As we embark on our tenth mission of Iowa MOST, we want to express our gratitude to the following organizations and people who have helped us to organize this year’s endeavor. DHL Global Forwarding for donation of the shipping of our supplies to Guatemala. We appreciate our long-time relationship and the generosity shown to us. Knowledge…
Read MoreIowa MOST appreciates the support of its team members, but there are other players whose patronage also makes the mission a success. A large debt of gratitude goes to: Contributing District 6000 Rotary clubs, for annual financial donations that help to sustain this district project; Hospital Salus and its employees, for the use of the hospital and…
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Families go to great lengths to access care through the Iowa MOST mission in the western highlands of Guatemala. Diego, the 13 year old uncle, carefully carried his one year old nephew in for his procedure. The baby’s mother who speaks a Mayan dialect came too with her younger child. Because Diego understands Spanish he was…
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The experience of Iowa MOST (Miles of Smiles Team) is one that CHANGES LIVES not only for those served but also for those who help! This labor of love would not exist without the leadership of Gary Pacha, chair of the Iowa MOST mission. We all owe deep gratitude to Gary for the untold hours/days/years…
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Medical director of Iowa MOST, Dr. John Canady and son Frank Canady, a senior at Grinnell College who will begin medical school at the University of Iowa in the fall, had the opportunity to experience Iowa MOST together for the first time in 2014. Dr. Canady, an ear, nose and throat–plastic surgery specialist, has been…
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The Iowa MOST mission is a project of Rotary District 6000. On the 2014 trip, District Governor, Jacque Andrew, and District Governor-Elect, John Ockenfels and Deb Ockenfels, participated. Jacque served as photo-journalist to document and share the team’s efforts via Facebook and the blog site. DGE John lead the organization of supplies and equipment, assisted…
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Somos un equipo–we ARE a team! It is tradition of the mission on the last day to have a farewell gathering of the Iowa MOST team and as many of the hospital staff who can attend. This is an opportunity to express gratitude for the exemplary team effort; a monetary gift is presented along with…
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Ear nose and throat specialist Dr. Dan Jorgensen, an Iowa MOST team member, donated an operating microscope to the Salus hospital for on-going use. The equipment may be used as it is here by Dr. Jorgensen to evaluate ears and insert ear tubes. in addition it may be used for wound closures and colposcopies. Nurse…
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A new way for members of the team to contribute to the area was through an invitation to the surgeons to lecture at the Huehuetenango medical school. Over 100 students heard Iowa MOST team members Dr. Brian Andrews and Dr. Ross Zbar, plastic surgeons, present lectures on cranial-facial surgery and burn wound care and treatment. The opportunity to teach local…
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Pediatrician Oscar Gomez, a member of the Iowa MOST team, was invited to speak at a Da Vinci University School of Medicine Huehuetenango-based conference that was live streamed to four other locations in Guatemala and Mexico. As an infectious diseases specialist, his topic was acute gastroenteritis and its after effects. He received an award from…
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