Past Missions

Changing lives forever

Penonomé, Panama Surgical Mission — August 2025

From August 22–30, 2025, Surgical Volunteers International completed its third invitation to the Coclé region of Panama in partnership with the Ministry of Health, regional government officials, the Lion’s Club of Penonomé, and our nonprofit partner, The Prescribing Life Foundation.

Hosted at Hospital Aquilino Tejeira, this multidisciplinary mission delivered transformative care to underserved populations.

Our Impact

80 surgeries performed, involving 100 surgical procedures
90 dental procedures completed
Nearly 1,000 treatments provided for patients with chronic pain
Life-changing operations including:
- Cleft lip/palate repair
- Burn and ear reconstruction
- Syndactyly and hand deformity correction
- Congenital urologic repair
- Hernia repair

Additional Contributions

Provided critical sterilization equipment and medical supplies to the hospital
Donated hundreds of men’s and women’s reading glasses to the community
Visited Hogar de Niñas, delivering school supplies, hygiene kits, and mental health education
Broke ground on a hospital boarding facility expansion to house first national and indigenous patients, ensuring continuity of care beyond our mission dates

Commitment to Community

This mission exemplifies our dedication to:

Long-term partnerships
Sustainable care
Meaningful community impact

Panama

2024

Penonome

Surgical Volunteers International with the assistance of the Lions Club of Panama, the Ministry of Health of Panama, and Hospital Aquilino Tejeria staff returned to Panama for a second mission. Our mission in Penonome, Cocle Province was nothing short of life-changing. We conducted over 100 specialized surgical procedures on children with congenital deformities and performed dental care, providing them with renewed hope and a brighter future.

But our impact went beyond the operating room. We extended our help to Hogar de Las Niñas, where we donated essential feminine hygiene supplies and equipped them with computer tablets to enhance their educational opportunities. The spirit of giving and service truly shone through every interaction and every act of kindness during this mission trip.

India

2024

Kerla

This mission was conducted by Let Them Smile Again (LTSA) in association with Surgical Volunteers International (SVI) and Rev. George Mathen Medical Mission Hospital, Mallappally, Kerala, India (GMMMH). The surgical team collaborated with GMMH authorities and executives to conduct a free surgical camp and focused to provide the surgical care of those who are in need. A successful surgical mission was performed to treat a varying array of patients with surgical pathology.

Penonomé,

Panamá

2023

SVI received a special invitation from the Panamanian International Affairs Office, and the Ministry of Health to travel to the region of Coclé. The mission was hosted by the Lions Club of Panamá and the physicians and staff at Hospital Aquilino Tejeria. Through our collaborative efforts with The Prescribing Life Foundation, we were able to perform 64 surgical procedures, 98 dental procedures and over 1200 treatments for those suffering with chronic pain conditions as well as health and prenatal screenings. While in Penonomé we also visited EL Hogar de Niñas de Penonomé, a home that supports the health and well-being of disadvantaged young women. There we donated supplies to support feminine hygiene, school supplies and electronic notebooks.

Guaviare,

Cambodia

2022

SVI returned to Guaviare, Colombia under a partnership with the Colombian Government in the Department of Guaviare and the Prescribing Life Foundation. During this trip a surgical mission was accomplished to treat children and young adults with a varying array of congenital head and neck and urologic deformities. A remote pediatric clinic for the indigenous children was initiated to treat common infectious disease conditions. Additionally, hundreds of patients suffering from chronic pain disorders received targeted therapy. While in Guaviare, through collaborative efforts with our partners, a water well was completed for the Jiw, indigenous community.

Preah Vihear,

Cambodia

March 2022

Under the direction of our founder, Tom Flood RN, a return trip was perform to Preah Vihear Cambodia. The team was able to perform greater than 40 life changing operations for the underserved community of the region. While visiting, Surgical Volunteers International was also productive in providing much need resources to the Preah Vihear Rod Orphanage Center.

Guaviare,

Colombia

September 2021

SVI and partner Prescribing Life performed a successful collaboration with the Colombian Government in the Department of Guaviare under the direction of Governor Heydeer Palacio.

