Scalpel At The Cross

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Scalpel At The Cross

Scalpel At The Cross is a ministry of medical and surgical care to the Peruvian people and to the missionaries who serve them. www.scalpelatthecross.org

The goal of Scalpel At The Cross is to support and amplify on-going Christian ministries within the country of Peru. The addition of this orthopaedic medical ministry offers much needed aid to an area with a long history of poverty and injustice. The specific location of the Scalpel At The Cross medical ministry is the city of Pucallpa, which lies in the Department of Ucayali near the western bord

er of Brazil. This burgeoning town is now home to nearly 300,000 Peruvians. In contrast to Lima, which does have modern, colonial areas, this jungle town is a continuous maze of cramped, subsistence housing and dusty, open-air markets. Very little substantial industry exists in Pucallpa today. Most people are laboring to earn a living by subsistence farming, artisan craftwork or as small shop owners or mototaxi drivers. For these reasons, many medical needs are currently not being met. By offering much needed orthopaedic consultation and surgical care, Scalpel At The Cross hopes to improve the lives of these individuals and touch their hearts for Christ.

07/25/2025

Our team departed from the U.S. on Wednesday evening and safely arrived in Lima, Peru at the wee hours of Thursday morning. By the grace of God, all 30+ checked bags made it through without a hitch.

After a few hours of sleep the team woke up to a beautiful Lima winter day, enjoyed walks in the picturesque city and savored a wonderful lunch. In the afternoon, they headed to the airport, where they checked-in over 35 bags of medical supplies. Our team safely arrived in Pucallpa!

Hearts are full and the mission is just beginning. Tomorrow "Clinic Day" awaits, and we can't wait to meet our prospective surgical candidates and check on previous patients. Please keep covering us in prayer, as we ask God to move.🙏🏼

07/24/2025

Will you help cover us in prayer? From July 23–August 4, a team of 21 volunteers from MN, NC, AZ & FL is heading to Pucallpa this week for our July medical campaign. They will be bringing orthopaedic care and the hope of Christ to those waiting for healing.

We know the harvest is great, and so is the need for prayer. Would you join us in praying over this team as they prepare to serve?

•For strength and unity
•For safe and smooth travel
•For favor with logistics, customs, and clinic coordination
•For wisdom in meetings and partnerships
•For patients to experience not just surgery, but spiritual healing
•And above all, for God's protection and power to be present in every detail

Thank you for covering this campaign in bold, persistent prayer. We believe God will move through this team to bring healing, hope, and the message of Jesus to Pucallpa.

Follow along for updates...

07/19/2025

Meet Corrie Montoya. Corrie is part of our Miracle Workers Community, and she’s helping make miracles happen in the Peruvian Amazon.

As a recurring donor, Corrie is part of every healing and every moment of hope we bring to patients in need. Her ongoing support helps sustain this mission year-round, and she’s inviting others to join her.

When you become part of our Miracle Workers Community you're not just giving, you’re stepping into a story of transformation and faith.

For more info visit: scalpelatthecross.org/miracleworkers/

07/11/2025

During our surgical campaigns, electronic medical records play a crucial role to ensure patient care continues after our surgeons have returned stateside.

With the help of our medical coordinator in Pucallpa, these digital records allow us to track post-surgical care, therapies, and follow-up appointments, even from thousands of miles away in the U.S.

Because bringing hope and healing along with excellence in medical care to Pucallpa is important to us.

We are so thankful for the team that helped us develop our custom-built EMR solution and thankful for the volunteers that put it to use during our campaigns.

07/09/2025

Join us in prayer! 🙏🏼

Two weeks from today, we will be sending a team to Pucallpa for another medical campaign centered on surgical care. From July 23 to August 4, a team of dedicated surgeons, nurses, and volunteers will provide life-changing orthopaedic procedures to those in need. Healing begins with access, and our team will be stepping into the operating room to restore mobility, alleviate pain, and offer renewed hope to patients and families across the region.

Please keep our team, patients, and local partners in your prayers as we continue to plan this mission of hope and healing in the name of Christ.

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July from Scalpel At The Cross! 🇺🇸

Today, we give thanks for the freedom we enjoy in the United States and for the many faithful doctors, volunteers, and donors from across the U.S. who choose to use that freedom to serve others. Your willingness to go, give, and love reflects the heart of Christ.

🇺🇸

07/02/2025

We're approaching the day when the Miracle Campus will be fully operational! A center dedicated to providing personalized prosthetic care to those in need while also serving as a hub for education and outreach in the local community. We look forward to welcoming patients for evaluations, therapy, and long-term rehabilitation in the heart of the Amazon Jungle.

Thank you for standing with us. Your support is building more than a facility. It’s creating a future for healing hearts and bones in the Peruvian Amazon!

