The First Cut: Cyst surgery starts off free program

Friday, September 10, 2010

HONOLULU — The first patient recruited under the Kōkua me ka Laulima: Help With Many Hands project was operated upon at the Queen's Medical Center Same Day Surgery Center by longtime Aloha Medical Mission volunteer Dr. Peter Halford (Pampagna, 1998).

The patient (right), her mother, and her aunt (left) are pictured just prior to the removal of a simple branchial cleft cyst.

AMM was able to initiate this program through the generosity of Art Ushijima, the CEO of The Queen's Medical Center. The hospital will donate the costs of the surgery for uninsured patients with general surgical problems able to be treated as an outpatient. These patients do not have the financial means to otherwise afford the procedure.

Various surgeons and anesthesiologists have agreed to waive their surgical fees. In this initial phase, only Kalihi-Pālama and Kōkua Kalihi Valley health centers are contributing patients. Castle Medical Center has also agreed to participate in this worthy project.

As the program matures, we hope to garner the participation of additional O‘ahu hospitals and community health centers.