Dr. Theodore Schwartz recently joined the 2015 Mission: BRAIN trip to Guadalajara, Mexico, where U.S. neurosurgeons provided their expertise to local health care providers and patients. This humanitarian effort, founded in 2011 by Dr. Michael Lawton of UCSF and Dr. Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa of Johns Hopkins, brings world-class neurosurgical services and training to under-served hospitals and patients. The project has developed multiple partnerships throughout Mexico and has recently expanded to the Philippines.
On this summer’s trip to Guadalajara, Dr. Schwartz joined Dr. Lawton, Dr. Quiñones-Hinojosa, and Dr. George Jallo of Johns Hopkins. The team spent two days operating on patients at the public hospital, then spent a day conducting an educational conference for residents and medical students in Puerto Vallarta. The surgical team treated more than a dozen patients during their stay, and provided neurosurgical training for local health care providers.
Dr. Schwartz was accompanied on this trip by his 16-year-old son, Jonathan; Dr. Quiñones brought his 13-year-old son, David, as well. While their neurosurgeon fathers operated, the boys worked in the pediatric ward, where they donated an Xbox video game system and distributed toys for the children.
The slide show below captures some of the highlights of the trip.
