Surgery Onboard Ship Requires Teamwork

The second round of surgeries in Manado, Indonesia will bring roughly 70 new patients aboard the USNS Mercy. HOPE volunteers Nurse Julie Porucznik and Dr. Sharon Weintraub participated in the day’s Pacific Partnership 2012 surgical screening project.  

Dr. Weintraub, a general surgery doctor, helped examine patients waiting for treatment.  

“The surgical civil action project went very well, we were able to schedule more major surgeries than we did at the last stop,” said Dr. Weintraub. “There were many patients that we scheduled that will really benefit from these surgeries.” 

The surgical cases ranged from Lymphoma to Thyroid problems.  

“We also saw many children with very large hernias,” Dr. Weintraub said. “It is a very simple surgery, and it will be very rewarding to help relieve the pain for these children.”  

Porucznik helped work the main desk to schedule the patients that will be been aboard the USNS Mercy.  

“I was the head nurse today for Operating Room scheduling which was like putting together a big puzzle and making sure that every piece fit together right,” said Porucznik. “It was a great team effort. We made sure we knew where each of the surgeons would be performing operations as to not double book a room.” 

As the patients start to board the USNS Mercy, they will know they are in good hands with Project HOPE volunteers helping them along.