As one of the Co-Stars of the Emmy nominated syndicated series, “The Doctors”, Dr. Ordon is one of the most recognized physicians in the world. His show is currently seen in over 22 countries. This physician turned TV star is a generous and compassionate humanitarian who has an ongoing mission to help others.
Below you will find a Q&A with Dr. Ordon about just that.
Q. You are one of the founding members of the Surgical Friends Foundation, a non profit dedicated to providing reconstructive surgery to those here in the United States and abroad who otherwise would not be able to afford such surgeries. Where did you get the idea for Surgical Friends? Tell us a little about the origins of how this group came to be?
Dr. Ordon: One of my associates at the Roxbury Surgery Associates Practice (Beverly HIlls), Dr. Kami Parsa is the real spark plug of Surgical Friends Foundation. Dr. Parsa, Dr. Calvert, Dr. Brenner and I all do plastic surgery and we are interested in giving back. Surgical Friends is the mechanism which resulted from this passion. We go wherever needed to offer all types of reconstruction, primarily to children.
Q. Some of your Surgical Friend colleagues visited Cambodia this past year. What types of surgeries did they perform?
Dr. Ordon: Land mines still abound in Cambodia. There are more unexploded land mines there per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Little kids go hunting for scrap metal left over from the war. They are killed or maimed in the explosions and we are there to help with reconstructive surgery. More importantly, we train the local doctors in new and updated techniques to empower them long after we are gone.
Q. Ironically you had a trip planned to go to Haiti with Surgical Friends for the week after the devastating earthquake. Instead of waiting, immediately you and your 3 television colleagues went together to assist in the medical relief effort. What were your immediate feelings and reactions to what you first saw when you arrived in Haiti?
Dr. Ordon: I had been watching the coverage on television to prepare myself. Guess what? I wasn't prepared. Nothing can get you ready for your first exposure to being dropped in the epicenter of one of history’s largest natural disasters. I thought my training in inner-city trauma and multi vehicle accidents would help me. But when your eyes behold devastation as far as you can see, when the stench of corpses stings your nose and eyes, when every living person you encounter is in severe need of help, it's overwhelming. It was as bad as it gets over there, but now that I have experience it, I am eager to help some more.
Q. What types of injuries did you treat in Haiti and was it difficult to treat people under such substandard conditions?
Dr. Ordon: The conditions were bad, but not that bad. It was a little like MASH, operating in a tent. We had inadequate lighting, instruments and supplies. But there was a lot of help and very qualified people from the University of Miami. I also worked at the Hospital D'Espoire, doing surgery on children. I was the soft tissue specialist. Lacerations, crush injures and so on were what I treated. Trying to heal all those wounds is a big job.
Q. In your professional medical opinion, what is still needed in Haiti? Can you think of some specific medical needs that Haiti needs now to move forward?
Dr. Ordon: For a long time, long after the donations have dwindled, there will be a need in Haiti for general services, infrastructure, medical supplies and medical personnel. There is a new population of people with reconstructive needs. Amputees, open wounds, and chronic infections abound. To make matters worse, the rainy season is coming bringing new dangers of infections from lack of sewage and waste management. There will be new breakouts of diphtheria, cholera, dysentery, and malaria.
Q. Upon returning from Haiti, you partnered with Smile Train and went to India. What types of surgeries did you perform in India?
Dr. Ordon: I did cleft lip and palate surgeries, mostly. Dr. Subod Singh in Varanassi has a great hospital and does great work. He just needs people like us to do the surgery.
Q. Do you have any current plans on the schedule to travel abroad or to perform any surgeries domestically on behalf of Surgical Friends?
Dr. Ordon: Currently we are working on another trip to Haiti for this summer.
Q. As a television personality, you and your colleagues are put under a microscope by the public. Do you think that having an international television format helps or hinders your position as a physician?
Dr. Ordon: I embrace this opportunity to represent my profession in the media. I am so blessed to be given this platform because I get to share what I know with more people through TV than I ever would otherwise. Also, I think being on TV helps some of my private practice patients tolerate my absence. I have a great associate, Dr. Ritu Chopra who handles nearly all my patients with me. But for some of my long-standing patients, it's me or nobody. When they have to wait to see me, they are a little more patient knowing that I am doing what I do in another part of the world.
Q. How is Surgical Friends funded and is there a way for our readers to learn more about it or donate money to help you with your incredible work?
Dr. Ordon: We rely on donations. Surgical Friends can be found at surgicalfriends.org. The site describes some of our past missions and reveals our plans for the future. Any clinicians who hit our site get the opportunity to join us.
To learn more about Dr. Andrew Ordon visit: drordon.com and thedoctorstv.com
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