We are brimming with pride and gratitude as we reflect on the incredible success of our Healing Minds and Spinesmission trip to Kingston Public Hospital (KPH). This mission embodied our commitment to transforming lives, addressing global health disparities, and creating a sustainable future for healthcare in underserved communities.
The Healing Minds and Spines Program
The Healing Minds and Spines initiative is a groundbreaking program uniting an elite group of minority surgeons, medical volunteers, and psychologists who share a passion for serving communities in need. This program consists of week-long mission trips to Africa and the Caribbean, where our team provides free mental health and surgical care to individuals with severe spinal conditions.
In addition to offering direct patient care, the program emphasizes sustainability by establishing multi-year training programs to educate and empower local surgeons. These programs ensure that local healthcare providers can confidently perform complex spinal surgeries even after our team has returned home, creating a lasting impact in these communities.
Our mission seeks to combat global health disparities by increasing access to quality healthcare and mental health resources while elevating representation of minority healthcare professionals in leadership roles.
Acknowledging Our Hosts
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible staff and team at KPH for their warm welcome and collaboration. Their openness and dedication were instrumental in the success of this mission, enabling us to work together to bring hope and healing to patients and their families.
Celebrating Our Team and Partners
We are deeply honored to recognize our Back to Healing surgeons, Dr. Emmanuel Menga, Dr. Charla Fischer, and Dr. Jaysson Brooks, whose tireless efforts and expertise brought life-changing care to every patient they treated. Their compassion and commitment embody the spirit of this program.
A special shoutout goes to our incredible partners from the medical corporate industry who stepped up to play the critical scrub tech roles during this mission. Chad Jackson, Shannon Mays, Colt David, and Melvin Briley, your professionalism, adaptability, and dedication ensured every surgery ran smoothly. Your contributions not only elevated the quality of care we provided but also showcased the importance of collaboration in achieving shared goals.
This mission would not have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors: FIGS, Medtronic, and Evolution Spine. Their resources and unwavering belief in our cause ensured the success of every surgery. To the representatives who worked alongside us to ensure seamless operations, your dedication was invaluable and deeply appreciated.
Mission Highlights and Achievements
- Patient Care: Free surgical care was provided to five teens suffering from severe scoliosis. Despite treacherous conditions caused by a tropical storm, families demonstrated extraordinary resilience, driving for hours on flooded, dangerous roads to access the care they so desperately needed. Their determination serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of this work.
- Effective and Sustainable Training: A key component of this mission was the training of local surgeons and residents. Our team provided hands-on training in advanced spinal surgery techniques, complemented by preoperative planning and postoperative care. This knowledge-sharing initiative has already begun to transform the way spinal conditions are managed at KPH. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing that the skills and confidence they gained will have an enduring impact.
- Empowering Local Healthcare: Alongside training, our team donated implants, instruments, and equipment, enabling KPH to perform an additional 15 surgeries even after our departure. By equipping the local team with resources and knowledge, we laid the foundation for a sustainable healthcare model.
- Expanding Representation: This mission demonstrated the power and importance of representation in healthcare. By bringing an elite team of minority healthcare professionals to KPH, we not only delivered care but also inspired local providers and patients, fostering a sense of hope and possibility.
Building Momentum for the Future
We are thrilled to announce that KPH has agreed to extend our partnership, making this mission an annual event. Moving forward, we aim to increase our capacity by bringing additional surgeons, mental health experts, and resources to serve more patients in need.
Media Recognition and Impact
Our mission garnered significant media attention, including a feature on Jamaica’s #1 morning show, Smile Jamaica.During the live interview, we proudly highlighted our partnership with FIGS, MEDTRONIC, EVOLUTION SPINE and the critical work of our BTH team.
Smile Jamaica Interview:Watch Here!!
