Dr. Dela Cruz honors deceased physicians and raises money for medical mission trip
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MARTINS FERRY -- The Belmont Medical Society hosted its annual Christmas party and fundraiser last week, honoring local physicians who recently passed away.
Dr. Renato Dela Cruz helped organize the event. He honored former Belmont Medical Society members who recently died and invited the spouses and family members of the deceased doctors.
Some of the doctors honored included cardiologist Dr. Joseph Gabis; Dr. Nepomuceno Dario, internal medicine; family medicine Dr. Gabriel Sella; cardiologist Dr. William Noble; family medicine Dr. Devakir Banger; family medicine Dr. Pat Arakawa; and cardiologist Dr. Christopher Eskins.
Dela Cruz said this was his first time hosting an event like this.
"It turned out to be nice," he said.
In addition to local doctors and physicians, Dela Cruz said he also invited the Belmont County commissioners and local mayors.
Dela Cruz said the Belmont Medical Society presents a $500 scholarship to a college student looking to enter the medical field each year at the event. This year's scholarship went to Amanda McGuire, who currently works at the front desk at Dela Cruz's office in Martins Ferry. She attends Belmont College.
At the party, items were auctioned off to raise money to support Dela Cruz's mission trips. Dela Cruz led his seventh mission trip in July to the Philippines.
Dela Cruz said he raised about $3,000 from the auction. He noted that the week-long trips can cost $50,000 to $70,000.
Dela Cruz said that over 100 missionaries join him on each trip. In previous years, he said the plane tickets alone cost upwards of $20,000 for the 100 medical professionals to fly to the Philippines. Dela Cruz uses a lot of his own funds to assist with the costs of the missions, along with volunteering his time and resources.
Dela Cruz's trips are also partly organized and funded through Medical Mission Inc. of the University of Santo Tomas, where Dela Cruz graduated in 1976. Medical Mission Inc. holds two major medical missions every year. The mission's purpose is to help provide a wide range of medical care for those in need.
During July's mission trip to the Philippines, Dela Cruz said that 135 doctors and specialists transformed an elementary school into a hospital and surgery center.
According to Dela Cruz, the medical professionals performed 116 major surgeries, 245 minor surgeries, 510 circumcisions, 207 cataract surgeries, 170 dental procedures, 70 acupuncture sessions, 995 outpatient consultations and handled 64 stroke rehabilitation cases.
Dela Cruz said many of the patients they treated had thyroid conditions.
Dela Cruz said that many of the people the mission serves cannot afford to get needed surgery or medical care on their own.
Along with their work in the makeshift hospital, Dela Cruz also said the missionaries provide medical care for an indigenous tribe known as the Tiboli who live in the mountains.
He said he hopes he can return to the Philippines in the next year or two for his next mission trip.
Dela Cruz said he always feels welcomed in the Philippines. He said that the Council of State of the Philippines provides the missionaries with food during the trip, including freshly caught fish and tropical fruits such as durians. He said the residents also provide entertainment and host parties for the missionaries.
Dela Cruz specializes in internal medicine and has been in practice for over 40 years. He has two practices in Belmont County, one in Martins Ferry and the other in St. Clairsville.
His first mission trip to the Philippines was in 2006.
"I want to thank all the people who contributed to the mission," he said.
Dela Cruz also said he would like to thank all of the missionaries who have joined him on the trips.
Anyone who would like to donate to the medical mission can contact Dela Cruz at his St. Clairsville office at 740-296-5702 or his Martins Ferry office at 740-633-6332.