Media Advisory: SF Hospital Experts Teach Limb-Saving Techniques to International Surgeons

By Leland Kim

WHAT: The UCSF Dept. of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Institute for Global Orthopaedics and Traumatology (IGOT) and San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) are holding their second summit to teach international surgeons essential skills to help reduce the number of amputations performed throughout the world.

Fifteen faculty members and 40 medical residents will provide hands-on training in soft tissue defects and open injuries in order to bring modern surgical techniques to developing countries. Some who attended last year’s training session will be back this year to share how the training has made a difference in their communities.

Visual elements include doctors performing lab work with medical models such as Sawbones and other surgical equipment.

WHO: More than 50 participants will be in attendance, representing the following 17 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Malawi, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda.

WHEN/WHERE: The following doctors are available for interviews at SFGH on Monday, September 12, 11:30 am-1 pm:

  • Theodore Miclau, MD, chief of orthopaedic surgery at SFGH, and vice chairman and director of orthopaedic trauma of the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is an internationally recognized expert on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of bone regeneration and repair, locally applied antibiotics, and minimally invasive fracture surgery.
  • Richard Coughlin, MD, associate clinical professor of orthopaedic surgery at UCSF and a trauma and foot and ankle specialist at SFGH. He is widely recognized for providing orthopaedic care to underprivileged communities in the United States and internationally.
  • Biruk Wamisho-Black, MD, Lion Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
  • Ralphael Kumah, MD, chief of orthopaedic surgery at KATH Orthopaedic Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana
  • Edmund Eliezer-Muhimbili, MD, Orthopaedic Institute in Dar es Salem, Tanzania
  • Noel Penaranda, MD, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Philippines

Interested media please contact [email protected]. On Monday, contact him at 415-999-0791.

Related Links