Surgeon Operates on Iran Underprivileged
Dr. Allen Sossan, a reconstructive spinal and orthopedic surgeon, usually splits his medical time between Yankton and Norfolk, Neb.
However, for the last few years he has had a bit longer commute — to Tehran, Iran. He travels there to donate two weeks a year to underprivileged people who, without his knowledge, would live the rest of their lives in pain and in a wheelchair.
"I felt I needed to do charity work, so I went back to Iran and did several charity cases dealing with scoliosis and other back issues," Sossan said. "They invited me to come back and work again on several other spine cases. So I have been going back about once a year for a few years."
By going back, Sossan is referencing the fact that for him Iran is home. His parents, grandparents and extended family still live in Tehran. His journey from Tehran to Yankton and back is very interesting.
He moved to the United States in 1974 to attend high school. He always knew he had a passion to help his fellow man, yet it took a small shove in the effort to impress a college sweetheart's father to get him to look at medicine as a potential occupation.
"I had two parents who loved me and cared for me, and for whom I could do no wrong," Sossan said. "When you have that kind of upbringing, the world is your oyster. There is nothing holding you back.
"Once I decided that I did want to look at medicine, orthopedics seemed like a natural fit because I played football and was interested in how some of those injuries would and could be treated."
When Sossan returns to Iran to do charity cases, he is usually there for a two-week window. During that time he sees 12-14 patients, does their complex surgeries and is there for the first all-important phase of healing.
"Two weeks is the most I can be away from home," he said. "Therefore, they try to book most of my cases at the front end so I can do their follow-up treatments. They don't give me the easy ones; they give me the ones that no one else wants to do."
By taking on the tougher patients, Sossan knows that he is playing a dual, if not triple role. He gets to be surgeon, teacher and lifesaver for his patients.
"I love helping the underprovided people who if it wasn't for me would never be able to walk and be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives for something as simple as a pinched nerve," Sossan said. "I think to myself: Here is someone who would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of their life.' Is it worth it to me to volunteer two hours of my time? Yeah, I think so. That is what makes me happy."
While he is doing his two-week rotation in Iran he is also teaching the residents and attending physicians everything he can so that they will be able to help more patients when he is not there. Tehran, a city of more than 9 million people, only has about four qualified spine surgeons, so there is a great need for training. However, Sossan was quick to point out that just because there is a need does not mean that there is not skill.
"Facilities are not bad in Iran," he said. "I think there is a bit of a miscommunication; it is an advanced culture, it is not behind. All they are missing is a well-trained surgeon who can do the procedures with a high success rate. There is a lot of scoliosis and adult degenerative disease. They have the technology, but they don't have the know-how, and without the know-how, having the highest level of equipment will do you no good."
Sossan noted that while he will never move back to Tehran, he has made the decision to return more often.
"I will go back every few months," he said. "I think it is a great way to give back to my old country. I tell my guys the only gratification I get now is seeing the light in a child's eyes when he realizes that he can walk again. No amount of money could replace that. That is what we are here for, to help each other."
Because Sossan has agreed to return on a more regular basis, the chiefs of spine and orthopedics of Iran have agreed to set up a more permanent nursing crew for him that will allow him to train them and have a better continuum of care for his patients.
"If I can teach a resident or fellow while I am there, it is only helping them in the long run," he said. "Good spine surgeons are hard to come by. I would like to be able to teach to other people that want to hear it. The only thing that satisfies me is doing this. When you have everything in the world you want, you have to go back to the basics and help your fellow man.
"It is the most gratifying experience I have had as a surgeon, because helping people is what matters. Obviously, there is politics between the two countries, but people are people no matter what, and if you can help them in a small way, I feel that is our purpose in life: To help each other."
However, for the last few years he has had a bit longer commute — to Tehran, Iran. He travels there to donate two weeks a year to underprivileged people who, without his knowledge, would live the rest of their lives in pain and in a wheelchair.
"I felt I needed to do charity work, so I went back to Iran and did several charity cases dealing with scoliosis and other back issues," Sossan said. "They invited me to come back and work again on several other spine cases. So I have been going back about once a year for a few years."
By going back, Sossan is referencing the fact that for him Iran is home. His parents, grandparents and extended family still live in Tehran. His journey from Tehran to Yankton and back is very interesting.
He moved to the United States in 1974 to attend high school. He always knew he had a passion to help his fellow man, yet it took a small shove in the effort to impress a college sweetheart's father to get him to look at medicine as a potential occupation.
"I had two parents who loved me and cared for me, and for whom I could do no wrong," Sossan said. "When you have that kind of upbringing, the world is your oyster. There is nothing holding you back.
"Once I decided that I did want to look at medicine, orthopedics seemed like a natural fit because I played football and was interested in how some of those injuries would and could be treated."
When Sossan returns to Iran to do charity cases, he is usually there for a two-week window. During that time he sees 12-14 patients, does their complex surgeries and is there for the first all-important phase of healing.
"Two weeks is the most I can be away from home," he said. "Therefore, they try to book most of my cases at the front end so I can do their follow-up treatments. They don't give me the easy ones; they give me the ones that no one else wants to do."
By taking on the tougher patients, Sossan knows that he is playing a dual, if not triple role. He gets to be surgeon, teacher and lifesaver for his patients.
"I love helping the underprovided people who if it wasn't for me would never be able to walk and be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of their lives for something as simple as a pinched nerve," Sossan said. "I think to myself: Here is someone who would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of their life.' Is it worth it to me to volunteer two hours of my time? Yeah, I think so. That is what makes me happy."
While he is doing his two-week rotation in Iran he is also teaching the residents and attending physicians everything he can so that they will be able to help more patients when he is not there. Tehran, a city of more than 9 million people, only has about four qualified spine surgeons, so there is a great need for training. However, Sossan was quick to point out that just because there is a need does not mean that there is not skill.
"Facilities are not bad in Iran," he said. "I think there is a bit of a miscommunication; it is an advanced culture, it is not behind. All they are missing is a well-trained surgeon who can do the procedures with a high success rate. There is a lot of scoliosis and adult degenerative disease. They have the technology, but they don't have the know-how, and without the know-how, having the highest level of equipment will do you no good."
Sossan noted that while he will never move back to Tehran, he has made the decision to return more often.
"I will go back every few months," he said. "I think it is a great way to give back to my old country. I tell my guys the only gratification I get now is seeing the light in a child's eyes when he realizes that he can walk again. No amount of money could replace that. That is what we are here for, to help each other."
Because Sossan has agreed to return on a more regular basis, the chiefs of spine and orthopedics of Iran have agreed to set up a more permanent nursing crew for him that will allow him to train them and have a better continuum of care for his patients.
"If I can teach a resident or fellow while I am there, it is only helping them in the long run," he said. "Good spine surgeons are hard to come by. I would like to be able to teach to other people that want to hear it. The only thing that satisfies me is doing this. When you have everything in the world you want, you have to go back to the basics and help your fellow man.
"It is the most gratifying experience I have had as a surgeon, because helping people is what matters. Obviously, there is politics between the two countries, but people are people no matter what, and if you can help them in a small way, I feel that is our purpose in life: To help each other."