One World Surgery: Committed to Global Health

Learn how One World Surgery’s volunteer healthcare teams serve global needs.

The citizens of Minnesota have local access to some of the finest medical care available. Regrettably, many people in less developed regions around the globe are not as fortunate. Currently, 5 billion people worldwide lack access to surgical care. In chronically underfunded health systems, surgical care is ignored and inaccessible to the poor. Often, local facilities lack necessary supplies, equipment, and access to training in the latest techniques. At Summit Orthopedics, we founded One World Surgery to bring hope—and medical care—to these underserved patient populations.

How Summit’s volunteer global medical efforts began

In 2003, now retired Summit surgeon Dr. Peter Daly and his family volunteered their time at Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH), a home in Honduras for orphaned, disadvantaged, and abandoned children. During the trip, Dr. Daly examined Angela, a nine-year-old girl with chondroectodermal dysplasia that severely deformed her legs. Angela needed corrective surgery, but there were no surgical facilities available to her. In response to her plight, the Dalys decided to bring her back to Minnesota for treatment. For a year, Angela lived with the Dalys while undergoing a series of surgical procedures and rehabilitation.

The unmet surgical needs of Angela and the other children at NPH prompted the Dalys to lead a fundraising effort to build a surgical facility on the NPH grounds. In 2009, they opened the doors of the Holy Family Surgery Center in Honduras. Since then, Summit has organized regular mission trips of volunteer physicians, clinical staff, and other volunteers to bring surgical expertise to the patients treated at the surgery center.

In 2014, the Dalys introduced the physician leadership of Surgical Care Affiliates (SCA) to the Holy Family Surgery Center. Inspired, SCA joined us in our surgical medical mission, founding the nonprofit SCA Medical Missions. SCA’s 7,500 physicians and 8,000-strong staff significantly increased our resources to address unmet medical needs abroad. The new partnership enabled us to expand our specialized medical care to include orthopedics; spine; oncology; ear, nose, and throat; gynecology; ophthalmology; and urology.

The founding of One World Surgery

In 2017, Summit Orthopedics, SCA Medical Missions, and the Holy Family Surgery Center joined forces, founding One World Surgery. Summit hand specialist Dr. Michael Forseth leads some of the medical missions to treat patients at the Holy Family Surgery Center. “Under the One World Surgery nonprofit umbrella of volunteer surgical care,” he says, “we are proud to support better health for thousands of deserving patients beyond our country’s borders.”

One World Surgery is committed to providing world-class surgical care to underserved communities. “We invite volunteers to join us to make a positive impact on global health,” says Dr. Forseth. “In collaboration with our partners, One World Surgery supports sustainability, education, collaboration, and empowerment. We are proud that half of today’s Holy Family Surgery Center staff were children raised at NPH. Over the years, our medical services have had a profound impact on more than 20,000 lives. With your support through donations or volunteered time, we can improve the health of countless more deserving patients.”

Summit Orthopedics supports healthy communities

Community health flourishes when specialized orthopedic care is conveniently available close to home. Summit Orthopedics is proud of our fellowship-trained subspecialty teams offering the full spectrum of orthopedic expertise in bone, tendon, ligament, muscle, and joint conditions—in addition to our wellness, prevention, and rehabilitation services. We have the expertise to proactively improve fitness, evaluate discomfort, and deliver personalized treatment to quickly and safely return you to the lifestyle you love.

Start your journey to a healthier, more active self. Visit our Facebook page to learn about our wellness services and schedule a free wellness consultation online. Find your orthopedic expert, request an appointment online, or call us at (651) 968–5201 to schedule a consultation.

Summit has convenient locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We have state-of-the-art centers for comprehensive orthopedic care in Eagan, MN, Plymouth, MN, Vadnais Heights, MN, and Woodbury, MN, as well as additional community clinics throughout the metro and southern Minnesota.