09/17/2025
*Throwback to 2016 when I went on a mission with the boss as just a senior resident to take care of Syrian refugees in Amman, Jordan*
In a few days, and I will be traveling to Syria on a medical mission with . We will be performing and teaching complex breast reconstructive surgery for breast cancer patients as well as general reconstructive and hand surgery. We are going to be working in the University hospital and the private Al-Bir hospital in Homs, once an epicenter of the Syrian Revolution.
May dad and I have spent a tremendous amount of time preparing for this. We’ve been in constant communication with the surgeons on the ground, coordinating care with them and the amazing teams working for SAMS. I have been sent innumerable photos of patients who have had mastectomies with no reconstruction offered. Many of these patients have had radiation as well, making their reconstructive options more limited and complicated. We’ve also been carefully coordinating the care of some patients with active cancer on which we are planning oncoplastic approaches. We hope to take care of as many patients as we can.
Many thanks to all of you who have already supported us. Some of you have done it by sourcing and donating products and surgical supplies. Others have donated to the SAMS sponsored fundraiser. One of my mentors, who is shipping me an entire tray of surgical equipment, recently said to me “If not you, then who?” There are too many names to list, but you all know who you are, and we are incredibly grateful.
If anyone would still like to donate to the SAMS fundraiser, the link is in my bio. These funds will go directly to supporting the entire mission happening this month in Syria which includes a wide range of specialties in multiple cities throughout the country. Specialties include cardiology, oncology, pediatrics, endocrinology, ophthalmology, GI, Ob/Gyn, and many more. Teams will be spread throughout the country from Aleppo to Daraa, and Deir Ez-Zour to Idlib.
Thank you all for your support! It means so much to us.
