SLV Health Providers Return from Lifesaving Surgical Mission in Bolivia
SLV Health
A dedicated team of healthcare professionals, including Dr. Julian Maendel (General Surgery), Aaron Crowther (Anesthesia), and Dr. Jeffery Oster (formerly Podiatry), recently returned from a life-changing two-week medical mission to El Torno, Bolivia, where they provided critical surgical care to underserved populations.
Aaron Crowther, Dr. Jeffery Oster, and Dr. Julian Maendel
The trip was part of a collaborative effort through Medical Ministry International (MMI), a faith-based nonprofit organization focused on delivering essential medical services to communities in need. Over the course of one intensive week, the surgical team, part of a broader 30-member delegation, completed 35 general surgeries. They were primarily open gallbladder removals and hernia repairs, using a local Bolivian hospital with limited resources.
“These trips are a wonderful chance to see a different part of the world and its culture, while also bringing much-needed services to places where they would not otherwise be readily available,” said Dr. Maendel, who has participated in similar missions for over a decade. “I first went as a fourth-year resident, and it continues to shape both my career and personal growth.”
As Dr. Maendel noted, “We have well-equipped operating rooms in the States that allow people to heal comfortably. In El Torno, patients are grateful just to have the surgery and recover with a couple of Tylenol tablets before hopping on the back of a motorcycle to head home.”
This trip was particularly meaningful for Dr. Maendel, as he was joined by colleagues from SLV Health, including Aaron Crowther and Dr. Oster. Their shared experience highlighted the powerful blend of medical skill, cross-cultural compassion, and faith-driven service.
“These missions remind us why we chose medicine in the first place,” Dr. Maendel added. “In the midst of our busy lives, it’s easy to lose sight of that. These trips help us reconnect with our purpose.”
SLV Health is proud to support its providers as they extend their expertise to global communities, demonstrating that healing and hope know no borders.