Cambodian Health Professionals Association of America (CHPAA) is a non-profit, impartial, neutral and independent organization that is exclusively humanitarian, working to promote health and social well-being through ongoing service and education to medically underserved Cambodians living in both the United States and Cambodia.
Here in the US, CHPAA participates in local health events, and awards generous scholarships to students who aspire to pursue a career in health field.
The organization was founded in 2001 by a core of physicians, dentists, and allied health professionals. By 2010, the organization had increased in size, and was able to launch its first mission to Cambodia. The success of this mission drew strong interest from more health professionals in many specialties from across America, year after year.
CHPAA has now completed 9 overseas MISSION, having treated over 54,207 patients free of charge, and given out toothbrushes, reading glasses, prosthetic hands. Funding comes from generous donors in America and Cambodia, and from mission volunteers who pay their own travel expenses.
CHPAA owes its success to all the hard-working volunteers and generous supporters. Everyone who is involved in any capacity plays an important part in CHPAA’s core vision of “Promoting health through service and education.”
From Dr Werts’s journal from the trip:
“A very full 1st day, always a bit chaotic as the logistics work the bugs out. These are the most patient and appreciative people in the world. They spent the entire day moving from 1 waiting area to another as they wound their way through the different departments.
I’ve seen bad teeth before but these win the prize. 28 teeth out on 1 patient all at once!!!! A student started, I stepped in, and the team leader bailed us both out. This is an entirely different approach to treatment – slow, careful, preserving does not apply here. We have to work with what we have which leaves much to be desired, we have to get the job done – there’s no 2nd chance, a lot like the surgeries on MASH.
All in all, a great day, and everyone was talking about the sense of satisfaction at dinner.”
For more images from the trip, visit this link.