November 2023

OBGYN

NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE CLINICIANS ESTABLISH A CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM IN THE PHILIPPINES

Northwestern Medicine is committed to better care for patients in Chicago and around the world. A team of physicians and nurses from the Northwestern Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology recently returned from a medical mission trip to the rural town of Salcedo, in the Philippines. The medical team, specializing in obstetrics and gynecologic surgery, aimed to address the high rates of cervical cancer in the region.

Their primary goal was to establish a cervical cancer screening program and promote vaccination for HPV. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers for women in the Philippines, with less than 5% of the population fully protected from HPV. The endeavor was supported by a generous $230,000 grant from the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

“As a Filipino American, it really meant a lot to me to be able to go back and contribute to the community that raised me in my early childhood,” says Princess Urbina, MD. “You know, it’s striking sometimes, the level of gratitude that they express. To us, we’re just doing our jobs, but when you think about their reality — and view it from their perspective — then you get it.”

The medical teams visited Salcedo Doctors’ Hospital, where they performed over 40 surgeries and attended to nearly 200 patients. The Obstetrics team, led by Kiki Ogu, MD, a recent fellow in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, conducted prenatal visits and deliveries, and provided education on pregnancy complications. The Gynecologic Surgery team, led by Dr. Urbina, completed a variety of procedures, including fibroid removals, hysterectomies, cyst removals and IUD retrievals.
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The success of the mission prompted the team to plan a return visit in February 2024, with the official launch of the cervical cancer screening program and administration of vaccines. Magdy P. Milad, MD, MS, chief of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at Northwestern Medicine, is among the physicians planning on joining the February trip. Dr. Milad was present when the team first visited the Philippines in November 2022.
Northwestern Medicine is proud of the team’s ongoing commitment aims to make Salcedo Doctors’ Hospital a clinical center of excellence for the local community, championing routine obstetrical, preventive and well-woman care.
 
Obstetrics and Gynecologic Surgery team highlights:
  • Led by Kiki Ogu, MD, maternal-fetal medicine physician at Northwestern Medicine
  • 41 prenatal visits conducted
  • Four vaginal deliveries and three C-sections performed, including the hospital’s first C-section twins
  • Educated patients on pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia
 
Gynecologic Surgery team highlights:
  • Led by Dr. Urbina
  • 38 gynecologic cases completed, including fibroid removals, hysterectomies, cyst removals and IUD retrievals
  • 110 gynecologic outpatient visits
  • Celebration of the first birthday of a local girl named Princess, named after Dr. Urbina during last year’s mission trip
  • Removal of a 2,600-gram fibroid from a patient who traveled eight hours to seek care
 
The Northwestern Medicine mission trip to Salcedo, Philippines, is a testament to the transformative power of medical outreach and global health initiatives. With a commitment to addressing pressing healthcare needs and building sustainable solutions, the teams have left an lasting mark on the lives of those they served, reaffirming the importance of global collaboration in advancing health care around the world.​

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