Take 7!

It’s a new year, which can only mean one thing—Operation Walk 2014 is less than 3 months away!  Our first official meeting for Operation Walk’s 7^th year was held Wednesday night at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, with nearly the entire Boston team present  including physical therapists, nurses, OR staff, medical students, physicians, and many other individuals responsible for the meticulous planning that goes into making Operation Walk possible.  After a series of introductions, including those by Dr. Thornhill, Dr. Katz, and Chief Operating Officer Roya Ghazinouri, DPT, Carl Harper, MD (this year’s Medical Coordinator) presented the team with updates and planned changes for this year’s trip as part of an effort to continually enhance the care of our patients as well as the experience for all involved.

Carl Harper (front) opens up the first meeting of Operation Walk 2014.

Although this was the first official meeting for the team, planning has been underway since the conclusion of last year’s trip to get ready for the upcoming mission, which will take place from March 19-26, 2014.  From the perspective of coordinating the medical supplies and cargo for the trip, 354 boxes of cargo were sent to the Dominican Republic last week, with all supplies having been donated by Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Depuy/Johnson & Johnson (which donates the implants for the joint replacements), and other medical supply companies.  Another key component of preparation is selection of the patients who will benefit from surgical intervention from the Operation Walk team.  Here in Boston, Dr. Thornhill and Carl have been working to identify such patients, while in the Dominican Republic, Dr. Luis Alcantara and his team at Hospital General de La Plaza de la Salud are carefully screening these potential patients and collaborating with our Boston team. 

Carl Harper (Medical Coordinator) and Dr. Thornhill reviewing x-rays for this year’s Operation Walk surgical candidates.

The team will reconvene on March 5 for a final meeting in Boston before heading to the Dominican Republic.  Until then, Happy New Year, and stay tuned for updates!

Lauren