About Us
The Silver Service Children’s Foundation was established in 1992, and operates under the direction of Dr. Peter Smith. Based in Chicago, we are an all-volunteer registered 501© (3) non-profit organization (Illinois # 36-3960644) that provides pediatric orthopedic surgical care twice each year to the underserved children of Colombia and other countries in South America at no cost to the family. As of 2020, we have completed 53 medical missions to date!
Our Board of Directors is comprised of three pediatric orthopedic surgeons, three perioperative registered nurses, and one non-profit expert.
Our group comes from all over the United States and is comprised of board-certified pediatric orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, and pediatricians; registered nurses, anesthesia and orthopedic fellows and residents, surgical technologists, and instrument specialists. These team members volunteer their time and pay their own way for each mission trip.
Our Goal
The goal of the Silver Service Children’s Foundation is to coordinate and provide the highest quality standard of orthopedic care to each child. This care comes at no cost to the patient or family. Continuity of care for the children is provided between our trips. This care continues into their adulthood as needed.
What We Do
Twice each year, our group travels to the Fundacion Hospital San Jose de Buga in Buga, Colombia.
The Clinics: Children are seen in our clinic five days each trip to assess their orthopedic conditions. We see new patients, follow up with previously seen patients, provide treatment, and plan surgical care.
The Surgical Procedures: We bring all the medications, surgical and anesthesia supplies needed to perform sugeries at the highest level of care. We run two operating rooms and perform approximately 40-45 procedures each trip.
In between trips, our patients are cared for by the orthopedic surgeons affiliated with Casa de Colombia. All necessary supplies are provided.
Our Partnerships
Our much-needed work is made possible through a wonderful partnership with our friends and colleagues at Casa de Colombia and The Foundation Hospital San Jose in Buga, Colombia. Casa de Colombia helps coordinate the care of the children before and after our mission trips.