During our visit, we performed over 50 operations and provided dental care on patients of varying ages. Prescribing Life treated nearly 1000 patients with debilitating chronic pain problems. The treated surgical conditions ranged from congenital craniofacial clefts, congenital and traumatic hand deformities, vascular lesions, hernias, undescended testis, burn scar contracture, complex masses and tumors of the head, neck, trunk and the extremity. Our group was also able to provide a generous donation of medications, supplies and surgical instruments to the local hospital. In addition, to our medical service we also able to bolster support for the needs of the orphans and indigenous inhabitants of the region.

Mansura, Egypt

October 2019

The SVI team was able to successfully complete
12 complex laparoscopic and 27 cleft lip/cleft palate surgeries. The collaborative effort between our team of volunteers and the skilled surgeons,
anesthesiologists, nurses, residents, medical students and staff local to Mansoura made this mission a tremendous success. Our mission could not have been completed without everyone’s individual contributions.
Together, we overcame cultural differences to achieve our common goals of:
1) Providing quality care for the children .
2) Educating the local surgeons and residents.
3) Providing supplies and equipment to the hospital.
Our mission was also able to give more than
40 patients the opportunity to be seen by
Michael Seitz, DDS for dental care.

Preah Vihear,

Cambodia

February 2019

We completed 62 plastic and hand surgeries. SVI also donated $10,000 worth of orthopedic implants, and acellular dermal matrices.

Cambodia Success Story: Imagine finally being able to smile after 56 years. Phat Nheun was socially isolated most of her life. She was born with a cleft lip and palate that were never fixed because her family could not afford to do so. She never married and lived the life of a farmer. In January of 2018, she arrived at Preah Vihear hospital in the most poor province in Cambodia after hearing of a camp that would provide free surgeries. SVI was able to not only give her a smile, but also a new lease on life.

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More Past Missions

Mansura, Egypt
October 2018
Pediatric laparoscopy, clefts
Educational mission

Preah Vihear, Cambodia
May 2018
32 general and gynecology surgeries

Preah Vihear, Cambodia
January 2018
29 pediatric surgeries

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
November 2017
38 pediatric surgeries

Jinotega, Nicaragua
October 2017
28 plastic surgery
96 dental patients

LaDalia, Nicaragua
January 2017
46 general surgeries
In conjunction with Esperanza

Kerala , India
June 2017
26 general surgeries, gynocolgy
75 cataracts

Karsog, India
October 2016
38 general surgeries and gynocology

Kerala, India
April 2016
38 general surgeries

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
March 2016
22 burn reconstruction surgeries

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
October 2015
26 burn reconstruction surgeries

Kerala, India
April 2015
64 general surgeries
50 dental patients

Plus an Additional 38+ Mission Trips in Haiti, Vietnam, Guatemala, Mongolia, Egypt and Columbia.

Past Missions

Changing lives forever

Panama

2024

Penonome

Surgical Volunteers International with the assistance of the Lions Club of Panama, the Ministry of Health of Panama, and Hospital Aquilino Tejeria staff returned to Panama for a second mission. Our mission in Penonome, Cocle Province was nothing short of life-changing. We conducted over 100 specialized surgical procedures on children with congenital deformities and performed dental care, providing them with renewed hope and a brighter future.

But our impact went beyond the operating room. We extended our help to Hogar de Las Niñas, where we donated essential feminine hygiene supplies and equipped them with computer tablets to enhance their educational opportunities. The spirit of giving and service truly shone through every interaction and every act of kindness during this mission trip.

India

2024

Kerla

This mission was conducted by Let Them Smile Again (LTSA) in association with Surgical Volunteers International (SVI) and Rev. George Mathen Medical Mission Hospital, Mallappally, Kerala, India (GMMMH). The surgical team collaborated with GMMH authorities and executives to conduct a free surgical camp and focused to provide the surgical care of those who are in need. A successful surgical mission was performed to treat a varying array of patients with surgical pathology.

Penonomé,

Panamá

2023

SVI received a special invitation from the Panamanian International Affairs Office, and the Ministry of Health to travel to the region of Coclé. The mission was hosted by the Lions Club of Panamá and the physicians and staff at Hospital Aquilino Tejeria. Through our collaborative efforts with The Prescribing Life Foundation, we were able to perform 64 surgical procedures, 98 dental procedures and over 1200 treatments for those suffering with chronic pain conditions as well as health and prenatal screenings. While in Penonomé we also visited EL Hogar de Niñas de Penonomé, a home that supports the health and well-being of disadvantaged young women. There we donated supplies to support feminine hygiene, school supplies and electronic notebooks.

