Peachtree Orthopedics Foundation

A DUAL MISSION: PROGRESS + HEALING / DOMESTIC + INTERNATIONALLY

The Peachtree Orthopedics Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2006. It is dedicated to a dual mission of expanding diversity in the field of orthopedic medicine in the US, as well as providing free orthopedic services to the impoverished nations overseas – currently Honduras and Haiti..

Healing Communities in Need

We will continue our nearly 70-year tradition of providing orthopedic services to the impoverished nation overseas by:

Performing free surgeries in collaboration with One World Surgery in Honduras and the Dominican Republic, as well as the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti
Donating money and critical medical supplies to those facilities and others in need
Sending medical teams comprised of medical professionals from PO and others throughout the greater Atlanta community biannually
Exposing and educating American medical students to the plight of the Latin American and The Caribbean

Progress Through Diversity

We will improve orthopedic care by providing access to a more diverse base of medical students through the fellowship program of our Practice, by:

Partnering with Morehouse School of Medicine to be their orthopedic resource
Becoming their 3rd year orthopedic rotation
Using our awarded AAOS IDEA Grant to support Morehouse students 4th year rotations
Expanding Morehouse student’s chances of orthopedic residency
Expand this and other programs to increase the number of underrepresented minorities and women in the field of orthopedics

HEALING FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

A Legacy of International Aid and Assistance

For nearly 70 years, the physicians of Peachtree Orthopedics have volunteered their surgical services to patients at the independently run Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti (HAS). More recently, we have expanded these efforts into Honduras in partnership with One World Surgery, and will soon participate with them in the Dominican Republic as well. With a continually increasing demand for orthopedic procedures, particularly trauma surgery, our surgical team makes annual mission trips, working tirelessly to ensure that patients in need of surgery receive these life-saving services.

Over the past six decades, these Latin American and Caribbean countries have weathered public health crises, epidemics, natural disasters and political instability-setbacks that have repeatedly challenged the staff of the respective hospitals, resources and infrastructure. None of these facilities would be able to serve the patients who fight through innumerable challenges without their volunteers and ongoing support from generous donors.

PROGRESS THROUGH DIVERSITY - MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

In 2023 physicians at Peachtree Orthopedics became aware that the Morehouse School of Medicine does not have a Department of Orthopedics, a situation that makes it very difficult for their students to obtain orthopedic training or develop a meaningful relationship with orthopedic mentors. We have embraced one of the missions of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery to create a culture that encourages and values diversity.

African Americans constitute about 2% of orthopedic practitioners and women make up only about 7% with women residents now representing about 16%. Having a practice that reflects the demographics of the population has been shown to lead to more culturally competent care and we have therefore begun working with Morehouse in the hopes of increasing the number of underrepresented minorities and women in orthopedics.

1st and 2nd year students will have the opportunity to shadow our physicians and see orthopedics first-hand. This increased exposure to orthopedics will hopefully encourage more students to apply for the specialty.
Peachtree is now the official location for 3rd year clinical rotation in orthopedics. Students will work side by side with our physicians to learn the basics of orthopedics.
Peachtree Orthopedics was awarded an AAOS IDEA Grant to support 4th year students from Morehouse to travel to rotations at outside academic institutions for one-month clerkships. Participation in these clerkships improves the chances of students to be accepted at orthopedic residency programs.
We expect to grow this program over the years and are committed to our Academy’s mission of increasing the number of underrepresented minorities and women in orthopedics to enhance the competency of care in Atlanta and beyond.

HISTORY

In 1953, Dr. James Funk, the founder of Peachtree Orthopedics, made his first trip to Haiti to visit and assist Sister Joan Margaret – a nun who ran St. Vincent’s School for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince. During his visit, Dr. Funk was struck not only by the beauty of the country, but also by Haiti’s widespread poverty, harsh living conditions and desperate need for medical supplies and treatment.

Following his first trip, Dr. Funk returned to Haiti time and time again to provide medical treatment and perform surgery. He was soon joined in these medical missions by his two partners – Dr. Robert E. Wells and Dr. Joseph H. Dimon III. As Peachtree Orthopedics grew, the tradition continued, and many PO physicians, including Drs. Mike Bernot, Xavier Duralde, Carl Fackler, Anuj Gupta, Lee Kelley, Steve McCollam, Allen McDonald Jr., Allen McDonald III, Doug Murray, Herndon Murray, Scott Pennington, Ashok Reddy, Steve Smith and Obi Ugwonali have volunteered their time and medical skills to provide orthopedic care and treatment to impoverished Haitians and to patients at the Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti.

In 1983, Peachtree Orthopedics’ long-standing commitment to Haiti was recognized when the National Order of Honor and Merit – Haiti’s highest honor for civilian service and contributions – was awarded to Dr. Funk.

Today, humanitarian and medical needs in Haiti remain great. Peachtree Orthopedics’ involvement and assistance is as critical as it was over 65 years ago when Dr. Funk made his first trip. Haiti’s infant mortality rate is the highest in the world. Over half the country’s population suffers from malnutrition, and the average life expectancy is just 53 years.

The Peachtree Orthopedics Foundation, a non-profit organization, continues to help address these critical humanitarian needs by providing funds, supplies, medical care and training in Haiti.