Published: November 30, 2020

Spotlight: Humanitarian Efforts – Tamer A. Ghanem, MD, PhD

The Spotlight on Humanitarian Efforts recognizes AAO-HNS members who are contributing their time and expertise to otolaryngologic patient needs around the globe. These individuals demonstrate integrity and devotion to humanity through a self-giving spirit. They are outstanding models to emulate in fostering a global otolaryngology community.

Tamer A. Ghanem, MD, PhDTamer A. Ghanem, MD, PhD

The Spotlight on Humanitarian Efforts recognizes AAO-HNS members who are contributing their time and expertise to otolaryngologic patient needs around the globe. These individuals demonstrate integrity and devotion to humanity through a self-giving spirit. They are outstanding models to emulate in fostering a global otolaryngology community. For this issue, the AAO-HNSF International Affairs Program highlights Tamer A. Ghanem, MD, PhD and his work with the Kenya Relief Organization (KRO) and the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS).

Where do you currently practice and what is your specialty area?

I work at the Henry Ford Health System in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.

What humanitarian efforts are you involved with? And what do these programs do?

I have been involved with two humanitarian organizations: KRO (www.Kenyarelief.org) and SAMS (www.sams-usa.net). KRO was founded by Steve James, CRNA, to provide humanitarian relief to Migori, Kenya, in the form of an orphanage, private school, and hospital that supports multispecialty medical missions with providers from the United States and other countries. SAMS provides medical relief to Syrian refugees in multiple countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon.

What got you started in committing your time and practice to humanitarian efforts?

Twelve years ago, medical humanitarian relief was not on my radar as I was working on building my head and neck/microvascular surgery practice at the Henry Ford Hospital. I was invited by one of our certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) at the hospital who leads medical missions for KRO to go on a mission trip. Up to that point, I had not had any experience with medical missions, but the possibility of using my surgical skills to help others who need the service was of a strong interest to me. I went on my first mission trip in September 2011, and it was a life-changing event. I was amazed by how many patients had endemic goiters and were seeking surgery to help them with their breathing and cosmesis. It was very gratifying to see the difference the surgery made in their lives. After that trip, medical humanitarian relief became a major interest of mine. Since then I have gone on two other missions to Migori, Kenya, with KRO and four missions with SAMS—two trips to Turkey and two trips to Lebanon. I was supposed to go to Kenya again this past March, but the trip was canceled last minute due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

How does your work impact the communities you serve, and how does it impact you as a person?

The work we are involved in has multiple impacts on the different communities we serve. For the work in Kenya, the majority of these patients can’t afford thyroid surgery at private practices, and many government hospitals won’t take their cases as they have long lines of patients who need operations. For Syrian refugees, the CBS show 60 Minutes aired an episode of the activities of SAMS during a multispecialty medical mission in Turkey (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/when-hospitals-become-targets/). For refugees in Lebanon, they have no medical care except for cash for service with private practices. Thus they rely heavily on the SAMS clinics in various parts of Lebanon to get routine medical care, as well as subspecialty care. The types of Syrian refugee patients are very different—from the pediatric population with tonsillar hypertrophy and chronic tonsillitis to young adults with late effects of facial trauma in need of reconstructive surgery.

What would you say to encourage others to support humanitarian efforts around the world?

From my experience, those that give get more back than they give. The feeling of being able to use your skills that you have spent years learning to help another human being in their plight, and witnessing directly their results, is like no other. Also it can be a very rewarding growth experience, seeing different cultures and operating in an unfamiliar environment with conditions that one is not used to.

I recommend for those without experience in medical mission work to find a team of surgeons or anesthesiologists whom they know and go with them on a mission trip. It is important to find out as much information as possible in terms of what types of patients they see, cases they do, accommodations, and instrumentation needs prior to going on the mission trip to be well prepared.

Any other final comments or thoughts?

As physicians we have a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives, and medical mission work is a tremendous way to experience that. The opportunity to travel and experience a different culture is very enlightening.

