• A Quarter of a Million and Counting
• Your Continued Generosity Helps Children Like Emeli
• Hospital Infantil Welcomes New Hospital Director

In February the Hospital Infantil completed its 250,000th pediatric medical consultation. This important milestone will be accompanied by the celebration in May of the 15th anniversary of the hospital. The Hospital Infantil continues to be the only children's hospital in northwest Mexico and serves the children of the region from both sides of the border. The Hospital Infantil continues its mission “To Improve the Health and Nutrition for the Children of the Region” by treating all children regardless of their ability to pay for much needed medical services. In January the hospital subsidized the medical care of 282 patients and this was almost double the number subsidized in January 2008 and the need grows as the economy and loss of jobs in the region impacts a family's need to rely on assistance for medical treatment for their children.

Among other amazing accomplishments, the hospital to date has completed over 5,100 surgeries, offered over 155,000 hours of education and community outreach services and benefitted from volunteers donating 255,000 hours of volunteer service to the hospital.

In January 2009 alone, the hospital's volunteers donated 1003 hours of professional and administrative services which translated to about $14,000 dollrs.

This spirit of volunteerism is how the hospital keeps prices affordable for the family's of our most precious resource…our children.

Emeli is 4 years old. When she came to the Hospital Infantil she was suffering from hip dysplasia and required arthroscopic surgery to repair and reposition her hip joint. Although surgery at the Hospital Infantil was only $1500 dollrs (owed to a volunteer staff), her family was unable to afford the full cost of the surgery. The combined income of both parents was about $110 dllrs per week and the family resided with Emeli's maternal grandparents. When the Foundation for the Children received the request to assist with Emeli's medical costs, it did not take long for our friends to open their hearts and pocketbooks to make sure that Emeli received the medical attention she needed. Thank you to all who continue to change a child's life. If you would like more information on how you can help call us at 619-298-5437 or go to www.usfcc.org

Dr. Jose Antonio Loaiza Martinez has accepted the position as Hospital Director of the Hospital Infantil. Dr. Loaiza had been serving as the Medical Director of the hospital since 2004 but has been on staff at the hospital since 1995. Dr. Loaiza received his medical degree at the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California and did post graduate work in family and pediatric medicine with an emphasis on pediatric pulmonology and completed visiting rotations at UCSD and Boston General Hospital. Dr. Loaiza was also a visiting doctor in pulmonology at UCSD and a visiting doctor shadowing ENT surgeries at Rady's Children's Hospital. Dr. Loaiza is currently a member of the American College of Chest Physicians and the European Respiratory Society. Dr. Loaiza has published several papers on acute pediatric pneumonia and pediatric asthma.