There are countless children in the Dominican Republic that are not able to receive medical care due to their social situation and the extreme level of poverty in which they live. In 2008 a group of surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, techs and other professionals got together in conjunction with Creighton University’s Institute for Latin American Concern (ILAC) and decided to create an Ear Nose
and Throat (ENT) group. That group went down to Santiago, Dominican Republic and in one week helped approximately 100 patients that needed ENT surgery. It was such a heartwarming mission trip that the group, headed by Dr. David Chait, has returned every year since. After the 2011 trip the group decided to organize as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All participants donate their time and talents to make this mission possible and take time off from their regular jobs to be able to go help the children of the Dominican Republic. The group has no administration fees and no participants are paid for their time. We do however have to purchase and take all supplies needed during the mission with us; therefore fundraising is essential to our success. On the mission trip, the ENT surgeons examine the children and if needed, perform ENT surgeries that result in an improvement of the quality of life for the patients. Without these services the children suffer from chronic infections, hearing loss and difficulty breathing. During our one week mission, we are able to provide surgical services to more patients than Santiago’s public Children’s Hospital performs in one year. We were proud to be able to add the service of testing and fitting both children and adults for hearing aids. Many of these patients travel for up to 5 hours by various means of transportation just to get a chance at a life changing surgery or evaluation. The need is very great and that is why the Dominican Pediatric ENT Mission is determined to continue its mission.
