Vision Beyond Borders: Surgical and Teaching Mission to Mongolia
By Dr. Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen, Dylan Wu, Nysa Gandhi, Dr. Jenny Dohlman, Dr. Todrol Davaadorj, Dr. Parag Gandhi and Dr. Albert Wu
Welcome to a visual journey that will take you on the 2023 Virtue Foundation (VF) Surgical and Teaching Mission to Mongolia. Through the lens of VF ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery volunteers, you will traverse from the bustling capital city of Ulaanbaatar to the serene landscapes of the Khovd Province. You will have a glimpse of the efforts of a dedicated team of volunteer administrators, trainees, and experts in various medical specialties. The mission: providing vital surgical procedures, restoring sight, and prioritizing teaching and training of Mongolian physicians. Through these photographs, we hope to capture the importance of equitable and accessible healthcare for all.
Day 1: Arriving in Ulaanbaatar, the modern capital city of Mongolia.
Day 3: Screening patients seeking specialized oculoplastic interventions.
Day 5: Tackling urgent and complex cases at Ulaanbaatar's First Hospital, guiding local residents and attendings in ophthalmic plastic surgery techniques. Dr. Albert Wu, Virtue Foundation volunteers, and the dedicated local team in action.
Day 8: Ending the Ulaanbaatar mission after screening 70 patients, successfully completing over 40 surgeries and most importantly sharing knowledge with the local team.
Day 9: Touching down in Khovd, embracing Mongolia’s Eternal Blue Sky.
Day 10: Answering the call, featuring the trusted Khovd ambulance.
Day 12: Attending to post-operative patients in the wards of Khovd Hospital.
Day 13: Capturing beauty and preparedness through a glimpse of the storage room.
Day 14: Witnessing Khovd’s scenic view before starting a day of clinics and operations.
Day 15: Concluding the Virtue Foundation Surgical and Teaching Mission to Mongolia.
Authors (top left to bottom right)
Dr. Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen, MDCM : Dr. Anne Xuan-Lan Nguyen is a McGill medical school graduate and an ophthalmology resident at the University of Toronto. Her passions lie in global health, social advocacy, and vision care innovation. Her unwavering dedication and pursuit of knowledge make her a compassionate advocate for those in need. She is grateful for the opportunity to volunteer for the 2023 Virtue Foundation (VF) Surgical and Teaching Mission to Mongolia. This experience has deepened her desire to contribute to sustainable healthcare in humanitarian work. Dr. Nguyen is a recipient of the McGill Global Health Programs’ 2023 Ashworth Student Travel Award.
Dylan Wu : Dylan Wu is an undergraduate student at McGill University and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and immunology with a minor in biotechnology. After having joined the Virtue Foundation in Mongolia, Dylan’s interest in pursuing a medical career solidified even more, along with his focus in helping others in need.
Nysa Gandhi : Nysa Gandhi is an undergraduate student at New York University. She has worked with Virtue Foundation in the past, aiding the organization in creating and researching a global health compendium featuring medical mission organizations and hospitals all over the world. Through her work with Virtue Foundation in Mongolia and PACH (Partners for Andean Community Health) in Ecuador she has found a passion for helping others in need and hopes to continue her efforts in any way possible.
Dr. Jenny Dohlman, MD : Dr. Jenny Dohlman is a current fellow in orbital and oculoplastic surgery at the Krieger Eye Institute/Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. Prior to her current role, she completed a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Boston Children’s Hospital. This was her first mission trip with the Virtue Foundation, and she is grateful for the opportunity to both teach and learn from her Mongolian colleagues and patients. This trip has inspired her to pursue more humanitarian work in the future.
Dr. Todrol Davaadorj, MD : Dr. Todrol Davaadorj is an oculoplastic surgeon and staff ophthalmologist at the Department of Ophthalmology, First Central State Hospital of Mongolia. Since his residency days, he has been trained by Virtue Foundation surgeons, who inspired him to specialize in oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery. Driven by a passion for continuous learning and innovation, he remains grateful to be part of a dedicated team, always striving to implement new techniques and methods in his practice.
Dr. Parag Gandhi, MD : Dr. Parag Gandhi is a board-certified Ophthalmologist and fellowship-trained Oculofacial & Orbital Surgeon who started Maryland Eye & Face in 2020, and was previously an Assistant Professor at Duke Eye Center. He is currently co-chair of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Committee on Global Opportunities. As a recipient of the American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award, Dr. Gandhi has performed surgery and teaching internationally through multiple humanitarian mission trips. He is passionate about humanism in medicine for helping indigenous peoples, and is dedicated to building sustainable Oculofacial Surgery training programs in developing regions.
Dr. Albert Wu, MD, PhD : Dr. Albert Wu is a board-certified ophthalmologist and a fellowship-trained specialist in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery and orbital surgery at Stanford University. Last May, Dr. Albert Wu returned to Ulaanbaatar for his 7th Virtue Foundation surgical teaching mission in Mongolia. As a Virtue Foundation volunteer oculoplastic surgeon, Dr. Wu shared the most up-to-date surgical techniques in addition to lectures on research and mentorship with the First Central Hospital Team (attending ophthalmologists, ophthalmology residents, medical students, nurses, and allied health professionals).
Virtue Foundation (https://virtuefoundation.org/):
Since 2008, Virtue Foundation (VF) has been at the forefront of organizing annual surgical teaching missions in Mongolia. Committed to the principles of sustainability and knowledge transfer, VF has become a vital partner in humanitarian aid and has made significant contributions to the healthcare landscape of Mongolia and beyond.