| The founder, Dr. Abhi Desai, an
Emergency Department physician at Kaiser Permanente
Hospital, experienced the lack of organized emergency
health care and resources in 2000 while caring for
a family member in a small town in Gujarat, India
. So began his pursuit to establish the Flying Doc.
to initiate organized efforts to address the needs
of India. These needs became very apparent during
Flying Doc’s 2001 mission to India and the
massive Bhuj earthquake. The team members representing
University of Southern California Medical School
and Kaiser Permanente were faced with an earthquake
of 7.9 magnitude on the Richter scale in the state
of Gujarat. Immediately they joined forces with
the other international team from France to deliver
emergency care to the victims. This was the first
monumental mission of the Flying Doc. laying the
path for its gradual molding and formation into
a stronger humanitarian organization as it is today.
Flying Doc. has each year since 2000 organized
an educational and humanitarian mission to India
in its relentless pursuit to make an impact on
its people. The missions have been lead by Dr.
Desai and a different team of sub- specialty physicians
all on a voluntary commitment to educate the local
health professionals and help the less fortunate.
Flying Doc has continued to grow over the last
six years, partnering with US based organizations
UC Irvine Medical School, USC Medical School and
Kaiser Permanente. India based organizations KEM
Hospital - Bombay University, Indian Medical Association,
Surat Government College, Kharel Trust Hospital,
Kaprada Medical Clinic, and Pardi Hospital.
Flying Doc. has provided defibrillators, ventilators,
pulse oximetry devices, surgical appliances, and
medical supplies to rural hospitals, which were
either purchased by Flying Doc. or donated by
US hospitals. |