Guaviare,

Cambodia

2022

SVI returned to Guaviare, Colombia under a partnership with the Colombian Government in the Department of Guaviare and the Prescribing Life Foundation. During this trip a surgical mission was accomplished to treat children and young adults with a varying array of congenital head and neck and urologic deformities. A remote pediatric clinic for the indigenous children was initiated to treat common infectious disease conditions. Additionally, hundreds of patients suffering from chronic pain disorders received targeted therapy. While in Guaviare, through collaborative efforts with our partners, a water well was completed for the Jiw, indigenous community.

Preah Vihear,

Cambodia

March 2022

Under the direction of our founder, Tom Flood RN, a return trip was perform to Preah Vihear Cambodia. The team was able to perform greater than 40 life changing operations for the underserved community of the region. While visiting, Surgical Volunteers International was also productive in providing much need resources to the Preah Vihear Rod Orphanage Center.

Guaviare,

Colombia

September 2021

SVI and partner Prescribing Life performed a successful collaboration with the Colombian Government in the Department of Guaviare under the direction of Governor Heydeer Palacio.

During our visit, we performed over 50 operations and provided dental care on patients of varying ages. Prescribing Life treated nearly 1000 patients with debilitating chronic pain problems. The treated surgical conditions ranged from congenital craniofacial clefts, congenital and traumatic hand deformities, vascular lesions, hernias, undescended testis, burn scar contracture, complex masses and tumors of the head, neck, trunk and the extremity. Our group was also able to provide a generous donation of medications, supplies and surgical instruments to the local hospital. In addition, to our medical service we also able to bolster support for the needs of the orphans and indigenous inhabitants of the region.

Mansura, Egypt

October 2019

The SVI team was able to successfully complete
12 complex laparoscopic and 27 cleft lip/cleft palate surgeries. The collaborative effort between our team of volunteers and the skilled surgeons,
anesthesiologists, nurses, residents, medical students and staff local to Mansoura made this mission a tremendous success. Our mission could not have been completed without everyone’s individual contributions.
Together, we overcame cultural differences to achieve our common goals of:
1) Providing quality care for the children .
2) Educating the local surgeons and residents.
3) Providing supplies and equipment to the hospital.
Our mission was also able to give more than
40 patients the opportunity to be seen by
Michael Seitz, DDS for dental care.

Presh Vihear,

Cambodia

February 2019

We completed 62 plastic and hand surgeries. SVI also donated $10,000 worth of orthopedic implants, and acellular dermal matrices.

Cambodia Success Story: Imagine finally being able to smile after 56 years. Phat Nheun was socially isolated most of her life. She was born with a cleft lip and palate that were never fixed because her family could not afford to do so. She never married and lived the life of a farmer. In January of 2018, she arrived at Preah Vihear hospital in the most poor province in Cambodia after hearing of a camp that would provide free surgeries. SVI was able to not only give her a smile, but also a new lease on life.

We only can continue these missions with your generosity.

Mansura, Egypt
October 2018
Pediatric laparoscopy, clefts
Educational mission

Preah Vihear, Cambodia
May 2018
32 general and gynecology surgeries

Preah Vihear, Cambodia
January 2018
29 pediatric surgeries

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
November 2017
38 pediatric surgeries

Jinotega, Nicaragua
October 2017
28 plastic surgery
96 dental patients

LaDalia, Nicaragua
January 2017
46 general surgeries
In conjunction with Esperanza

Kerala , India
June 2017
26 general surgeries, gynocolgy
75 cataracts

Karsog, India
October 2016
38 general surgeries and gynocology

Kerala, India
April 2016
38 general surgeries

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
March 2016
22 burn reconstruction surgeries

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
October 2015
26 burn reconstruction surgeries

Kerala, India
April 2015
64 general surgeries
50 dental patients

Plus an Additional 38+ Mission Trips in Haiti, Vietnam, Guatemala, Mongolia, Egypt and Columbia.

DONATE NOW TO OUR
CURRENT MISSION!

Penonomé, Panama Surgical Mission — August 2025

Our Impact

Additional Contributions