecuadorians have to protect their skin even when the weather is cloudy. We all thanked Wilson for educating us on these key points. With this new knowledge, we walked into the clinic with cheerful smiles, feeling more prepared for the adventures that laid ahead.

For the rest of the morning and early afternoon, our team worked quickly to unpack our 20+ suitcases and 4+ carry-on bags full of mission equipment and supplies. The areas for registration, intake, pre-operative clearance, post-operative recovery, and sterilization were carefully set up. The surgical instruments and machines were prepped and organized in the two adjacent operating rooms by knowledgeable team members.

Once we were finished with unpacking and set-up, we took a break to inaugurate the newly constructed third floor of the clinic over a wonderful lunch of noodles and fried rice. The entire staff from Sights on Health, Partners for Andean Community Health, and FIBUSPAM were officially introduced to each other. The room was filled with mutual respect and appreciation for all the hard work that has taken place by each party to make this mission possible. A group picture was taken to commemorate this beautiful moment of unity. Many thanks to the attention to detail by the Partners for Andean Community Health and FIBUSPAM that continues to ensure that every member of the mission is fed well. Significant efforts are being made to cater to the vegetarian and gluten-free diets of our team.

Following lunch, we immediately got to work. We started the processes of registration, obtaining consent for the surgical procedures, and pupillary dilation. We reviewed patients’ medical histories, allergies, medication lists, labs, EKGs, pre-operative vision screen results, and more in the pre-operative area next to the operating rooms to determine if the patients were cleared for surgery. The risks and benefits of surgery were discussed with patients once again. Patients received nerve blocks and were moved into the operating rooms for surgery. The surgeries began around 3:00 pm and ended around 9:30 pm. After the vital signs were stable and post-operative instructions were delivered to the patient and the patient’s family members, patients received help to change their clothes and were escorted out of the clinic. As the day progressed, we noticed several areas of improvement. We brainstormed how to best move forward and then implemented important changes to increase the efficiency of our clinic.

Today, we had the pleasure of meeting Myriam, a hard-working 56-year-old mother with a medical history of hypertension and chronic kidney disease on dialysis with her last session being yesterday. She was accompanied by her brother. Myriam’s cataract was successfully removed with no complications. She was so grateful for her positive experience at the clinic and kissed each staff member on the cheek before leaving. She repeatedly called me, “mi hija,” throughout our warm interactions throughout the day. I felt we were family even before this phrase was used. Another patient with similar sweetness was overcome with gratitude. He hugged me many times and said, “Dios le paga. Dios le paga.” God will pay you. God will pay you. We are so fortunate for the opportunity to learn from and serve patients. We are one family.

By the end of the day, we reached our goal of completing ten surgeries! How wonderful! We then cleaned and prepared the clinic for tomorrow. Our team continued this day of brainstorming and bonding by eating pizza together on the third floor of the clinic. During dinner, we were introduced to the wonderful physical therapist who works at the clinic. He is also an expert in providing healthcare to indigenous populations through his knowledge of plant-based natural remedies which are commonly used in Ecuador. We waved good night to the clinic as we boarded the bus to leave for the day. We reached the hotel by 10:30 pm and went up to our rooms thankful for a good day and excited for a better tomorrow. ¡Hasta mañana, familia!

This blog post is written by Pallavi Tatapudy, MS4 at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University who served as co-leader of the 2017 medical and surgical mission to Sacred Valley, Perú organized by A Promise to Peru.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mahatma Gandhi

The day is here! Our team is ready to embark on our cataract surgical mission to Riobamba, Ecuador after months of intense preparation. Our group of enthusiastic volunteers travelled via Jet Blue from JFK International Airport, eager to step foot in the Andean highlands. We met a few more volunteers at the stopover at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and had an informative introductory meeting to orient everyone. Dr. Debra Messina, Cathy Roberts, Dr. Christina Rager, and Sarah Marjane from Partners for Andean Community Health shared a few thoughts about our mission, goals, the importance of professionalism, and safety precautions. We then journeyed together on our second flight of the day to Quito, Ecuador, where we were joyfully greeted by Señor Wilson from FIBUSPAM. The team quickly loaded the 20+ suitcases and 4+ carry-on bags full of mission equipment, as well as personal luggage, into a large bus that would be driven by Señor Jorge. We ate sandwiches, chips, and juice on the bus while Wilson and Sarah welcomed our team once again to Ecuador. We weaved between the mountains of Ecuador for about four hours till we arrived in Riobamba around 3:30 am. The luggage was quickly unloaded from the bus and the mission equipment that required refrigeration was promptly placed in refrigerators in the hotel by Wilson and the staff. Our team then rushed up to their rooms to sleep in preparation for an early start tomorrow. The adventure is just beginning, folks! Buckle up!