Department News
Dr. Setabutr Participates in Thailand Medical Mission Trip
CHICAGO, May 12 – This winter, Pete Setabutr, MD, joined the Thai Physicians Association of America’s (TPAA) medical mission to Surin, Thailand to perform eyelid surgeries at Surin Hospital. Roughly 50 U.S. doctors traveled to Surin during the last week of January, the 26th to 30th, to help underprivileged patients of all ages at the hospital in Surin province. They collaborated with the Surin Hospital staff to perform 350 cataract surgeries, 72 plastic/reconstructive surgeries for cleft lip, cleft palate and hand deformities, two general surgeries, two obstetrics and gynecology surgeries, and 540 cases of outpatient care work.
“I would definitely participate in a medical mission trip again,” says Dr. Setabutr, Assistant Professor of Oculoplastics and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Chicago. “This trip gave me insight into the positives of medical missions and the obstacles involved with doing one again, such as the legal and practical matters that first have to be overcome. Now, I know the background details on how to get one done.”
Dr. Setabutr had been planning to organize a medical mission to Thailand with other Chicago-area doctors for quite some time.
“I am of Thai descent so it was important to me to do some work in Thailand. I’ve been there many times before,” he says.
When the TPAA heard about his plans, the non-profit organization, dedicated to the advancement of medical education and scientific knowledge for Thai and other physicians, contacted him about joining their annual mission trip, since they already have an organization in place for facilitating foreign mission trips. The TPAA notes on its Web site that it has helped thousands of Thai citizens since it began its medical mission trips in 1996.
Dr. Setabutr paid for his flight and the TPAA covered his lodging and food costs. The organization also planned sightseeing activities for the doctors’ free time each afternoon, such as city tours and a tour to the border of Thailand and Cambodia. The hospital staff provided 24-hour transportation service between the hospital, the doctors’ hotel (Thong Tarin Hotel) and the city, and a farewell party.
Dr. Setabutr’s days generally began at 8 am in the operating room, performing eyelid surgeries until 1 pm to 4 pm. Some days he would also assist with cleft lip and palate surgeries. He was able to meet with his patients before the surgeries occurred. All of the medical equipment and services were donated from different organizations for underprivileged patients. The TPAA medical mission committee also took responsibility for all of the expenses from the operating room, recovery, postoperative care, outpatient department, meals, transportation and all services that they provided during the one-week mission.
“My first mission trip made me more appreciative of the luxuries we have in the medical community here and gave me the skills to work in a new environment,” says Dr. Setabutr. “Any time you work with a different group of physicians and nurses in a different environment, you learn something.”