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St. Luke’s providers William Burfeind, MD, St. Luke's thoracic surgeon and Chairman of Surgery, and Julia Burfeind, PA-C, recently returned from a transformative medical mission trip to Boneza, Rwanda. The pair joined a team of 14 volunteers through Arise Rwanda, traveling over 7,000 miles to provide essential medical services to one of the most underserved regions in the world.

Over the course of five days, the team treated more than 2,500 patients, many of whom had never seen a physician in their lifetime. The group distributed over 3,000 toothbrushes, 1,000 sets of reading glasses, and 50 walking canes, along with vital medications for hypertension and pain relief. Every patient received a complete physical, with additional services as needed, including primary care, pediatric and gynecological care, dental hygiene and optometry.

Julia Burfeind, who has proudly served St. Luke’s for 15 years in community health, described the experience as “life-changing,” emphasizing that “you don’t have to be a medical provider to help people on a mission trip. You just need a sense of adventure and purpose.”

One particularly moving moment came when Julia provided an elderly Rwandan woman with her first ever pair of reading glasses. The woman’s face lit up with joy as she realized she could once again read her Bible and clearly see her sewing, neither of which she had been able to do for nearly 20 years.

Despite his expertise in thoracic surgery, Dr. Burfeind focused on primary care during the trip due to the community’s basic medical needs and limited surgical resources. “This trip reminded me of the importance of foundational care,” he said. “Sometimes the most impactful thing you can do is simply listen, diagnose and offer relief.”

The mission team was welcomed warmly by the people of Boneza, who often walked miles from smaller villages or slept in the streets overnight to ensure they could be seen. The local hospital, which is designed to serve a population of over two million people, lacks the resources to meet the community’s needs, and the next visiting medical team isn’t expected for another three months.

The Burfeinds, who are married, were inspired to join the mission after receiving a Christmas card from longtime colleague Dr. Joanne Fruth, who said she was thinking of embarking on a mission trip and asked if they would have any interest in participating. After nine months of planning, Zoom meetings and gathering supplies, they departed on a flight to Kigali, Rwanda, then made the arduous four-hour journey to Boneza, navigating rocky terrain to reach the lakeside village near the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This mission trip is a testament to the values that guide St. Luke’s: compassion, service, and a commitment to improving health care for those who need it. Julia and the team are already in the beginning stages of planning a follow-up trip next year, continuing their dedication to making a difference wherever the need is greatest.

As Julia shared, “I hope this trip inspires people to find ways to make our world better. Whether it’s big or little, near or far, you can make a difference.”