The Ohio State University Department of Surgery General Surgery Residency Program prides itself on creating an experience that is committed to providing residents with every opportunity to shape the surgical careers they envision. One of the newest opportunities is a one-week volunteer surgical trip to Guatemala.
“We have our established Global Surgery Program in Australia, and the residents were eager for additional international opportunities,” says Kelly Haisley, MD, program director of the General Surgery Residency Program. “I looked to my colleague Dr. Carrie Valdez for this new volunteer opportunity, and she opened the door wide open for us.”
Carrie Valdez, MD, assistant clinical professor of Surgery in the Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Burn, has been traveling to Central America since 2017 – and specifically to Guatemala with Friends with Purpose for the last three years – to provide free, high-quality care to underserved patients.
“This is surgical medicine at its purest. A patient has a surgical problem, and we have a surgical solution, in its simplest form,” Dr. Valdez says. “The intimate relationship that grows between a surgeon and their patient is felt everywhere, but it is particularly meaningful when you might be the only surgeon available to help. I was thrilled to work with Dr. Haisley to bring a resident with us.”
In the program’s inaugural year, Dr. Haisley and Kelli Patterson, MD, 2024-2025 surgery chief resident, joined Dr. Valdez. In just five days, the entire group, including surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses, served a rural hospital with limited resources, performing 18 gallbladder surgeries and more than 50 operations in total.
“Delivering safe, effective surgical care in a resource-limited setting is both humbling and invigorating,” Dr. Haisley says. “It challenges you to return to the fundamentals of surgery, to think creatively, and to connect deeply with patients and colleagues. The experience was profoundly meaningful and reaffirmed why I chose this profession.”
Dr. Patterson, who is now completing a pediatric surgery fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, will also not soon forget her time in Guatemala.
“My experience in Guatemala challenged my surgical skills in an under-resourced area and allowed me to immerse myself in another culture’s health care,” she says. “It was life-changing and eye-opening in so many ways, and I hope to go back someday.”
The impact of the Guatemala trip extends far beyond the operating room and aligns with the General Surgery Residency Program. For the Ohio State Department of Surgery, education is more than mastering technique – it’s about shaping compassionate, resourceful leaders who can thrive in any environment. Individuals return with a deeper appreciation for creative care, teamwork and the privilege of working in resource-rich environments.
“Gaining the experience of working in a resource-poor environment allows residents to develop creative plans of care while taking good surgical care of patients,” Dr. Valdez says. “It is incredible to see the impact on this community over time and to feel I had an individual contribution. It is my privilege to share this experience with our residents.”
Dr. Haisley also describes the trip as “restorative, fulfilling and transformative” for both faculty and residents. Plans are underway to make the Guatemala trip an annual offering, with hopes to expand Ohio State’s presence and develop a dedicated week in the future.
“We can’t wait to be back this spring,” Dr. Haisley says.