In October, our leadership team, Dr John Kumar, Lisa Fujimoto-Yamaguchi, PA-C, Trish Lindsey, RN, and Eleanor Barrientos, RN, returned to the Philippines for a pre-trip visit in preparation for our 2026 mission. Building on the success of our first mission to General Santos City in 2024, this visit reflected our ongoing commitment to partnership, perseverance, and the legacy of Dr. Lawrence Dorr.
Pre-trip visits are critical to mission preparation, allowing us to secure required invitation and clearance letters from the Department of Health (DOH), the Local Government Unit (LGU), and our host hospital, St Elizabeth Hospital (SEHI), before medical missions can take place.
The vision to bring Operation Walk Los Angeles to General Santos City began several years ago and led to a partnership with former Senator Manny Pacquiao, whose dedication to humanitarian service aligns closely with our mission. That shared vision became a reality in 2024.
Our first mission was built entirely from the ground up and would not have been possible without the extraordinary leadership of Tony Veneracion, CEO of SEHI and his dedicated staff. Sir Tony and the SEHI team truly put their hearts into this mission. Their passion, professionalism, and hospitality set the foundation for a mission that exceeded all expectations.
During the pre-trip visit, we met with SEHI leadership, surgeons, nurses, and administrators to review operating rooms, sterilization processes, and patient flow. With SEHI’s recent operating room renovations, it was important to assess this firsthand. We also met with DOH and LGU representatives, who expressed strong support for our return.
One of the most meaningful moments was reconnecting with eight post-operative patients from the 2024 mission. Seeing them walking pain-free and learning that several will return for their second-side joint replacement reinforced the lasting impact of this work and the importance of continuity of care.
We were also honored to meet again with Manny Pacquiao to discuss our shared goal of delivering another successful mission for the people of the Philippines. His continued support remains an important part of this mission.
This pre-trip visit provided clarity and momentum as we move into the next phase of planning. We are deeply committed to delivering another successful mission in partnership with Manny Pacquiao, Sir Tony Veneracion, the exceptional SEHI team, DOH, LGU, and our Operation Walk Los Angeles team, who make this work possible.
Lisa Fujimoto Yamaguchi PA-C
Team Leader Philippines 2026
Team reconnecting with 2024 Philippines patients