Surgeries Overseas Assistance Program

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Surgeries Overseas Assistance Program

Fostering international surgical teaching experiences & healthcare access

03/02/2026

We’re behind on our introductions again. Please welcome Dr Baker (hand and spine specialist), his wife Kim (OR nurse), and Dr Halvorson (trauma specialist) as they continue SOAP’s work at KCMC! Dr Baker is working with this spine team over these next 2 weeks with some new spine instrumentation and Dr Halvorson has been excited to use the new radiolucent table in the OR! Kim and Jeff are not only using their teaching talents but are taking over as family hosts in the doctors compound as Bobby and Jennifer headed back home. Exciting to watch the SOAP “family” grow - thanks to everyone for their support!

02/22/2026

Education and teamwork. While we love sharing some individual patient stories - SOAP is most proud of all the teamwork and learning during our time at KCMC. We all teach each other - shared experiences, knowledge, and tips. The quest to learn is a motor for us all!

02/21/2026

A special thanks to all SOAP supporters for working with us this past year for our successful shipment of medical supplies to KCMC. In this picture, the team has gotten the radiolucent OR bed ready for action. This bed will improve imaging in the operating room helping with precision and outcomes for our patients! Thanks for supporting SOAP!

02/17/2026

We work hard. However, through the years, SOAP volunteers have had some amazing adventures on a rare day or evening off. We’ve seen and touched some incredible animals, marveled at Materuni falls, enjoyed late dinners in downtown Moshi on rooftops, and made some amazing friends! We must give thanks to Mosses and his efforts to show us some amazing sites. Thanks for many years of memories. Here’s a photo dump from different years of some of the amazing sights Tanzania has to offer - the very best is the smiles of the welcoming people we have met and return to each year!

02/16/2026

SOAP welcomes Dr Howenstein to Tanzania. Dr Abby is a trauma AND pediatric orthopedic specialist from Las Vegas. She has jumped right into teaching and working with everyone at KCMC.

02/15/2026

Meet our new friend, Denisi! He is a 32 year old that suffered a terrible motorbike accident, leaving him without the use of his legs. Thankfully, his arms remained strong, which will be vital to help him mobilize and take care of himself. Unfortunately, both bones in his left arm were broken in the crash, hampering his ability to start using his strong arms. SOAP was able to support his surgery and implants that he needed to repair his left arm. Dr. Bobby and the KCMC residents surgically placed plates at his fracture sites that will stabilize his left arm while the bones heal. This stability will allow him to start to using both arms, even before the left is completely healed. Thank you SOAP for your support of Denisi!

02/14/2026

Introductions for week 3! We are a bit behind on intros this week. Welcome Dr Lynch Dr Karunakar and Dr Weiss. The team is excited to add their experience to the mix!

02/12/2026

Surgery for John

Meet 6 year old, John— another active boy that broke his leg when he fell from a tree (lots of tree climbing here in Moshi— for fun, but also for mangos and avocados). Dr. Casey fixed his femur with two flexible nails inserted on either side of John’s knee through very small incision sites. Because of these flexible nails, he did not need a cast! John is recovering well and should be back to his usual active self soon! In the meantime, he is enjoying his coloring book and crayons from Dr. Casey! Thanks, Friends of SOAP, for your support of John!

02/10/2026

SOAP continues to have awesome interactions with adorable children. Please meet our new friend, Jesca. She is a delightful 6 year old who was happily dancing on the couch when she took an unfortunate tumble. She landed on her elbow and broke her humerus (her upper arm bone) at the elbow… Dr. Bobby met Jesca in pre-op holding and made her laugh with his attempts at counting in Swahili (moja, mbilli, tatu). He and Dr Patt repaired her broken bone in the OR and demonstrated a no incision technique for the KCMC residents. Jesca has rewarded our SOAP team with an abundance of smiles!

02/08/2026

A tour of the house. We get lots of questions about living in Moshi. We thought you’d enjoy a short tour. Welcome to our home! The house is concrete floors, cinder block construction with a metal roof. We have power and water, stove, refrigerator, and laundry sink. We are most proud of the renewed bathroom and we end the tour with a bedroom pic. The team works together to make this house our home during our visit. Mama Jen ( ) -as she affectionately called by all - decorates with bits of colorful cloth and fresh flowers throughout the month! We certainly enjoy eating at different restaurants around town, but a home cooked meal after a long day in the OR always hits the spot!

02/06/2026

Lots of Teaching (and Giggling!) Going On!

This infectious grin belongs to Shurahbil, an engaging 5 year old boy with spina bifida. He came to KCMC with a femur (thigh bone) fracture, which is not uncommon in children like him that cannot use their legs. Dr. Casey spent extensive time at the bedside teaching about the appropriate treatment for Shurahbil’s fracture and making plans for physical therapy and bracing after his fracture has healed. She discussed how to recognize spina bifida patients and what orthopedic issues and treatments to consider in these children. We have been blessed with Shurahbil’s giggles and can’t help but smile each time we think of him! We are sure that our Friends of SOAP will too!

$A great day in the OR with several residents and Dr Mbise and Octavian on a forearm fracture. Dr Bobby led a lively disc...$

02/04/2026

A great day in the OR with several residents and Dr Mbise and Octavian on a forearm fracture. Dr Bobby led a lively discussion on the surgical approach to both the radius and ulna. Thanks to your support of SOAP, this patient was able to get his arm fracture repaired and create an educational evening!

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Concord, NC
28027

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http://Www.operationsoap.org/

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