Solidarity Bridge

Prepping our model/watermelon 🍉 for the endoscopy course tomorrow 😉. A great example of how our surgeon-instructors have developed innovative and low-cost ways to simulate endoscopy using fruit for teaching residents outside of the O.R.

This week, our team is in Bolivia for our second hands-on course this year, with a focus on pediatric neurosurgery. This course is part of our Neurosurgical Resident Education Program, a collaboration with .

The program features biweekly webinars led by top neurosurgeons to develop the subspecialty skills of 28 Bolivian neurosurgery residents. Learn more about this week's course at: https://www.solidaritybridge.org/blog/2024/8/23/from-webinars-to-the-or-nni-and-uw-madison-lead-course-at-historic-50th-bolivian-congress

Neurosurgery Program Director Lindsay and NNI President Dr. Richard Moser visit the supply warehouse in Cochabamba to determine current and future needs. Last year alone, Solidarity Bridge donated over $1.65 million in medical equipment and supplies.

This aspect of our work is integral to the training and surgical services we provide, as having access to new equipment and medical technology is necessary to provide safe and quality surgicalcare to patients. Learn more at: https://www.solidaritybridge.org/aboutsb

Our Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute (NNI) team heads to La Paz, Bolivia this week to co-lead the second hands-on course focused on pediatric surgery, as part of our Neurosurgical Resident Education Program with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 🩺🥼

On this significant trip, the course and the surgeons involved will be honored and included in the 50th Bolivian Neurosurgical Society National Congress! 🎉 Read more:
https://www.solidaritybridge.org/blog/2024/8/23/from-webinars-to-the-or-nni-and-uw-madison-lead-course-at-historic-50th-bolivian-congress

Recent medical equipment donations made their way to the Children's Hospital in Santa Cruz, Bolivia! Thanks to donations from all our partners and donors, hospitals like this one can continue providing important medical care to the most vulnerable! Thank you to our partner Puente de Solidaridad for making this happen today 🥰.

New team member alert!! 🎉🎉 Please join us in welcoming Allison Havens to our team as our new Communications Manager!

With extensive experience in Latin America, leading communications and fundraising with a variety of grassroots organizations, Allison is excited to join Solidarity Bridge in support of our mission to increase access to life-transforming surgery for families in Bolivia and Paraguay! Learn more about our team at: https://www.solidaritybridge.org/aboutsb

SOLIDARITY INSPIRES HOPE
For the patients we’ve served over the past 25 years, this is a moment to celebrate their life-sustaining care. We hope they have felt God’s compassion and love through the healing hands of their caregivers. For all who still suffer from treatable conditions, our 25th anniversary milestone inspires hope. We will continue to work toward a future where all people have equitable, timely, and affordable access to care.

We're in need of a physician on one of our Fall teams. The September 27 - October 6 trip needs a family practice or internal medicine specialist to join our team going to the Cochabamba area. Our mission team members find us in all kinds of ways. Is an invitation from YOU the way this spot will be filled? Please spread the word! Information at: https://www.solidaritybridge.org/missioner

Our Goals for the Next 5 Years:
- Strengthen the surgical workforce in Bolivia and Paraguay.
- Invest in infrastructure for safe, timely, and affordable surgery.
- Overcome barriers to care through personal accompaniment, financial aid, and mobile campaigns.
- Focus on transformation through mutual learning between US and local partners.
- Secure future sustainability through expanding our network, increasing personnel, and strategically cultivating donors.

Will you support this vision? Make a gift today at www.solidaritybridge.org/25years

Today we recognize Bolivian Independence Day! See photos and learn more about this holiday: www.sucrelife.com/bolivian-independence-day-in-sucre/

To our friends at Puente de Solidaridad, we are wishing you a Feliz Día de la Patria!

Bolivian Independence Day in Sucre – Sucre Life On the 6th of August, Bolivia celebrates its independence from the Spanish Empire. If you happen to be in the country on this historic day, Sucre is the perfect place to experience the lively atmosphere, unique culture and patriotic spirit of the nation.

The staff ends this week on a bittersweet note, with a goodbye to Rachel McDonnell. Rachel has served as Director of Communications since 2016, and has also filled the roles of Director of Development and Director of Data Administration along the way. She has wide-ranging skills, providing leadership in web site development, Salesforce implementation, video productions, and “all things Fiesta”.

Thank you for your work, Rachel. We are a stronger organization because of you, and will always be grateful to you!

"Through six years of partnership with Solidarity Bridge, we have made tremendous progress at the level of neurosurgical care offered at the National Hospital. Without exaggerating, I would say we have advanced 20 years in this short time."
- Dr. Jose Kuzli, Chief Neurosurgerson at our partner hospital in Paraguay.

This year, we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary and looking back at the incredible impact we have made. Read more in our latest newsletter, and consider making a donation to our anniversary campaign to support our five-year vision. www.solidaritybridge.org/25years

Mid-way through our anniversary year, we are sharing a campaign update. Click below to read the full newsletter!

https://www.solidaritybridge.org/25-newsletter

Will you be watching the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games today? Keep your eyes peeled for the flags of Bolivia and Paraguay!

