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| Representatives from the Big Ten on the tarmack in Da Nang: Keith Carter, M.D., DeOrek Del Monte, M.D., Wanda Martinez, M.D., Monte Del Monte, M.D., and Hua Gao, M.D., Ph.D. |
Big Ten eye doctors go to Vietnam
In March, five-year-old Vee, who lives in a small village outside Da Nang, Vietnam, had surgery to correct a tendency for his eyes to turn inward and upward. Vee’s surgeon was pediatric ophthalmologist Monte A. Del Monte, M.D., who had come to Vietnam with ORBIS, an organization that brings a Flying Eye Hospital and ophthalmologists to countries where eye care and modern techniques are scarce.
There was added commotion, as cameras followed Vee and Dr. Del Monte to film a televised special featuring ophthalmologists from Big Ten universities teaching local ophthalmologists and providing surgical treatment in developing countries. Michigan was represented by Dr. Del Monte and alumnus Keith C. Carter, M.D., who completed his residency at Kellogg and today is chair of the University of Iowa’s Department of Ophthalmology.
By the end of the week, Dr. Del Monte had performed 15 surgeries on children and adults with strabismus, a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned. His young patient Vee had a form of strabismus called esotropia with overacting inferior obliue muscles, causing inward turning or crossing and vertical upshooting of his eyes, the most common condition Dr. Del Monte saw during his stay in Da Nang.
At the heart of ORBIS is the goal of training local doctors, nurses, and other health workers in state-of-the-art ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical techniques. This is vital in a country like Vietnam where just 10 ophthalmologists are available per million people.
Assisted by a local ophthalmologist during Vee’s surgery, Dr. Del Monte was able to demonstrate a new surgical technique, a stitchless self-closing incision underneath the eyelid in a way that eliminates external stitches. “It is very comfortable for the patient, but technically more difficult for the surgeon,” says Dr. Del Monte. “But when we use this technique, we see kids opening their eyes and smiling immediately after surgery. They have less pain, and they can be outside playing the next day.”
Sure enough, when Dr. Del Monte visited Vee in his home after the surgery, the young boy was doing just fine, playing with a friend.
When not performing surgery, Dr. Del Monte lectured to ophthalmologists who had come from all over the country. Again stressing its educational mission, ORBIS asks volunteer physicians to bring several educational lectures when they travel.
Dr. Del Monte has participated in a number of international programs, but this one had special meaning for him. His son, Derek, who completed his medical training at Michigan and is now a first-year ophthalmology resident at Duke University, accompanied him on the trip. “The experience sold him on the excitement and rewards of international ophthalmology, and in a few years I expect to see him pursue the ORBIS program for third-year residents.”
“One of the greatest rewards is that the families are so grateful,” adds Dr. Del Monte. “You know how frightened the patients are before surgery, and then you see big smiles on their faces after they become aware of the results.” Dr. Del Monte was especially touched by a unique personal gift he received from several of his patients’ families: an intricately carved marble tray, dragon pitcher and matching cups, each engraved with the name of one of his surgical patients.
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