GSOS Providers Heading to Palau Island for a Medical Mission
Providing joint replacement surgeries and other orthopedic care to those in need through Canvasback Missions.
They are back – Read about Dr. Crow and his wife, PA Emily Crow’s medical mission trip to Palau and the two stories they will never forget.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (January 28, 2019) – Dr. Bradley Crow and his physician assistant and wife, Emily Crow, PA-C, will be leaving later this month to help with an orthopedic medical mission trip to the island nation of Palau in Micronesia.
Micronesia is a region that contains five independent nations and three United States territories, spanning thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines. There are only a handful of public hospitals in Micronesia, and they have very few specialty surgeons.
Serious health problems there often go untreated because of the lack of resources, supplies, and qualified specialists who can address needs. This often leaves patients who are in need of joint replacements crippled for years.
Dr. Crow was on board to help the moment he heard about the opportunity from a former patient.
“Emily and I have always wanted to give back with the skill set we have as orthopedic specialists,” said Dr. Crow. “We grew up doing mission trips in high school, and it always felt good to give back to people in need. Now we can do it on a bigger scale and we are so excited help.”
During this 2 ½ week trip they will mostly be performing joint replacement surgeries. These surgeries are very labor intensive and require a lot of equipment, but with planning from both Canvasback and Golden State Ortho, the Crows are able to help the people on Palau Island.
On top of joint replacements, Dr. Crow and Mrs. Crow will be helping with hyaluronic acid injections for those not needing a joint replacement, yet still in need of basic orthopedic care for osteoarthritis. They also will be able to help those who need medical assistance in the community with fractures or breaks.
Canvasback Missions focuses on Micronesia for its healthcare outreach and is always looking for volunteers for orthopedic and all types of medical specialties.
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About Golden State Orthopedics & Spine
A regionally recognized orthopedic practice located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Golden State Orthopedics & Spine is comprised of an expert team of physicians and providers with a variety of specialty focuses. Using state-of-the-art techniques in orthopedic medicine, Golden State Orthopedics & Spine restores mobility in musculoskeletal injuries, treating the foot, ankle, knee, hip, spine, shoulder, elbow and hand. Golden State Orthopedics & Spine facilities are located east of San Francisco in Walnut Creek (two locations), Brentwood, San Ramon and Concord. For more information, please visit goldenstateortho.com.
About Canvasback Missions
Canvasback Missions has been dedicated to bringing otherwise unavailable healthcare and health education to the islands of Micronesia since 1981. Their founding belief is that all people deserve a high quality of life. Through partnership between volunteer professionals, island communities and their generous supporters, they bring health and wholeness to Micronesia. With a full time Wellness Center on the island of Majuro and an average of eight specialty surgery teams coordinated and sent to the islands each year, Canvasback is able to impact the health of over 2,300 individuals and provide over $4.5 million in patient care annually. For more information, please visit canvasback.org.