Izzy Lieberman’s 15-Year Old Ugandan Spine Surgery Mission

COVID-19’s Impact

While funds are typically the biggest hurdle for mission work, these days there is another more difficult obstacle.

“For 3-6 months we had been mobilizing to do a trip this March. It was incredibly disappointing to have to cancel. We have been closely watching the COVID-19 case numbers Sub-Saharan Africa, but frankly, we have no idea what is happening there. Historically with H1N1 and Ebola you learn about the devastation after the fact. The two doctors I have been communicating with in Uganda haven’t been doing elective surgeries either. There are certainly no N95masks available. I will say that with their experience with Ebola they do know how to quarantine effectively.”

When We Give, We Receive

Dr. Lieberman emphasizes one vital and organic aspect of the Uganda Spine Mission. “It has been a wonderful, meaningful surprise to see the extent to which our project has been a catalyst for our volunteers. So many of our people have gone on to start their own efforts. Dr. Kris Siemionow has started a program in Poland for spine surgery and Dr. Selvon St. Clair conducts a medical mission on his home island of Trinidad. And then there are my children, who have each started their own volunteer efforts at home and abroad. In addition, some previous volunteers have started programs to collect and ship medications and hospital equipment.”

And although their growth plans have been curtailed in the short term, Dr. Lieberman isn’t slowing down much. “I have been doing some work with Mark Slaughter of OnBelay Medical, a company that that is structured to convert revenue streams into philanthropy. Mark and I have found at least 10 surgeons, some of which are native Ugandans, with a strong interest in building a hospital in Uganda. We are working with On Belay to channel resources from implant sales into a newly formed yet to be named international spine care consortium.”

This zeitgeist is the future, says Dr. Lieberman.

“Part of our ongoing growth is the cultivation of collaborative efforts by like-minded people. The future lies in taking our expertise and embedding it into local healthcare communities so they can serve and teach better than is currently possible. At this point our overarching goal is to build and outfit a hospital and train the local healthcare community to be increasingly self-sufficient.”

So not only has Izzy Lieberman seen great need every year for the last 15 years…he has—and is—doing something about it.

For additional information on the work of the Uganda Charitable Spine Surgery Mission, please visit: http://www.ugandaspinesurgerymission.com/