International Relief Effort

Dr. Chris Gonzalez, MD, MBA - Coordinator

The Department of Urology has established an international surgical relief program, the goal of which is to deliver quality treatment of genitourinary disease in underdeveloped countries around the world. Each year a team of department attendings, residents, and nursing staff is assembled for the purpose of providing surgical care for the people of various areas in the world.

Industrial and private contributions support these missions by providing the required equipment, supplies, medications, and instruments needed. The first trip was to Honduras (Central America) in February of 2001, and a group returned to Honduras in 2002 and 2003. In 2004, Northwestern urologists traveled to Casablanca, Morocco in conjunction with the Chicago Sister Cities Program, Inc. (founded in 1960 by Mayor Richard M. Daley), and most recently to Hangzhou, China in the summer of 2006.

The significance of these trips is readily apparent. For example, it has been estimated that there are over 2,000 adults and children in Honduras waiting for urologic surgery. Despite the obvious need, however, the Northwestern group is the first group of American urologists to provide care within the country (according to Honduran regional authorities).

For more information about this program, or if you would like to become involved, please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Chris Gonzalez, at cgonzalez@nmff.org.