About Us
Operation Walk Utah
The Gift of Mobility
When Dr. Aaron Hofmann started the Utah chapter of Operation Walk in 2007, he imagined doing free surgeries in third-world countries with a team of volunteers. That hope became a reality when in just three days in May, Dr. Hofmann performed 44 joint surgeries on disadvantaged patients in San Salvador, El Salvador. He was assisted by 42 volunteer surgeons, nurses and scrub technicians from the United States.
“It was a fantastic trip that allowed us to meet the two goals of Operation Walk-Utah – provide free joint replacement surgeries for those who need them and teach local medical staff, residents, medical students and other faculty in San Salvador how to perform them,” Dr. Hofmann said.
Altogether there have been 5 successful trips to El Salvador, since 2007. Watch Dr. Hofmann as he sits down to share his experiences from the Fall 2011 trip with KSL Channel 5 — the NBC affiliate in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Operation Walk is a private, not-for-profit, volunteer medical service organization that provides free joint replacement surgeries for patients with disabling arthritis in developing countries and in the United States. Operation Walk also educates in-country orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists and other health care professionals about advanced treatments and surgical techniques for diseases of the hip and knee joints.
Individually, Dr. Hofmann and his medical volunteers pay more than $200,000 in cash out of pocket expense and time for each trip overseas.
All supplies–from the joint implants, sterilization and radiology equipment, antibiotics, drugs and dressings–are donated, and Operation Walk professionals offer their services and skills. However, this alone has not been enough to meet the demand.
Operation Walk Utah needs your help to extend this life-improving procedure to more recipients.
Find out how you can help. DONATE TODAY.
Every dollar that Operation Walk Utah spends is invested in providing supplies to recipients in need. Operation Walk is a private entity and not affiliated with any government agency; it relies on donations of time, and money to do its work. Operation Walk has 11 chapters in the United States, including Salt Lake City.