Dear Friends and Family—
We are writing to share the most exciting news!
We are announcing the creation of— SOAP— Surgeries Overseas Assistance Program, a non-profit dedicated to international healthcare education!
The mission of SOAP is to foster international surgical teaching experiences by improving patient access to care through financial support. To this end, our aim is to bolster the education of international surgeons and facilitate the care of patients in resource-scarce countries.
THE BACKSTORY
As many of you know, Bobby has been passionate about teaching orthopedics in Tanzania for many years now. We have been to Africa twice with Health Volunteers Overseas, an organization founded to teach in resource limited countries. This year, we were joined by two US residents (Drs. Matt Braswell and Natalie Marenghi) and two US staff specialists (Drs. Ginny Casey and Jason Halvorson)! This trip followed several years of monthly international lectures via Zoom to enhance the overseas residents’ training. These meetings have had a host of guest orthopedic specialists as lecturers and have grown to include international residents even outside of Tanzania. (The lectures were initially begun due to COVID but continued due to positive response!)
Please visit Bobby’s blog for some details on our past trips!
THE WHY
Our family’s first trip to Tanzania was a Kilimanjaro summit followed by safari, planned by our sons’ science teacher, Mr. John Riley. At the end of the trip, he asked us all if we felt we had “unfinished business” in Tanzania— Bobby and I knew we did. We are so very grateful for the friends we have made there and the opportunities we have had to go back to “teach a man to fish.” SOAP has grown from this simple idea of “Unfinished Business.”
THE GREATEST BARRIER
During our last visit, we recognized that one of the greatest barriers to teaching the Tanzanian residents was limited number of surgical cases. Surgical education must be a hands-on teaching experience, not just a classroom lecture. Unfortunately, the shortage of cases was not due to a lack of need. Many people languished, needing surgery, but were delayed due to a lack of funding. The Tanzania healthcare system does not allow patients to have surgery until they can pay for the surgery upfront— around $160 US per surgery.
Compared to a surgery in the States, that may sound like a small amount but it is insurmountable for many Tanzanians.
OUR RESPONSE
Recognizing this barrier to our mission of teaching led to the formation of SOAP— Surgeries Overseas Assistance Program! We have been joined by 5 other talented, motivated individuals to serve as SOAP’s founding Board. We are excited to announce that SOAP has received our 501(c)(3) status, making SOAP an IRS recognized charitable organization. Our new corporation aims to break the financial bottleneck that caused surgical delays by funding needed orthopedic surgeries and enhancing the educational time of traveling orthopedic instructors.
OUR FRIENDS
Which brings us to you, our friends and family! You are all friends— whether it is through your love of orthopedics, of medicine, of Africa, of teaching, of sharing skills and talents, of fostering goodwill among others, (of Facebook! 😊), or perhaps simply your love of us. We invite you to share in SOAP’s mission. Please join us in supporting SOAP!
WHAT’S NEXT
Our next trip will be February of 2024. We will be accompanied by 2 US residents, and we are excited to increase the total number of US orthopedic staff specialists to 4! Become a Friend of SOAP so you can keep up with all our plans and follow along with SOAP’s work in Tanzania! SOAP hopes to sponsor one orthopedic surgery per day during our trip. These surgeries will allow increased teaching opportunities and give the gift of mobilization and healing to patients in need. If we exceed our initial fundraising goals, SOAP will be able to fund surgeries during other traveling surgeons’ visits and support the acquisition of needed surgical instrumentation.
THE ASK
We hope you are excited about SOAP! If able, please sponsor a surgery, or 2 or 3, or even a whole week’s worth! That would be amazing! Or, equally amazing, contribute any donation amount that is comfortable for you! Please join SOAP’s mission, even if you are not able to donate at this time! We invite you all to follow SOAP’s work— celebrate our triumphs, commiserate with our speed bumps, share our mission with others, and send us prayers and Godspeed on our journey.
With love and gratitude to you all,
Jen
Executive Director, SOAP
SOAP Board of Directors:
- Bobby Erdin, Chair
- Matt Braswell
- Ginny Casey
- Jonathan Faggart, Vice Chair
- Jason Halvorson
- Natalie Marenghi