Valladolid and Bago City
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, PHILIPPINES 2025
Major surgeries: 104 patients (vs. 86 in 2024) underwent a total of 125 major surgical procedures: a) 63 female = 61%. b) The age range was 1 - 83 years old. c) 23 pediatric cases: (<15yrs old) = 22%. d) Three patients received a total of 5 units of blood products. e) 27 cases were done using spinal anesthesia. f) 5 spinal anesthesia cases were converted to general anesthesia.
• GYN: 24 patients (41 procedures) (vs. 26 patients in 2024) of uterine myomas, endometriosis, Bartholin’s cysts, and ovarian cysts/tumors. Seven prolapse cases underwent surgery this year (vs. 5 in 2024); 13 Trans-abdominal hysterectomies, 12 with oophorectomies (vs. 16 in 2024); 2 Trans-vaginal hysterectomies (vs. 0 in 2023); 7 Uterine prolapse repairs (vs. 0 in 2023); 2 Pelvic mass / oophorectomy for various diagnoses
• GENERAL SURGERY / HEAD & NECK: 80 patients (84 procedures) (vs. 59 cases in 2024); 14 Pediatric inguinal hernia repairs, (vs. 11 in 2024); 11 Adult inguinal hernia repairs (vs. 13 in 2024), all with mesh repairs; 2 Hemorrhoidectomies (vs. 1 in 2024); 14 Cholecystectomy, (vs. 1 in 2024); 14 Various: 1 popliteal cyst, 9 lipoma excisions, 1 periorbital mass, 1 sublingual mass, 2 orchiopexy; 1 Breast case (vs. 0 in 2024); 15 Hemithyroidectomies, (vs. 14 in 2024); 4 Salivary gland tumor excisions (vs. 4 in 2024); 5 Congenital neck mass excision (vs. 2 in 2024)
Minor Surgeries: 257 patients (excision of skin lesions/lipomas) done by Drs. Robert Sy and Robert Ledesma, both volunteers from Manila with assistance from Mary Tom from Hawaii.
Dental cases: 1656 patients were treated including: 372 fillings performed by AMM dentists and 2130 extractions performed by AMM and local Filipino dentists
Total income = $14,205.00
Total expenses = $16,500.64
Total cost to AMM for mission = $2,295.64
Estimated in-kind contributions by the mission team:
A. 20 physicians (CRNA’s and APPs included as physicians) x (est) $200/hr x 9 hrs/day x 7 days = $252,000 in physician services
B. 8 nurses x (est) $100/hr x 9 hrs/day x 6 days = $43,200 in nursing services
C. 9 dentists x (est) $125/hr x 9 hrs/day x 6 days = $60,750 in dental services
D. Equivalent value of operative services provided in US dollars: 104 major surgery cases x $15,000 ($1,560,000) + 2502 dental cases x $750 ($1,876,500) + 257 minor cases x $500 ($128,500) = $3,565,000 equivalent surgical / dental cases in US dollars
E. Total Estimated in-kind contributions: $252,000 in physician services + $43,200 in nursing services + $60,750 in dental services + $3,565,000 equivalent surgical / dental cases = $3,920,700
F. Actual treatment cost per patient: $126,000 (travel costs 48 US volunteers x $2500 + 6 Filipino volunteers x $1000) + $16,500.64 (AMM expense) + $25,000 (Scholastica contribution) = $161,500.64 / 2017 total patients served = $80.07 / patient-actual cost
The St. Scholastica's Bacolod Alumnae Foundation, Inc. (SSBAFI) spent much of their own funds to support patient transport, lab/study costs, and screening costs. Their estimated total contribution to this mission totaled at least $25,000 US
The success of this mission is directly related to the herculean efforts of Gina Regalado, Jean Trebol, and all of the SSBAFI volunteers who provided the coordination and on-site support of the mission. As always, their performance was superb
The Chief of Hospital, Dra. Marichelle D. Mendoza Morales, and all of the Valladolid District Hospital staff were exceedingly gracious and helpful. Thank you to the many local health volunteers from the town who helped us care for patients in the operating suite, recovery room, postoperative ward, and dental clinic areas.
Thank you also to Dr. Robert Sy of Manila who continues to provide the outpatient surgical procedures program to all our Philippine missions and who assists our inpatient surgical program with logistical and monetary support.
Because of the continued success of this mission, AMM is invited to return to Valladolid and Bago City in 2026.
Thank you to all of the amazing AMM volunteers who contributed to the successful outcome of this mission.
To see the complete Mission Report for the Valladolid 2025 Mission, click here
Mission Leaders: Julie Gamboa, RN, BSN, CCRN; Christopher Klem, MD; Steve Ertel, DDS
Volunteer staff: 57 (51 AMM, 6 Filipino) total staff were involved in direct patient care and directly associated with AMM: these included 46 from the USA, 2 from Great Britain, 1 from Nepal, and 7 from within the Philippines (exclusive of local lay support staff and local dentists). There were 23 physicians and advanced practice providers; 9 dentists; 10 nurses; 3 dental and surgical technicians; and 12 non-medical volunteers. All volunteers paid for their own travel and housing expenses. There were 13 new AMM mission volunteers. In addition, there were 11 Filipino dentists (all from Negros Occidental) that worked at various times during the week.
Daily schedule: 6:00 am breakfast at hotel, 6:30 am group meeting, 7:00 am departure for the hospital (40-minute bus ride); 7:30 am departure for the dental clinic (30-minute van ride). 7:45-8:00 am ward rounds, 8:30 am surgery begins, next day's patients seen in the clinic throughout the day between surgical cases. Days ended when the last scheduled case was done. Surgery ended by 5:00 pm every day except when a case went on until 5:30 pm. On Friday, when we closed for packing at 2:00 pm. The Main OR team would leave the hospital between 5:30 - 6:00 pm on a bus. The Recovery Room and Post-op ward team left on a van between 6:00 and 7:00 pm. The dental team would end their day at approximately 5:00 pm, similar to previous missions.