WAUSAU, Wis. — A vascular surgeon from Wisconsin is helping to improve the surgery procedure in Palestine.

Dr. Mark Asplund from Wausau is on a week-long mission in the Gaza Strip and West Bank as a part of The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. The organization is one of the leading humanitarian relief groups in the Middle East providing free medical care to local children.

Last week, Asplund saved the life of a 4-year-old child there, repairing a damaged femoral artery.

But this isn’t the first time Asplund has visited the region.

As a long-time volunteer with PCRF, he’s led several previous surgery missions in the region. While there, he treated complex patients and also helped train local surgeons.

“I have been to Palestine twice — both West Bank and Gaza — on vascular surgery missions with PCRF, so I have some up front knowledge,” said Asplund in a statement. “I return as a consultant for PCRF to visit multiple hospitals in West Bank and Gaza — to assess the status of vascular surgery currently.”

That’s the larger goal of the project — to figure out the needs of vascular surgery in the region.

“Vascular surgery has undergone a revolution worldwide, becoming minimally invasive, but to practice, one needs much more in the way of technical equipment,” added Asplund. “The goal this week is to assess what the needs are, and what PCRF can practically do. Steve Sosebee [PCRF founder and president] has identified a need, and hopefully PCRF can do what it does best: fill that need.” 

After assessment, Asplund will guide and advise those with PCRF Medical Advisory Board on how they can build sustainable services and training for improved patient care.

“The only way a nonprofit like PCRF can be effective in improving Vascular surgery in Palestine is to first have an expert and professional assess their needs, and the only way to do that is to have someone like Dr. Asplund go there and meet every department head and see every hospital, and then report back to us as to what we need to do to help,” said Sosebee in a statement.

Established in 1992 by concerned humanitarians, PCRF has sponsored over 500 missions with volunteer doctors and nurses. Over the years, they’ve provided life-saving operations, facilitated treatment for tens-of-thousands of sick and injured children, and provided training to local staff. 

The organization has even built two pediatric cancer departments in Palestine.

Their missions have supported pediatric cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, urology, maxillofacial surgery, general pediatric surgery, and many more.

Now, the January 2023 mission will support vascular surgery.

“Dr. Mark Asplund’s visit is critical to improving the quality of health services for poor people who depend on public health care for the treatment that they need and deserve,” said Sosebee.