Team Heart, Inc.

Description

TeamHeart is a volunteer organization based in New England, founded in 2007 to provide surgical intervention for young adults and adolescents suffering from critical rheumatic heart disease. Early in the process, we realized we could be a catalyst to support and stimulate a program to provide prevention and early intervention while helping to build a program in cardiac surgery. Our program has evolved into a comprehensive plan to address all aspects of rheumatic heart disease in partnership with our Rwandan colleagues.

In addition to providing surgical intervention to those selected for our surgical trips, the diagnostic screening of patients is completed by our cardiology team with an emphasis on knowledge and skill transfer. Initial testing, evaluation, and follow-up are completed in the country by our Rwandan colleagues as partners.

Highly trained professionals in medicine, nursing, and support services are needed to provide mentorship, skill transfer, and the safest care possible travel to support the work or connect through technology. Each traveling medical volunteer raises funds or pays for travel and donates vacation time. Through a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Health, our activities are collaborative and work with the local team.