Supporting a sustainable future for surgical procedures in Guatemala
Dr Mark Lee’s ongoing partnership with Operation Smile continued with a recent visit to Guatemala. The visit represented a shift in Dr Lee’s approach to international volunteer work by extending his expertise as a plastic surgeon into clinical education, mentorship and support. As a passionate advocate for building the long-term capacity of local healthcare systems, Dr Lee welcomed the opportunity to work alongside Guatemalan medical teams in creating a sustainable model for care.
Guatemala faces a critical shortage of surgical capability. According to Operation Smile, the country has just one specialist surgical worker per 100,000 people versus the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery's recommended ratio of 20. For families in remote regions like Petén, this could mean travel for 12 or 13 hours by unpaved roads in order to reach a hospital.
The data shows that 59% of patients live below the poverty line and 91% have no health insurance. Without Operation Smile programs in Guatemala, 81% of the patients seen would have otherwise been unable to access much needed surgery.
International partnership for shared expertise
During this visit, Dr Lee participated in Operation Smile's Champion Program. Pioneered in Rwanda and now implemented in Guatemala, the Champion Program pairs experienced international volunteers with local medical professionals in structured mentorship arrangements.
Working alongside Guatemalan surgeons, anaesthetists, and nursing staff, Dr Lee shared knowledge accumulated over more than 20 years of plastic and reconstructive surgery practice. Through demonstrating procedures, troubleshooting complications and discussing techniques, local professionals could leverage Dr Lee’s expertise in shaping their own clinical judgment.
The knowledge exchange was not just one-sided. Dr Lee was interested to discover how local healthcare workers develop creative solutions to overcome specific constraints.
A visiting surgeon like Dr Lee might help dozens of patients during a two-week program, but a trained local surgeon can serve their community for decades. By shifting the approach to develop local capability, the dependency on visiting teams reduces, creating increasingly self-sufficient healthcare systems that provide year-round care.
A holistic approach to care
Operation Smile's approach is not just restricted to surgery. Patients receive speech therapy, nutrition support, dental care, and psychosocial services - an integrated model that mirrors best practice in Australia. During his visit, Dr Lee observed cross-disciplinary collaboration and creativity in a resource-constrained setting as care teams worked together to address the complex needs associated with cleft conditions.
Dr Lee is marking almost two decades of support for Operation Smile and other aid organisations. This work has taken him to Tanzania, Tonga, China, Cambodia, the Philippines, Guatemala, Solomon Islands, India Jordan, Morocco, Mexico and Peru. The medical shortages, unique challenges and financial and geographical limitations reinforce Dr Lee’s belief that access to surgical care should be a human right, not a privilege.