 

 

More from December 2020/January 2021 – Vol. 39, No. 11
Pediatric
From the Education Committees
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition in children and one that most otolaryngologists are familiar with. Pediatric OSA has an estimated prevalence of 1%-4% in the United States.1 In most cases adenotonsillectomy (T&A) is the first-line therapy. About 500,000 of these procedures are performed annually in the U.S.
Tolerance2
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
We had just finished the composite resection, and it was late in the evening as the case had gotten off to a later start. We were done with the case, the drapes were off, and I had just removed the anode tube to insert the cuffed tracheostomy tube. I pulled on the upper stay suture to pull the trachea into view and it immediately came loose—obviously the tracheal ring had been broken during its placement.
2020 Annual Report 01
AAO-HNS/F 2020 Annual Report
View the AAO-HNS/F 2020 Annual Report
Audiology
Advocacy Issue Brief: Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact
Several years ago the Council of State Governments (CSG) was asked to develop a model compact for allied health professionals, in this case, audiologists and speech-language pathologists. CSG is an organization committed to working with state officials to shape public policy and includes a program dedicated to developing interstate compacts.
CPT
New Category I CPT Codes for Sleep Surgery in 2022
At the October 2020 American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel meeting, the AMA accepted new Category I CPT codes for both hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGN) and drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). These new codes will become part of the CPT code set in 2022. For CPT, ‘Category’ refers to the division of the code set. CPT codes are divided into three categories.
Jamal
Section Spotlight: Young Physicians Section (YPS)
The YPS kicked off an exciting new year of activities with an engaged and well-attended General Assembly at the AAO-HNSF 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting & OTO Experience, hosted by David S. Cohen, MD, our Immediate Past Chair. Dr. Cohen highlighted some of the YPS accomplishments from the last year, including extending the Academy’s reduced membership rate for early career otolaryngologists from one to two years and the introduction of travel grants for YPS members, which has been provided for the Section for Residents and Fellows-In-Training in years past.
TravelGrant
Humanitarian Travel Grant: Cleft Care in Kijabe, Kenya
For the past 20 years, teams of otolaryngologists have provided continuous cleft care for patients in Kijabe, Kenya, through Samaritan’s Purse World Medical Mission and partnering with IAC-CURE Children’s Hospital and Smile Train.
Litvack
Section Spotlight: Women in Otolaryngology (WIO)
Nalini Nadkarni, PhD, a forest ecologist and tree canopy specialist and guest speaker at the WIO General Assembly, held during the AAO-HNSF 2020 Virtual Annual Meeting & OTO Experience, described the process of “disturbance and recovery,” which to me is a good summary of 2020—unexpected disturbances, feelings of loss and isolation, maybe a crisis of identity. However, these disturbances, while uncomfortable in the present, can lead to new consequences and a new state.
Denneny
Your AAO-HNS Community of Support: You Will Never Walk Alone
This year’s Annual Report provides us the opportunity to ruminate in amazement one of the most unpredictable and impactful years most of us will encounter. While experiences varied regionally, nationally, and internationally, we were all tied together by the disruptive healthcare issues, economic hardships, underlying social issues, and lack of consensus on how to deal with the pandemic itself.
Bradford
Put Your Oxygen Mask on before Helping Others: The Importance of Wellness
Before taking off in an airplane, we have all heard this all-too-familiar safety message: a reminder to put your own oxygen mask on before helping others. As caregivers, we give much of ourselves to ensure the well-being of our patients. Our profession can bring stress. We bear witness to human suffering. The hours are long.
Committee 02 01
Out of Committee: Endocrine Surgery Committee
Thyroid nodules are quite common and typically benign. Nonetheless they can be troubling in many ways to patients who then seek treatment, which often results in thyroid surgery. Thyroid surgery comes with some generally accepted risks, and quality of life may become significantly altered in several ways. The possible need for thyroid hormone supplementation or replacement is one of the major concerns for these patients undergoing surgery.