Surgical teams take medical skills global

A local group of medical professionals and volunteers is providing cost-free medical care in some of the poorest countries in the world.

Known as Operation Medical, the non-profit organization has taken their skills out of Central Pennsylvania and performed more than two thousand surgeries across three continents.

Dr. Ken Arthur, Plastic Surgeon (right) and his surgical team, Valsad, India, January, 2019 (Photo by Margaret Marchaterre)

Operation Medical began six years ago and is made up of thirty doctors and over two hundred volunteers who emphasize the importance of global healthcare.

Joining us on Smart Talk to discuss the organization is Dr. Makul Parikh, MD, Founder and President of Operation Medical, and Director of Anesthesia at UPMC Pinnacle’s West Shore Hospital, Dr. Brett Delone, incoming President of Operation Medical and General Surgeon, Interim CMO at Geisinger Holy Spirit, and Dawn VanDervort, RN, Breast Cancer Coordinator.