A changing of the teams

Team one has left Vietnam after 2 very busy weeks. We spent time at 3 hospitals, Dien Bien Phu, Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Institute in Hanoi and Viet Duc. At Dien Bien, 21 surgical cases were done; at ORI 36 and Viet Duc 6 for a total of 63 cases in 2 weeks! We saw at least 119 patients (I don't have all the Viet Duc patients counted seen with Dr. Toan). Friends were made and emails exchanged. This years teams are international representing the increasing international presence of AOFAS.

This week, Dr. Barouk from France and Dr. Rippstein from Switzerland are going to Thai Nguyen, northwest of Hanoi and will return to work at Viet Duc. They have come wiht the wives and daugters. From Vietnam, they are going to see more of Aisa. The second week of Team 2 will be Dr. Blasier from Little Rock and Dr. Salamon from Sacremento. They will spend time in Hai Phong, northeast of Hanoi on the ocean. Zan Lofgren with AOFAS is in charge of everyone.

I would like to say "thank you" to Team One beginning with Dr. Mario Adames from Brazil who works quietly and competently while teaching the Vietnamese surgeons. I think he would prefer to be in the OR then anything else. His experience and expertise treating difficult clubfeet was obvious. Dr. Angel Arnaud came with his daughter Andrea. He was also incredible in the operating room. Andrea added a spark to the team, translating for her father and taking pictures. She looked forward to the "shopping". Teaming up with Fulya, from Turkey, they contributed greatly to the Vietnamese economy! Fulya has just finished medical school and was thrilled to be seeing patients in clinic and to be assisting in the OR! This project would not work without the hard work and dedication of Rose and her niece/assistant Vin Anh. Others who helped this year include Duc and Yin. Rose asked to work with us and they were a big help. Dr. Toan and his residents at Viet Duc are very busy. His clinics are a textbook of orthopaedic pathology. Despite his schedule, he is always welcoming and incorporates our visits into teaching for his residents. Dr. Dong translates at the seminar and when not working, will join teams as we go to different hospitals. His presence is always appreciated.

A special thank you to all!