International Medical Workshop
Bringing surgical expertise to Romania and The Republic of Moldova
Pr of.Dr. Reza Vahdad Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers Dr. Mircia Ardelean
Jurist Cornelia Iacob R.N.
This project began in 2009 with the case of a young boy in rural Romania who was brought to our attention because of a rare and severe urogenital malformation which intensely effected his quality of life. Though our organization did not have a specifically medical focus, we did have a small fund for difficult social cases where surgery or medical treatment was only possible outside the country. However, in the case of this child, the cost of surgery, travel, accommodation, nurse accompaniment, parental accompaniment etc, was to exceed 100,000 dollars. This was unfortunately over our budget to help.
Surgery broadcast to the lecture hall via 2- way communication for live questions and responses.
Prof. Dr. Constantin Tica
The idea arose to contact one of the top paediatric urological surgeons in Germany, Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers, to see if he would be interested in coming to Romania to head up an International Medical Workshop, teaching doctors in Romania and The Republic of Moldova surgical techniques to accomplish these surgeries in their home countries. Not only did he agree, but brought with him other specialists, Dr. Mircia Ardelean of Salzburg, Austria, Prof. Dr. Steffen Maune and Prof. Dr. Reza Vahdad of Cologne, Germany.
In addition to the boy whose case had been the inspiration of this project, 6 other children were operated during the first workshop. It’s simply more cost effective to bring teams to Eastern Europe, investing in their medical infrastructure, than to send children to the West for surgeries. Not only that, but the expertise is transferred and the academic medical world is advanced in Romania and Moldova.
Subsequently, the workshop has now become and annual event alternating between Constanza, Romania and Chisinau, Moldova. To date over 150 children have been operated on successfully. A new West-East relationship in the surgical medical field has grown strong and effective.
Introducing Laparoscopic Surgery
In addition to open surgery for children with severe abdominal malformations, we were able to introduce in 2015, Paediatric Laparoscopic (Minimally Invasive Surgery), to the workshop with the help of Prof. Dr. Reza Vahdad of Cologne, Germany. Surgeons from Romania and The Republic of Moldova experienced this training for the first time. An exciting new addition to the workshop that will benefit many children and become the way of the future the East, as it is in the West.
Prof. Dr. Reza Vahdad
In 2016 with funding from New Horizon Canada, we were able to place a “Minimally Invasive Surgery Tower” for the Paediatric ward of the Constanza General Hospital which was a major advancement. Our future goals include continued workshops for both open surgery (for severe urogenital malformations) and laparoscopic surgery in both Constanza, Romania and Chisinau, Moldova, to see the skill set of the local surgeons increase to western levels in the coming years.
Surgeons come from all over Romania and Moldova to learn theory taught by Dr. Reza Vahdad and then began the process of practical application using pork livers and a manual simulator station.
As a result of HFTN Romania’s involvement in the advancement of medical procedures in Eastern Europe, we have been recognized by the Paediatric Surgeons Association in their medical journal for the role of our team in changing an antiquated medical procedure of umbilical catheterization in Moldova. (Journal of Paediatric Surgeons Association, Scientific Annals of the Association of Paediatric Surgery, Vol.. XIV, Chisinau 2014 authored by Dr. Natalia Cojusneanu)
International Medical Workshop
Sample WORKSHOP HISTORY 2009-2016
October 5-9, 2009
Constanta Regional Emergency Hospital, Romania
Chief of Paediatrics: Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Dr. Mircia Ardelean (Salzburg, Austria)
Participants: 30, Surgeries: 6
March 21-27, 2010
Workshop Scholarship, Cologne, Germany
Surgeons sponsored From: Moldavian State Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Paediatric Surgery:
Dr. Ion Zaharia, Dr. Jana Bernic,
From: Constanta Regions Emergency Hospital:
Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin
To: The Chief Physician of the Clinic for Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Urology, Cologne, Germany (Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers) (1 week OR procedures exchange)
March 19-24, 2011
Moldovan State Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Paediatric Surgery, Chisinau, Moldova
Chief of Paediatrics: Prof. Dr. Eva Gudumac
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin (Constanta, Romania)
Specialist: Dr. Mircia Ardelean (Salzburg, Austria)
Participants: 137, Surgeries: 10
September 25-October 1, 2011
Workshop Scholarship, Cologne, Germany
