Memorial Hermann Honored for Support of Medical Missions

For nearly a decade, dozens of Memorial Hermann employees and medical staff physicians have volunteered their services in Antigua, Guatemala at Hermano Pedro Hospital and Orphanage.

The Memorial Hermann employees volunteer through a Houston-based organization called Faith in Practice, which coordinates weeklong volunteer medical missions for Guatemala’s poor. This year, Faith in Practice volunteers treated 10,350 patients. The volunteer teams consist of surgeons, medical doctors, dentists, nurses and support crew.

Faith in Practice recently honored Memorial Hermann for its outstanding contributions and continuing support.

"Memorial Hermann has supported us since the beginning with supplies and equipment that we have used to create three operating rooms at our facility in Antigua," said Vera Wiatt, executive director of Faith in Practice. "We wanted to let the community know what a good neighbor Memorial Hermann is and to honor them for all they have done."

Since 1992, Faith in Practice volunteer efforts have grown to encompass 11 surgery teams and nine family-practice teams with more than 360 volunteers.

"While Faith in Practice helps provide superior quality care to adults and children in Guatemala, it also expands our volunteers’ knowledge of how to provide better care and address the needs of many Antiguans with dignity and respect," said Ken Wine, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Memorial Hermann. "We get back as much as we give, if not more."

Medical and dental professionals who work with Faith in Practice bring all necessary supplies and as much medication as possible. Surgical teams are formed which focus on particular types of surgery each week. In the dental clinic, dentists and hygienists focus on alleviating pain and performing restorative procedures.

Family-practice physicians, pediatricians, nurse practitioners and internists hold clinics each day in the hospital and monitor the recovery of surgery patients. Teams are also sent into the rural areas of Guatemala to provide family care in medicine and dentistry.

"We believe in the value and importance of each individual to whom we offer care and assistance," said Wiatt, "and we express, through our acceptance, the genuine respect and empathy we have for the difficulties they struggle to overcome."

For more information, visit the Faith in Practice Web site at http://www.faithinpractice.org, or call (713) 484-5555.

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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