Denise Puthuff, MD
ON THE COVER
It was very interesting to return to Managua after my first visit 10 years ago. Ed and Barbara were still our missionary hosts, so that was comforting. I was the only dermatologist, and would be spending every morning at the National Dermatology Hospital. I had been there before on my last trip. It was nice to see that some improvements had been made, and very nice to meet the residents and work with them. The people were very kind and happy to see us. In the afternoons, I would see families from the Pathways to Change program. It was very enjoyable. Evenings at the guesthouse were relaxing, talking with old friends and making new ones. Altogether the entire trip was busy, fun and fulfilling. I was happy that I got to participate. I would encourage anyone with an interest to sign up for our next trip. It’ s an experience of a lifetime.
Dr. Puthuff practices with Brownsboro Dermatology, PLLC, and serves the GLMS Foundation as Medical Missions Committee Chair.
Cynthia Rigby MDThe Medical Missions Initiative of the
GLMS Foundation provides many volunteer opportunities, local, regional and international. After seven trips to Managua, Nicaragua, my experience has been tempered and expanded. It has been a pleasure to work with the families in the Hand in Hand Ministries education program and staff the clinic that does checkups in the afternoons. Watching the children grow up and teaching health literacy to children and parents who are eager to learn is really gratifying. We have also been introduced to other groups in the area, and learned much about Nicaraguan history and culture.
Two years ago, surgeons from U of L’ s Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Program went with us to support the only specially trained surgeon at the national maternity hospital( Hospital Berta Calderon Roque). They invited him to come to Louisville to observe their program, to help him set up training for the OB / GYN residents. Last October, Dr. Quezada was able to complete a 2-week observation at University Hospital, and visited Supplies Over Seas to acquire medical equipment to start a training program. When we visited the hospital in January, we discovered that the hospital was sending its gynecologic oncologists to Spain for three months training in the discipline, to be proctored by Dr. Quezada when they returned. The hospital has been very welcoming to me and the pediatricians; staff members have become colleagues over the years. The new administrator of the hospital was a resident in the lectures I gave with Dr. Grimaldi a few years ago, which was a nice surprise.
In 2016, we were invited to volunteer at another NGO supported health center, the AMOS Foundation. One of its clinics on the periphery of Managua was our work site. That year, I saw patients for the staff OB / GYN, who was on maternity leave. This year, they reserved consults for my clinic; we also brought them a video colposcope that had been donated by Anita Kotheimer, MD. AMOS sends public health workers into remote parts of the country, and the video colposcope will be used to teach the public health workers to recognize conditions that would need referral and treatment. Courtney Nanney was a great help in assembly, instruction and setup for the staff. I also brought textbooks and instruments for colposcopy. Next year, we have an invitation to travel to one of the remote teaching sites that is in partnership with the Nicaraguan government. And so it grows, and grows, and grows …
Dr. Rigby works as a consultant / contract medical examiner for Kentucky Retirement Systems, and also for ACOG ' s Safety Certification in Outpatient Excellence in Women ' s Health program.
AUGUST 2017 17