Changing Perspectives, Humbled and Fulfilled
The entire program has had as profound an effect on the MCW team as it has on the Nicaraguan people. According to Dr. Grindel, “They have certainly taught me how to approach problems in surgery in a more open-minded way and have forced me to find solutions with whatever tools are available. Without sounding too cliché, it has opened my eyes to how we are blessed to be practicing in the United States with all of the resources that we need at our fingertips.”
“I have also learned how resourceful less fortunate societies are that they are able to accomplish all that they do. It’s humbling to try to perform some of these surgeries without the full preoperative work up that I’m used to and without all of the fancy tools that I have here at home. In short it has made me more patient.”
“These trips most definitely enrich my spirit,” stated Dr. Grindel. “To put it in some context Dr. Pablo Corea and I first met when he was a resident in Nicaragua and came to MCW for a short six-week rotation. I met him as a young surgeon and have watched him grow into a very accomplished leader and educator.”
“In 2019 Dr. Corea returned to Milwaukee and spent six months with me as my international fellow; upon his return he assumed the role of head of orthopedics at his hospital. It’s really through his efforts that a lot of these educational opportunities have presented themselves and come to fruition.”
“A major highlight of this program has been the educational exchange certainly. The other obvious highlight is clinical. It is a privilege to be able to bring my skills to the Nicaraguan people and help them with these complicated issues. It is overwhelming that each of the times that I’ve been there patients have traveled from all over the country to have an opportunity or a shot at having our team take care of them. It is particularly sad knowing that as much as we can accomplish in any given mission trip so much more needs to be done.”
“Lastly but not any less important is our bringing with us residents and fellows from the United States to expose them to this volunteerism. Each of them comes away feeling grateful that they’ve volunteered their time and skills to help such a worthy cause and many of them have been stimulated to go on and continue this type of work well into their careers.”
It takes a village…and more than ever, the world is a global village.
For additional information about Milwaukee Orthopaedics Overseas, please contact Steve Grindel, M.D. at sgrindel@mcw.edu