06/29/2025

"From pre-campaign preparation to real time campaign ex*****on, the team was simply extraordinary. Every single patient was treated as a whole person; considering their mind, body, and spirit from assessment in the clinic to the surgery to the post-operative plan. The entire team shared a united vision to not only repair injuries, but restore function. As an orthopaedic surgical resident, I aspire to this kind of approach in my future medical practice and I consider this experience a crucial part of my training as a future orthopaedic surgeon. I am humbled to have been a small part of the health care provided in Pucallpa for a week."

- Jacob Pearson, D.O

As an orthopaedic surgical resident, Jacob joined the 2024 medical campaign/mission trip to Pucallpa and witnessed the power of a team united by purpose, treating not just injuries, but whole people. From clinic assessments to post-operative plans, every patient was cared for in body, mind, and spirit. His time spent in the Peruvian Amazon wasn’t just service. It was training, transformation, and a glimpse of the kind of surgeon he hopes to become.

We’re honored to walk alongside the next generation of mission-minded medical leaders.

06/26/2025

What does it take to bring healing to the Amazon?
Every Scalpel campaign is built on the dedication of an entire team, with each person bringing unique skills, a servant heart, and a willingness to go the distance.

Here’s what a typical campaign team looks like:
•3 to 4 Surgeons
•2 Anesthesia Providers
•2 Scrub Techs or Nurses
•1 Tool or Device Rep
•1 to 2 PAs or Nurses
•1 Team Admin Leader
•1 to 2 Spiritual Impact Leaders
•1 Ortho Resident
•1 Anesthesia Student
•EMR Support
•Translators
•Other Families and Students

We aim for a balance of medical and non-medical volunteers because every role matters. Whether you're in the OR or behind the scenes, there is a place for you in the mission. Want to join a future team? Or know someone that may?

Visit scalpelatthecross.org/mission-travel to learn more.

06/24/2025

Over the past 20 years, Scalpel At The Cross has committed to serving Pucallpa with faith and a dedication addressing the orthopaedic crisis in underserved regions.

A publication written in 2019 by some SATC members and volunteers titled “The Development of a Surgical Mission in the Peruvian Amazon: A 15-Year Expedition” explores the story behind our Scalpel At The Cross mission, its vision, its challenges, and the life-changing outcomes of serving in one of the world’s most resource-limited environments.

“Scalpel At The Cross began… in response to a global orthopaedic trauma epidemic that now surpasses deaths from malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV combined.”
— Bradley A. Lezak, BA, Peter A. Cole Jr., MHA, Lisa K. Schroder, BS, MBA, and Peter A. Cole, MD

This paper doesn’t just tell our story, it offers a model for others who feel called to serve. Because where the world sees obstacles, we see opportunity for hope.

If you want to learn more about what it takes to build a sustainable mission read the full article below:
https://scalpelatthecross.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/JBJS-Article-By-Bradley-Lezak.pdf

*Study in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery

02/21/2025

Meet Aron: A Fighter On and Off the Field

Four years ago, Aron, an energetic and passionate fútbol player, suffered a severe left forearm fracture that didn’t heal properly. After a fall from his bike worsened his condition, his radius became severely deformed, and his ulna bowed, pressing painfully against his skin. Everyday tasks became a struggle, but Aron never let it hold him back. He kept playing, dreaming of the day he could fully grip, lift, and move without pain.

That day finally came during our November 2024 medical campaign. Dr. Vela and Dr. Hodges performed a reconstruction surgery, straightening his arm and stabilizing the bones with plates. The transformation was incredible! Now, pain-free and stronger than ever, Aron is ready to return to the fútbol, modeling his game after his idol, Peruvian legend Paolo Guerrero. During our January medical campaign, at his follow-up, his joy was undeniable—his mother hugged the team, overwhelmed with gratitude, and Aron proudly showed off his straightened arm, even receiving a special tank top to “show off his biceps.”

Aron’s story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of healing. Because of supporters like you, kids like Aron receive life-changing surgeries that restore not just mobility, but also dreams.

Thank you for giving the gift of healing—helping us change lives!

02/13/2025

It's , and today we are feeling so grateful!

Last Saturday, we gathered in Minnesota for our Scalpel Fundraising Gala, a night filled with purpose, generosity, and celebration of the work God is doing through Scalpel At The Cross.

To everyone who attended in person, participated in our silent auction online, or supported us from afar—THANK YOU! Your generosity fuels life-changing orthopaedic care and the message of hope in Pucallpa, Peru.

Through your support of the Gala, we are strengthening our Peruvian team, increasing surgical campaigns, and finalizing the Miracle Campus—a project that will transform rehabilitation care for patients in the Amazon.

Our founders, Dr. Peter and Nancy Cole, recorded a special message after the Gala, and we wanted to share it with you because we are grateful for this community and thank you for making this mission possible

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Miami, FL

Telephone

+13059224486

Website

http://www.scalpelatthecross.org/

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