Dr Castaneda practicing skills

IGOT, Institute for Global Orthopedics & Trauma hosted a 3 day conference on the use of muscle flaps to preserve limb integrity and reduce the need for amputation following trauma or chronic poor wound healing. The conference brought together orthopedists and surgeons from 19 countries with limited resources. Colleagues from Malawi, Uganda,Tanzania, Nigeria, Nepal, India , DR, etc…. all learned techniques to bring home and share in their country. IGOT sponsored this 3 day information packed conference in San Francisco at the impressive UCSF Orthopedic Trauma Institute and provided housing, meals, and registration for this select group.  Our Physicians, Dr Miguel Alcazar, Chief of Orthopedics & Traumatology Department at San Marcos Hospital, Dr. Leonel Castaneda, General Surgeon at San Marcos, Dr. Alex Diaz, 4th year orthopedic resident at the public hospital in nearby Xela as well as Dr Barry Messinger of OSSA represented Guatemala for the first time. They look forward to implementing and teaching these skills to their departments and at conferences in Guatemala.  IGOT was excited to have us there and would like to work with OSSA to expand these limb saving educational opportunities throughout Latin America. OSSA met some innovative educators and made some great global connections an is percolating ideas!!!