Since 1996, HHMM has hosted 55 medical missions in Mexico, 43 in El Salvador, 29 in Guatemala, 13 in the Philippines, 10 in Brazil, 8 in Ghana (West Africa), 3 in Venezuela, 1 in the Dominican Republic, 1 in Costa Rica, 1 in Uganda and served more than 257,600 patients.
Each mission is 9-12 days long. 8-10 missions are scheduled yearly. Each mission group is comprised of approximately 15-60 participants, who volunteer their time, service, and medical supplies. Included in this group is the mission chaplain, who accompanies the team as spiritual support. The mission site varies depending on the needs of certain communities and requests for help by local authorities and local clergy. The sites are visited yearly.
HELPING HANDS medical missionaries are Catholic doctors, nurses, and volunteers who come from all areas of the United States, Germany, Australia, and Canada to join the host team of doctors. Participants pay their own round-trip airfare, mission fee (food, housing, ground transportation, etc.) and bring supplies and medicines. Missionaries work in small clinics, hospitals, schools and churches located in rural towns where they provide free medical care for thousands of patients in need of medical attention. Services include surgeries, eye care, consultations, and distributions of medications, follow-up of surgical patients house calls and Natural Family Planning instruction. The participants also take part in the mission’s spiritual program. Aspects of the mission includes daily prayer, Mass, meditation, and sharing the faith with the people of the town through home visits.
Equipment, supplies and medications are collected year-round from various companies, hospitals and individuals in the United States. HHMM is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible as permitted by law. Your participations could be time spent on a mission, spreading the word among your medical community, or a monetary donation.
If you would like to participate in HELPING HANDS Medical Missions, we are always in need of physicians, nurses and volunteers for this work that Christ has called us to do.
Advisory Board
Dr. Brezinsky, his wife Christine, and their five children reside in Montrose, CO where he practices Internal Medicine in a group practice. He attended Northwestern University for undergraduate studies, Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine for medical school, and then completed his residency training at the University of Minnesota Hospitals and Clinics. He has been attending medical missions with Helping Hands since 2001, having served as the Mission Director on multiple missions. His faith has been strengthened tremendously through the medical missions. The missions have served as a transforming experience for him in his Catholic faith, deepening his relationship with Christ and allowing him to attend to the poorest of the poor.
Knabel, Mark R, MD
Specialty: Dermatology
Dr. Knabel completed his medical degree and residency in dermatology at the University of Iowa. As part of his training, he received a scholarship to study skin surgery in Munich, Germany. He is board certified in dermatology and dermatologic surgery and is active in teaching family medicine residents at Aurora St. Luke's about procedural dermatology.
Dr. Knabel's mission is to provide the highest patient satisfaction by treating patients in a kind, caring and precise manner.
Mark Knabel, MD, dermatologist at the Aurora Sheboygan Clinic, is pleased to again see patients in Plymouth.
More information coming soon...