The International Spine Foundation Inaugural Mission Trip is One of Giving, Teaching and Healing

23 Mar 2023 Uncategorized

Volunteers and the founders of the International Spine Foundation (ISF) traveled to the Dominican Republic early February bringing much needed supplies and their healing touch. ISF’s spinal deformity mission trip changes the lives of 17  patients as volunteers and generous donors dedicate their time not only provide surgical treatment for patients, but also to train local physicians in surgical procedures that can continue to serve the people of the Dominican Republic.

Giving Supplies Time and Talent

ISF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the sharing of spine surgery technology, expertise and care to patients and to teaching spinal deformity surgery in developing countries. Local physicians work alongside establish deformity corrective surgeons such as Dr. Joseph and other volunteer doctors perform live-saving surgeries, while promoting the advancement of spine deformity treatment technology by training local surgeons.

Teaching Future Doctors

ISF’s mission trip was designed to provide medical care and health education to the community where resources and services are limited or difficult to access. The doctors and residents at the hospital shadow the surgeons and medical volunteers from ISF in order to have a hands on learning experience in which they can continue to give their patients new techniques and modalities of healing. The goal is to teach the local doctors learn to treat patients in their countries and to help alleviate the pain and suffering of these children and adults. The Foundation performed corrective spinal surgeries on some of the most difficult cases in the Dominican Republic.

Our Volunteers

Thirty volunteers traveled to the Dominican Republic and spent an entire week performing surgeries and training the staff. The International Spine Foundation community of volunteers is vibrant and tireless group of volunteers that go the extra mile to create enriching experiences for children and young adults suffering from severe spinal deformities.

Our volunteers are the backbone and soul of the International Spine Foundation. These exceptional individuals enable us to provide programs and services that would not be possible without them. Our volunteers donate their time, abilities and passion to travel around the world to help create miracles in the lives of those who ordinarily would not have the opportunity to have these medical procedures done. Not only do they help provide surgical treatment for patients, but they also share their expertise and knowledge to train local physicians in surgical procedures that can continue to serve the people of their local area.

About Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr.

Dr. Joseph is the founder of the International Spine Foundation and the Joseph Spine Institute. He is dedicated to pioneering minimally invasive, outpatient surgical procedures. Dr. Joseph is at the forefront of endoscopic spine surgery and a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dr. Joseph’s practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders.

Dr. Joseph has used his training and experience to become a nationwide leader on revision surgery for patients who have experienced failed surgery in the past. These patients have traveled to see Dr. Joseph not only from the Tampa Bay area but from all over the state and the nation.

Dr. Joseph has published numerous articles in neurosurgical and orthopedic spine journals. His research on scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal surgery in the elderly has been presented at many international meetings including the International Meeting for Advanced Spinal Techniques.

With the founding of this non-profit, he and his family hope to create lasting change for those affected by spinal issues.

About the International Spine Foundation

The International Spine Institute is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3)) bringing deformity focused spine surgeons and comprehensive teams to developing countries to teach local spine surgeons through work-shops, and surgery on local children and young adults in desperate need of advanced spine care. The goal is to teach the local doctors learn to treat patients in their countries and to help alleviate the pain and suffering of these children and adults.

Local physicians work alongside establish deformity corrective surgeons such as Dr. Joseph as they perform live-saving surgeries, while promoting the advancement of spine deformity treatment technology by training local surgeons.

The foundation partners with leaders in the spine industry, providing the skills and bringing the necessary equipment and supplies to these countries.

International Spine Foundation (ISF) Embarks on the Inaugural Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic 2023

7 Feb 2023 Spine Foundation, Uncategorized

The International Spine Foundation, founded by Dr. Samuel Joseph, Jr. of Joseph Spine Institute has embarked on its inaugural journey to the Dominican Republic. young patients as volunteers and generous donors dedicate their time not only provide surgical treatment for patients but also to train local physicians in surgical procedures that can continue to serve the people of the Dominican Republic.

The goal is to teach the local doctors learn to treat patients in their countries and to help alleviate the pain and suffering of these children and adults. The Foundation will be performing corrective spinal surgeries on some of the most difficult cases in these developing countries, often to children and young adults that would otherwise live a handicapped existence.

The International Spine Foundation community of volunteers is vibrant and tireless group of volunteers that go the extra mile to create enriching experiences for children and young adults suffering from severe spinal deformities.

VOLUNTEERS IN ACTION

A HISTORY OF SERVING

International Spine Foundation (ISF) is excited to announce our 1st Annual Casino Night

5 Aug 2022 Mission Trip

The International Spine Foundation (ISF) is excited to announce our 1st Annual Casino Night Fundraiser, which will be held at the Floridan Palace Hotel, 905 N Florida Ave, Tampa. This festive event, scheduled for Saturday, September 24th, will feature casino style gambling, delicious cuisine, cocktails and an opportunity to mingle with fellow supporters.  Space is limited so please purchase your tickets now.

PURCHASE TICKETS

All proceeds from the evening will go towards helping ISF meet our fundraising goals as we continue bringing deformity focused spine surgeons and comprehensive teams to developing countries to teach local spine surgeons through work-shops, and surgery on local children and young adults in desperate need of advanced spine care. The goal is to teach the local doctors learn to treat patients in their countries and to help alleviate the pain and suffering of these children and adults.

In conjunction with our fundraising efforts for the evening, ISF is offering several levels of sponsorship. We hope you will consider signing on as one of our generous benefactors this year.

