Rambam doctor takes part in volunteer delegation to China

How many of us can ease the suffering of just one person?  In September 2009, Dr Amit Lehavi and a team of volunteer doctors, made a life-altering change for 125.

An anesthesiologist at Rambam, Dr Lehavi took part in a delegation to China that treated adults and children with lip and cleft palates. The delegation was sponsored by the non-profit organization, Alliance for Smiles, which provides free surgery for these congenital deformities in countries throughout the developing world. In addition to transforming the patients’ lives, the delegation strengthened ties, on the human, medical and state levels.

During a two-week period, the delegation of plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, dentists and nurses operated on 125 patients. While these patients were of all ages, most were babies and small children. None – without the help of Alliance for Smiles – could have received this treatment. “No one is turned away,” says Dr Lehavi. “Anyone who is healthy and able to get to the hospital is eligible.”

Dr Lehavi himself was recruited by the organization, which is feeling the pinch of the worldwide shortage of anesthesiologists. Eager to make the world a better place, or as he puts it, “to lower the temperature in hell,” Dr Lehavi, was quick to agree.

Throughout, Rambam and his colleagues gave Dr Lehavi their full backing. The hospital gave him two weeks off, though it would have to manage with one less anesthesiologist. And despite the fact that his fellow anesthesiologists would have to fill in and work extra hours, “everyone expressed only wholehearted enthusiasm for this venture,” he says.

Worldwide, about one in 600-700 babies are born yearly with lip or cleft palates, or both. In Israel, this means about 200 in every 150,000 births. In China, the numbers are roughly 100 times greater. At the lowest estimates, tens of thousands of children are affected.

Correction of lip cleft is done mainly for cosmetic and psycho-social reasons. Cleft palate is more severe, and can cause difficulty in eating, speaking and hearing, as well as dental problems.

Doctors in western countries usually perform corrective surgery for these conditions as early as possible. In the developing world, there are often no facilities, personnel and budgets to address these problems. In fact, Dr Lehavi took part in the surgery on one 27-year old man, who had never before seen a doctor.

Already, Dr Lehavi is looking ahead to participating in the next delegation, in May 2010. “This work is done with great seriousness – and great love,” he says. “I would recommend that all doctors participate in this profound human and professional experience. It’s very good for the both the soul and the skills.”