Florida Hospital Foundation (see more articles like this)

Florida Hospital proudly displays its mission everyday by extending the healing ministry of Christ. But for some people, this mission is taken a step further as they volunteer their time and talents for the unique "SHARES" program.

SHARES focuses on two main areas—rural medicine and plastic surgery.

The Rural Medical Program provides medical and dental consultations and medicines, free of charge, to people with little or no economic resources. SHARES teams are comprised of highly qualified and dedicated health care practitioners who travel to host countries to donate their time and expertise. We work side by side with skilled local doctors and nurses to provide quality care to people who frequently have access only to inadequate health care within their countries. In addition to giving medical consultations, SHARES also strives to include various other kinds of treatments and therapy, such as dentistry, physical therapy, and corrective eyeglass distribution.

One particular life-changing SHARES program is The Cleft Lip and Palate Surgical Program. This provides surgical interventions for congenital malformations such as cleft lips and palates, free of charge, to children from families who have little or no economic resources in Mexico.

SHARES surgical teams, comprised of skilled surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, technicians, and other volunteers, travel to specifically selected cities in Mexico to address a great need in the surrounding rural areas: thousands of children are born with a cleft lip and/or palate and have no possibility of receiving surgery because of the expense it entails for them.

"This mission trip truly changed my attitude back to where it was before I started medical school… the mission trip helped re-center me back to medicine being a “mission and service” profession, said Dr. Mina Zeini, MD,  Family Practice Resident. 

For more information on the next inspiring SHARES mission trip, or how this program has changed the lives of children across the world, please contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at (407) 303-1917.

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