You cannot say "No" to these pleading young lives when you have the power and opportunity to help.
MACLA is a 501 (C) 3 not-for-profit corporation that was developed in 1985. To date, the teams have surgically treated 4,000 patients, have consulted over 10,000 and have provided medical care to tens of thousands more.
Dedicated medical volunteers have returned to the Dominican Republic for over 2 decades and to Bolivia for over 5 years. The Peace Corps volunteers in the Dominican Republic serve as liaisons and interpreters and help to make the surgical mission trips function more smoothly. To date, Kansas City based MACLA has taken over 210 physicians, nurse anesthetists and nurses to work with the teams. These volunteers have come from more than 15 different states with hospitals, businesses, foundations and individuals providing other needed services.
In February of each year for the last 26 years, Dr. Longo travels to the Dominican Republic to join MACLA on the surgical mission trips.