We are celebrating 25 years of impact! But there is still so much more we want to do. Will you make a donation today to support our five-year vision?

Donate at www.solidaritybridge.org/25years

We are hiring! Check out the posting on our website and consider joining our dedicated team as a part-time administrative assistant. Learn more: www.solidaritybridge.org/careers

This Saturday, July 13, the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery (fiens.org) Board Chair Dr. Robert J. Dempsey will discuss his recently published book Global Neurosurgery: A Reflection from a Life in the Field. All are invited to register for this event.

Dr. Dempsey is also a strong supporter of Solidarity Bridge and serves on the leadership council of our Neurosurgery & Neurology Institute. His new book touches on our joint work in Bolivia. Register for the upcoming talk: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1CQYJkmaT0CO725o1Cf9zA?blm_aid=9461824 #/registration

We are celebrating with our partners at Puente de Solidaridad (PdS) in Bolivia who are marking 19 years as an organization! The incredible team at PdS work tirelessly every day to ensure our patients are connected with the medical treatment needed. From office staff to social workers, those organizing the supplies, partner physicians, and more, each member of the team contributes to the success of our shared mission. Gracias y felicidades!

God, source of all freedom, this day is bright with the memory of those that declared that life and liberty are your gift to every human being. Help us to continue a good work begun long ago. Make our vision clear and our will strong; that only in human solidarity will we find liberty, and justice only in the honor that belongs to every life on earth. Turn our hearts towards the family of nations: to understand the ways of others, to offer friendship, and to find safety in the common good for all. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

(Prayer courtesy of the USCCB)

In low-resource communities, access to surgery can mean the difference between life and death. We are partnering with The G4 Alliance to advocate in favor of the Surgical Access Resolution currently being considered by the PAHO-WHO.

No summer is complete without a happy hour on the roof at the SB office. Tuesday, June 25, 4:30-6:00 pm. Stop by if you can!

1703 N. Darrow Ave. in Evanston, Suite 1.

It takes months of careful planning and hard work to ship a container of medical supplies to Bolivia or Paraguay, and the Hospital Sisters Mission Outreach is an invaluable partner in the process. Many thanks to the volunteers and staff in Springfield who took the final steps today to get this Bolivia-bound shipment on its way. We are SO grateful for all of your work!

The Solidarity Bridge community extends our condolences to the family of emeritus Board member and seven-time missioner Dr. Bob LaPata. Dr. LaPata passed away on June 15, leaving a space in our hearts that won’t soon be filled. He was a joy to work with and set an example of humble, kind, generous service that inspired us all.

For more on his life and information about this Saturday’s funeral, see https://v.gd/ulbNEv

The Solidarity Bridge Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute (NNI) is working with key public hospital partners in Paraguay and Bolivia to develop holistic "brain teams" to improve clinical outcomes for patients with neurological disorders. Read more in today's blog:

Investing in Effective Brain Teams — Solidarity Bridge The Solidarity Bridge Neurosurgery and Neurology Institute (NNI) is working with key public hospital partners in Paraguay and Bolivia to develop holistic “brain teams” to improve clinical outcomes for patients with neurological disorders.

We are recruiting physicians for our fall mission trips. Interested doctors should visit https://www.solidaritybridge.org/missioner to learn more.

Please share this message especially with anyone you know in dermatology, clinical gynecology, pediatrics, and anesthesia. Thank you!

One of our mobile campaign host sites is the municipal hospital of El Torno. This small public hospital has partnered with us since 2019, and was even featured in our 2021 gala video. Earlier this spring, members of one of our mission teams had the pleasure to visit and see the impact of our partnership in this hospital and the surrounding community. Read more about their visit:

A visit to El Torno — Solidarity Bridge Our mission team had the pleasure of visiting one of the sites of our mobile laparoscopic surgery campaigns to see the impact of our partnership in the hospital and the surrounding community.

Join our dedicated team! We are hiring a new communications manager. Read more and apply at www.solidaritybridge.org/careers

This month, our Neurosurgery & Neurology Institute returned to Paraguay to support the expansion of treatment options for cerebrovascular disorders. Six patients under the age of 40 underwent AVM surgery, while training was advanced in post-op neurocritical care, neuro-anesthesia, and biomedical engineering. These various disciplines are critical to providing safe, affordable, and timely neurosurgical care.

Read more about their recent trip on our blog at www.SolidarityBridge.org/blog

Rimer’s life took a turn when he suffered three seizures within eight months. His family sought medical assistance. Diagnosis required CAT scans, magnetic resonance imaging and an angiogram. He traveled within his country to access the tests and achieved a diagnosis of arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a dangerous entanglement of blood vessels in the brain. Unfortunately the financial cost of surgical treatment, only available in Bolivia in a private hospital, was prohibitive for the family.

Read today's blog to learn more about Rimer's journey to healing:

When Healing is a Journey — Solidarity Bridge A Bolivian nursing student needed highly-specialized brain surgery unavailable in the public healthcare system in his country. Read about his international journey to care and healing.