Meet Dr. Elliott Brender, a valued customer of My Odyssey Tours, which is a proud agency client of TAS. Dr. Brender has been using his skills as a doctor to help people in need in Cambodia for nearly a decade. His story is a source of inspiration for all of us.
"I used My Odyssey Tours for my 6th mission to Cambodia. Overall things went extremely well. The drivers were on time, the guides were informative, provided exactly what I wanted. Stayed on time with an extremely busy schedule. I plan to lighten up a bit for the next trip. As you can see I am so satisfied they will plan my next mission of a significantly bigger size. I think this will be my 5th experience with this group. Obviously, I think they do a good job as I keep coming back."
--Dr. Brender posted on Facebook after the tour
Dr. Brender is a retired Clinical Professor of Surgery from America. His journey began in 2008 when he got a letter from the People to People Ambassador Program. They invited him to join a surgical mission to Cambodia and Vietnam to check the quality of surgical care and help improve medical conditions in both countries.
Dr. Brender Was in the Operation
Dr. Brender went on the mission and was shocked by what he saw in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
"Visiting the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields, and learning about the 1.7 million Cambodians killed by the Khmer Rouge reminded me of my own family's tragedy during World War II, I wanted to do something meaningful for the people of Cambodia." ---said Dr. Brender.
Since then, Dr. Brender has been on a mission in Cambodia. He's brought medical supplies to hospitals, done volunteer surgeries, and taught medical students and staff at universities
Dr. Brender Was Teaching Techniques to Medical Students and Staff
In November 2016, during his 6th mission, he brought a lot of medical equipment to hospitals in need. He visited hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. At Siem Reap Provincial Hospital, he was asked to help with a surgery. "I said yes because that's why I'm here: to help, teach, and do surgery," Dr. Brender explained.
During the surgery, they faced some challenges because the equipment was old and worn out. But Dr. Brender kept patient safety first and successfully completed the surgery.
It's hard to say how many people Dr. Brender has helped so far. Just in his 6th mission, he donated 42 pulse oximeters to 7 different medical groups. These devices are crucial for measuring blood oxygen levels during surgery and in critical care.
Dr. Brender Was Giving Donations to the Hospital
When asked if he ever thought about giving up, Dr. Brender said, "No. I do wonder what will happen as I get older. Will I ever be too old to do this? I'm now 70. 10 more years? Sure, why not."
Dr. Brender plans to continue supporting Cambodians by bringing surgeons, visiting hospitals, making donations, and teaching techniques. He's even planning to set up a program for surgical residents.
He also shared some exciting news:
"I've been doing presentations for the Rotary Club, and they're working on an $80,000 Global Grant for me. They're very positive about it for many reasons. There are international chairs at the Rotary Club looking for a project, so this is timely. Plus, we're not only helping the Cambodian people but also training American surgical residents."
As a responsible travel company, we are proud to participate in Dr. Brender's mission by providing donations for medical equipment. TAS is committed to supporting our guests who wish to make a difference during their travels.
