Each year, our faculty and residents attend 3-4 international mission trips. Mission trips receive financial support from Kaiser Permanente and are counted as training time, not vacation. Residents typically participate in two medical missions during the course of their residency.
Some of the organizations we partner with include:
- Smile for Me: An annual cleft lip and palate surgical trip to the Philippines lead by Dr. Shane Zim
- Hospital de la Familia: A hospital in rural Guatemala that our department visits at least once a year providing comprehensive Otolaryngologic surgical care.
- Faces of Tomorrow: An annual cleft lip and palate surgical trip to various locations lead by Dr. Charles Shih. Prior locations include Philippines, Ecuador, and Ethiopia
- Operation Access: An organization that provides surgical care for un and under-insured patients in our local community. Our faculty and residents volunteer to participate in Saturday Operation Access surgery dates several times year. Prior surgeries offered include parotidectomy, thyroidectomy, parathyroidectomy, mastoidectomy, and more.
Take a look at our website to learn more about the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Global Health Program
Samuel Collazo relates his experience at Hospital de la Familia in Guatemala:
This year I had the humbling experience of serving patients at the Hospital de la Familia, a hospital in rural Guatemala. During our week-long trip, we evaluated dozens of patients in the clinic for a wide variety of conditions, including tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis. We also provided comprehensive otolaryngologic surgical care, from tonsillectomies and septoplasties to more specialized surgeries such as excision of a pediatric lymphatic malformation. I am grateful to Hospital de la Familia and to my residency program for supporting and providing me with this unique opportunity!