Surgeons sponsored From: Moldavian State Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Paediatric Surgery:
Dr. Natalia Cojusneanu, Dr. Victor Roller
From: Constanta Regions Emergency Hospital:
Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin
To: The Chief Physician of the Clinic for Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Urology, Cologne, Germany (Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers) (1 week OR procedures exchange)
September 24-27, 2012
Constanta Regional Emergency Hospital, Romania
Chief of Paediatrics: Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Steffen Maune (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Dr. Mircia Ardelean (Salzburg, Austria)
Specialist: Dr. Christa Schimke (Salzburg, Austria)
Participants: 230, Surgeries: 11
October 2-6, 2013
Moldovan State Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Paediatric Surgery, Chisinau, Moldova
Chief of Paediatrics: Prof. Dr. Eva Gudumac
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin (Constanta, Romania)
Specialist: Dr. Mircia Ardelean (Salzburg, Austria)
Participants: 132, Surgeries: 3 (extreme malformations)
May 5-9, 2014
Vatican “Bambino Gesu” Hospital, Rome, Italy
Team from HFTN Romania and the Moldovan Department of Health, Minister Lilia Oleinic, Prof. Dr. Eva Gudumac, Dr. Jana Bernic, Dr. Natalia Conjusneanu, Prof. Dr. Gheorghe Hincu
To: Prof. Dr. Jean de VIlle de Goyet
Round Table (Umbilical Catheterization Complications)
October 2-7, 2014
Constanta Regional Emergency Hospital, Romania
Chief of Paediatrics: Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Steffen Maune (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Roman Metzger (Salzburg, Austria)
Specialist: Dr. Reza Vahdad (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Dr. Mircia Ardelean (Salzburg, Austria)
Participants: 182, Surgeries: 15
May 18-23, 2015
Workshop Scholarship, Cologne, Germany
Surgeons sponsored From: Moldavian State Pharmaceutical University Hospital, Paediatric Surgery:
Dr. Igor Ambros, Dr. Doina Haidarli
To: The Chief Physician of the Clinic for Paediatric Surgery and Paediatric Urology, Cologne, Germany (Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers) (1 week OR procedures exchange)
November 9-14, 2015
Constanta Regional Emergency Hospital, Romania
Chief of Paediatrics: Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Roman Metzger (Salzburg, Austria)
Specialist: Dr. Reza Vahdad (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Dr. Mircia Ardelean (Salzburg, Austria)
Participants: 304, Surgeries: 6 (open surgery)
Introduction to Laparoscopic Surgery
August 26-31, 2016
Constanta Regional Emergency Hospital, Romania
Chief of Paediatrics: Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin
Specialist: Prof. Dr. Thomas Boemers (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Dr. Mircia Ardelean (Salzburg, Austria)
Participants: 130, Surgeries: 5 (open surgery)
October 9-15, 2016
Constanta Regional Emergency Hospital, Romania
Chief of Paediatrics: Prof. Dr. Tica Constantin
Specialist: Dr. Reza Vahdad (Cologne, Germany)
Specialist: Dr. Tobias Klein (Cologne, Germany)
Participants: 85 (advanced), Surgeries: 4 (laparoscopic surgery)
Full Laparoscopic Workshop
HFTN Romania saves Romanian Families 5.5 million dollars over an eight year period
The press reported:
Given that the cost of 1 child travelling to Germany for a complicated operation totals 100,000 dollars, this project has demonstrated an amazing cost efficiency and skill set transfer. With 60 children already operated on successfully, the cumulative savings to the families is over 5.5 million dollars.
The Need
There is a disproportionate amount of children in Eastern Europe with organ malformation as compared to the rest of Europe. This could be attributed to anything from unregulated pesticides to the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 where a radiation cloud covered the east of Europe. Whatever the cause, Eastern European surgeons are at a disadvantage to be able to help these children given their country’s economical restraints. Most hospitals wait for years to have equipment replaced or proper electrical, heating, and surgical equipment considered. It’s an uphill battle and a costly one.
This project brings the skill set and often the equipment necessary to perform these complicated surgeries. It’s a “step by step” process because the hospitals face daily challenges which are not solved by a workshop, but now going into our 13th year, we are seeing progress on every level. New relationships are formed, more donations of equipment coming in from other countries. Step by step we move ahead to help these children have a chance at leading a normal life.
The Cost
Airfares 2,100 CAD
Transport, Shuttles, Taxi 750
Hotels 5,200
Conference 2,400
Meals 1,700
Government Taxes 300
Diplomas and Printing 700
Welcome Packets 400
Medical Equipment for O.R. 8,700
Curriculum Writer 2,000
Total 24,250 CAD