For more information regarding sponsorships please contact Liz Joseph at ejoseph@josephspine.com or donate on our website at InternationalSpineFoundation.com.

The International Spine Foundation, founded by Drs. Samuel and Elizabeth Joseph, Dr. Uhuru Smith and Nancy Parra is a non-profit 501(c)(3) bringing deformity focused spine surgeons and comprehensive teams to developing countries. This event will benefit the foundation, specifically their trip to the Dominican Republic in February 2023. If you are unable to attend, but would still like to support ISF, please visit us at 

About the International Spine Foundation

The International Spine Foundation (ISF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) that believes in an integrated, holistic approach to improved spine health: ISF is dedicated to the sharing of spine surgery technology, expertise and care to patients and to teaching spinal deformity surgery in developing countries. Our mission is to improve the quality of life to children and young adults through surgical interventions and related activities that strengthen underserved communities in developing countries.

Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, Jr. Announces the Founding of the International Spine Foundation

9 Jun 2022 Dr. Samuel Joseph, Dr. Uhuru Smith, Mission Trip, Spine Foundation, Tampa Bay

Philanthropic Spine Care

The International Spine Foundation is a non-profit that endeavors to bring the healing power of technologically advanced spinal treatments and procedures to people of all walks of life. Through Dr. Samuel Joseph’s expertise, charity, and passion, lives have been indelibly altered and changed.

For that reason, Dr. Samuel A. Joseph, founder of Joseph Spine Institute is proudly announcing the opening of the International Spine Foundation. This opening comes at a time when the Joseph Spine Institute is celebrating over five years in business, establishing itself as the premier spinal surgery institution in the Tampa Bay area.

What means so much more than the innovative spine treatments, the pioneering surgeries, and representing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, is the charitable and philanthropic work that Dr. Joseph has undertaken.

“It felt amazing to have a direct effect on a child’s life and not only improve their appearance but improve their quality of life and life expectancy,” Dr. Joseph told reporters in 2019 when Dr. Samuel Joseph along with a dedicated team of volunteers traveled to the Dominican Republic to save the lives of children and young adults with severe spinal deformities.

“Thinking about how many people this child will then affect in their life makes you really take a step back and be humbled by what we as a team are so fortunate and blessed to be able to do.” The volunteers had a grueling schedule which included 4 to 5 surgeries daily for the week, along with patient screenings and lectures to orthopedic residents. This was one trip of many, a trip that inspired Dr. Joseph to find new ways to help the underserved.

Make A Wish Foundation

Dr. Joseph and his family are active members of the Tampa Bay community. They have taken a special interest in the Make a Wish Foundation and its goal of granting wishes and making life better for kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

Dr. Joseph, along with his fellow co-founders, Elizabeth Joseph and Dr. Uhuru Smith, hope to broaden his impact locally, nationally and internationally, helping people of all backgrounds get access to lifesaving spinal surgeries.

About Dr. Samuel Joseph
Dr. Joseph is the founder of the International Spine Foundation and the Joseph Spine Institute. He is dedicated to pioneering minimally invasive, outpatient surgical procedures. Dr. Joseph is at the forefront of endoscopic spine surgery and a team physician for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Dr. Joseph’s practice includes the specialized, conservative, and surgical care of patients. Treatment includes therapeutic injections, disc replacement surgery, minimally invasive techniques, and complex reconstruction of adult and pediatric spinal disorders.

Dr. Joseph has used his training and experience to become a nationwide leader on revision surgery for patients who have experienced failed surgery in the past. These patients have traveled to see Dr. Joseph not only from the Tampa Bay area but from all over the state and the nation.

Dr. Joseph has published numerous articles in neurosurgical and orthopedic spine journals. His research on scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, and spinal surgery in the elderly has been presented at many international meetings including the International Meeting for Advanced Spinal Techniques.

With the founding of this non-profit, he and his family hope to create lasting change for those affected by spinal issues.

About Dr. Uhuru Smith
Dr. Smith is a board-certified Anesthesiologist and is one of four founding partners of Intrepid Anesthesia which she launched in 2021. Intrepid Anesthesia not only focuses on providing anesthesia services for both inpatient and outpatient surgical environments, but also provides management, consultation and billing services for both inpatient and outpatient facilities. Further, Dr. Smith concurrently serves at the Chief of Anesthesiology and Chief Medical Officer at Riverwalk Ambulatory Surgery Center. Prior to the inception of Intrepid Anesthesia Dr. Smith served as the Chief of Anesthesiology at The Advanced Surgery of Center for 7 years while building a comprehensive outpatient orthopedics, total joint and spine program. During this time, she expanded services in acute pain for complex outpatient spine, orthopedic surgery and pain procedures in chronically ill patients.

Dr. Smith nurtured her love of complementary medicine and entrepreneurship by opening the first and most successful IV wellness clinic in Tampa, RENEW IV Wellness. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, Dr. Smith sold RENEW but continued to practice anesthesiology and critical care throughout her treatment.

After beating breast cancer and returning to full time practice, Dr. Smith has furthered her practice by improving surgical outcomes in complex outpatient surgery by utilizing innovative and complimentary approaches in order to provide treatment for both acute and surgical pain.

Dr. Smith has strong personal interests in research, education, regenerative, and complimentary medicine as adjunct to allopathic medicine. Dr. Smith aspires to use these interests to further improve the way we approach pain, orthopedic spine, and outpatient surgery.

Search

+