Jaime A. Gomez, MD and team participate in the 2020 Butterfly Foundation Scoliosis Mission

Jame a Gomez 2
February 20, 2020 —

Dr. Gomez and members of the Montefiore operating room staff, Ike Marcano and Justine Labasin, recently returned from the Work Spine Outreach Medical Mission in the Dominican Republic.  The team joined other volunteers from a number of academic medical centers in the US, to care for children suffering from severe spinal deformities. 

The mission’s purpose is to both perform and teach spinal deformity surgery in developing countries.  Teams consist of academic spine deformity surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians, and other support staff.  This year, Dr. Gomez and his team provided care to over 25 children in need.  For example, they were able to successfully treat a 14 year old girl who was at risk of becoming paralyzed from a tumor in her spinal column.  She underwent a staged procedure to successfully stabilize her spine and remove her tumor.  She has regained the ability to walk and has an excellent prognosis! #worldspineoutreach