Humanitarian medical missions take nursing and healthcare back to its roots. CardioStart is an international nonprofit organization that brings doctors and nurses from all parts of the world to provide lifesaving cardiac surgeries and services in underserved regions of the world. By Maryam Ocasio, RN, BSN
Introducing Ms. Christine Lannon.
Dr. Clauden Louis was nominated to the TSRA-STS Global Fellowship Award. Congratulations Dr. Louis!
Bringing better heart health around the globe begins by raising awareness! November, 2016 our very own volunteer Kate Earley spoke at the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses conference in Charolettetown, Prince Edward Island about her mission work with CardioStart International. Though a busy nurse as a Critical Care RN at the London Health Sciences Centre, Kate has become a regular volunteer for CardioStart’s fight against heart disease. She has lent us her skills on several missions over the past year, helping to lead nursing care in several missions including [...]
A SURGEON AND A NIGERIAN CHIEF? As Mission Director for Nigeria Dr. Emily Farkas, an adult and pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon already has a plethora of awards and credentials on her resume. But perhaps none as as incredulous as the title of “Chief”. In 2013, Dr. Farkas was awarded by government diplomats of Nigeria the honorary status as a tribal “Chief” for her work in doing the first heart surgery in over 10 years in Nigeria. Enugu Government leaders have the authority to assign “entitlements” to people who are born [...]
Take a look at this brief video which highlights the wonderful work done in CardioStart’s support by two Vietnam Veteran volunteers during our 2009 mission to Ha Noi, Vietnam. Our team went to assist the Viet Duc Hospital development program and we performed the first homograft (human tissue) replacement in Vietnam's history. Our two Vets discovered there was also a connection between themselves and the father of the boy. Despite all the pain of the war many years previously, this operation in 2009 provided healing and closure for both the [...]
Ms. Ulrika Dandekar 1993 – 2014 Please join us in celebrating the life of Ulrika (Riya) Dandekar, who participated in Outreach and database collation on the inaugural 2009 mission to Kumasi, Ghana building a permanent heart surgery programme. She joined the historic mission from the UK with her father, Dr. Uday Dandekar, who was Medical Director of CardioStart’s UK chapter. At the Komfe Anokye Teaching Hospital, in Kumasi, a national centre, she was very actively involved in the clinical management during the two-week mission and counseled the patients undergoing congenital [...]
One volunteers story CardioStarts’ mission team brings volunteers from all countries and career specialties including a select few students who come for the infusion of education and experience of their life. This mission was no different for Emily Harper, premed student at the University of Oregon. Emily was spending special time on the mission with her father, Dr. Richard Harper, Emergency Room Chief and Professor at the VA and Oregon Health & Sciences University. He, a seasoned mission veteran was part of the outreach team helping to meet medical needs [...]
Why is the more difficult path often the most rewarding? It is this path, made up of medical challenges, culture and language barriers and incomprehensible lack of current health and technology standards found in westernized countries that we find CardioStart volunteers walking. What makes a CardioStart volunteer? There may not be a stereotype of a CardioStart volunteer. But one thing is certain: they are called to serve. Sher Stiles, a critical care nurse living in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has participated in two CardioStart missions—to Vietnam and Uganda—and will serve as Mission and Education Coordinator [...]
