By Syed (Asif) Masood, MD, MSc
Practicing medicine in a conflict zone presents unique challenges shaped by the harsh realities of both the medical and socio-political environment. Between October 26 and November 7, I had the privilege to join a non-profit health care organization, MedGlobal, on a Resiliency Medical Mission (RMM) to Northwest Syria. During the time of our visit, the area was besieged between Turkey and the recently collapsed Asad regime. RMMs focus on delivering emergency medical aid, addressing urgent health needs, enhancing resilience of local health care systems, and often training local health care professionals to ensure sustainable improvements in health outcomes.
As a pediatric cardiologist, my task was to deliver pediatric cardiology services and support the newly initiated fellowship program, which is comprised of two fellows. I was also tasked to help teach and improve echocardiography techniques and deliver two board review-style lectures for pediatrics residents and medical students covering common pediatric cardiology conditions.
The first five days of my trip were spent with the fellows. We had 20 patients scheduled each day, and we performed the roles of physician, sonographer, and nurse. Our entire work was dependent on one dated echo machine and one imaging probe. The children we saw had a high frequency of complex cardiac lesions, suffered significant barriers to seeking care and often presented late, and had high morbidity and mortality. Limited access to nutrition resulted in growth failure in children with hemodynamically significant lesions, and inability to seek timely care led to children developing Eisenmenger Syndrome resulting in significant difficulties. The last two days of my trip were spent in Darkush doing imaging and consults in their ICU and NICU patients, outpatient work, and training local staff.
I learned that significantly useful information could be acquired even with minimal personnel and equipment. The smiles, gratitude, and prayers were priceless. I found a deep sense of purpose and will anxiously await my next trip.
Scenes from MedGlobal in Syria
At entry border crossing with a multispecialty physician group.
