Leading U.S. Maxillofacial Reconstructive and Plastic Surgeons Perform Operations for Children in Almaty, DKnews.kz reports.
A meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan (AmCham) was held in Almaty, focusing on a humanitarian medical mission through which a team of American surgeons is providing free maxillofacial reconstructive surgeries for children and young patients. The mission is supported by the Kazakhstan Cultural and Business Association of North America (KCBANA). The event took place at the international biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.
As part of their visit to Kazakhstan, a group of U.S. surgeons—led by Dr. Darrin Hubert, Thomas Lee, Zhazira Irgebai, and Marilyn Bagen—is working closely with local doctors from Almaty’s City Clinical Hospital No. 5 to carry out free reconstructive maxillofacial surgeries for children and adults suffering from various congenital deformities and acquired injuries. This project offers a chance at a better quality of life for Kazakhstani patients by providing them with a rare opportunity to be operated on by some of the top maxillofacial surgeons in the U.S., using the latest medical technologies. In addition to surgeries, detailed in-person examinations are being conducted, with consultations already provided to over 50 patients. The delegation will stay in Almaty from June 29 to July 6.
Dr. Darrin Hubert, a plastic surgeon and head of the Plastic Surgery Department at Chippenham & Johnston-Willis Medical Center in the U.S., shared some early outcomes of the initiative during the meeting:
“We perform two surgeries every morning, followed by educational lectures in the afternoon. All surgeries are streamed live to an audience with real-time translation, allowing us to comment on our actions during the procedures. Our main goal is not only to perform high-quality operations, but also to share our knowledge with local doctors. We hope the practical skills they gain will be valuable and help them in their future work with patients” Dr. Darrin Hubert
Alongside the joint surgeries, the mission includes a series of lectures and practical workshops for Kazakhstani doctors, medical professionals, and students. These sessions are designed to enhance professional skills, facilitate joint learning, and encourage the exchange of medical knowledge between the two countries. Doctors from not only Almaty, but also from regional and provincial areas, are involved in the initiative. Moreover, live broadcasts of the surgeries are being streamed for medical students and professionals to observe in real time.
“The strategy of this project is to build a comprehensive system of medical exchange. In the future, we plan to launch internship programs for both Kazakhstani and American doctors, establish residency programs, and open centers in Kazakhstan for children with special needs—places where they can receive specialized care while their parents have opportunities to pursue employment. Among our key priorities are the delivery of humanitarian aid and medical equipment to hard-to-reach regions and disaster-affected areas, as well as support for children's family homes and the regular organization of charity campaigns” Ainur Rogers, Director of the Kazakhstan Cultural and Business Association of North America (KCBANA)
In total, 10 surgeries for children and adolescents are scheduled during this visit. Both sides aim to strengthen their partnership for ongoing collaboration between medical professionals from Kazakhstan and the United States.
