Spring Surgeries at CCH
Spring is about more than lions, lambs and seasonal allergies. It’s also a busy time for the Community Coalition for Haiti (CCH)’s Jim Wilmot Surgical Center in Jacmel. Already this year we’ve had 4 surgical teams in Haiti with a total of 72 American volunteers and many Haitian doctors, nurses, and translators. In January, Dr. Fred McGlynn’s orthopedic surgery team came (see insert below). In February, Dr. Dabinett’s OB-GYN team served surgical patients and students at our school based health clinics. This year we’ve also expanded and strengthened our partnerships within Haiti. In March, CCH’s surgical team headed by OB-GYN, Dr. Lauren Outlaw, partnered with anesthesiologists from Port-au-Prince who came to Jacmel. In April Dr. Wayne Reichman’s surgical team (photo above) worked with Hospital St. Michel in Jacmel, utilizing one of their ORs along with our own surgical center to serve more CCH patients with specialties in general and vascular surgery, orthopedics and gastroenterology.
What makes a good leader?
When asked about his service to Haiti and most recent trip in January Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Fred McGlynn (center below), replied with photos and stories of other people on his team and why they are phenomenal doctors and nurses. 
People follow a leader who brings out and celebrates their best work. And people have been following Fred McGlynn to Haiti for decades.
Some of those people are Ed Williamson (below left), who’s the McGlynn team equipment guru. Ed has been going to Haiti since early 1980’s. Scott Janus, Anesthesiologist, brings his unbelievable medical skills honed in the military, and tirelessly acquires needed medications for surgeries at the CCH clinic. 
Talented and compassionate nurses, Ginny Heatwole (top right), and Paulette Charleus make surgeries go smoothly in the OR. Paulette, affectionately nicknamed “Taffy” since she’s pulled on all sides, lives in Florida now but she grew up in Les Cayes, Haiti. Since the 1990’s she’s spent most of her vacation time giving back to her home country.
Fred’s team has been working in Haiti so long, they’ve spanned a generation in patient care. Samuel Raphael is a 9 month old boy born with polydactyly (extra toes and fingers). While discussing the surgery with his mother, Paulette (left below with Samuel and his mom) realized she and Fred had operated on her 23 years earlier in Leoganne! 
Fred McGlynn received CCH’s “Jim Wilmot Humanitarian Award” this year at our benefit on March 17, 2018. His decades-long volunteer work in Haiti have given countless children and adults a new lease on life.
Fred says, “Haiti has been a re-baptism for me for the past 27 years. I am humbled by the joy of the children, the spirit of the healthcare providers that have so little to work with, and the resiliency of the people to deal with disasters. We have a deep passion for the kids of Haiti. CCH has been a legacy for our vision; they support Haitian doctors, nurses, and therapists–and have made remarkable progress.”
Fred and his team’s mantra is summed up best by Mother Teresa, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”
Knowing that CCH had specialized surgical equipment, a C-arm (photo below) that provides special X-ray views during surgery, Dr. McGlynn’s team was able to add implants Donny’s hip during a complex surgery. He now has a much better chance of walking normally and having a productive life.
Frederick Buechner wrote that “the place God calls you to is where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Many of our volunteers echo this sentiment when they describe their call to service in Haiti.
Operations Manager for Advanced Surgical Training at Fairfax and CCH Medical Co-Chair, Larry Walker (photo right), describes our growing network of Haitian physicians. “Over the years CCH has talked about partnering with Haitian clinicians to train them to provide excellent healthcare for their fellow countryman. When Dr. Lauren Outlaw (below, in burgundy) approached me about putting a team together to include her friends from med school I thought it was an awesome idea. 
Everything was coming together until she walked into my office one day and said she had no one to provide anesthesia. This would definitely be a show stopper had it not been for Dr. Magadala Pavrette (Haitian Anesthesiologist in Port-au-Prince) who had supported our teams twice before. I contacted her and inquired about using this opportunity to train her residents based in the General Hospital in Port-au-Prince. She thought it was an great idea. Five doctors and students came including a surgery resident. Dr. Outlaw’s team (photo below) performed 30 cases without incident [thanks to the help of our Haitian colleagues]. The patients and their families were extremely pleased to have clinicians who could communicate with them and provide their anesthesia. The Residents were thankful to have supplies and medications. Often their ability to do cases is based on the availability of needed items. It is unheard of for them to perform 10 cases in one day or run 3 rooms simultaneously at the General Hospital, [like we do at CCH’s Surgical Center]. They are very interested in continuing a relationship with us in the future and bringing other clinicians. Word has gotten out in Port-au-Prince about the opportunities to train with us.”
All of these new and old Coalition members have our deepest thanks for making these life changing surgeries possible!
