A Year of Healing, Hope, and Lasting Impact
2026 Year-End Letter | Freed & Kwon Humanitarian Medical Fund
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As 2026 draws to a close, we reflect with gratitude on an extraordinary year of service, compassion, and meaningful progress. None of this would have been possible without your generosity and continued support of the Freed & Kwon Humanitarian Medical Fund.
This year, our medical missions took us to Zambia, Ghana, and Honduras, where we had the privilege of providing life-changing surgical care to underserved women while working alongside dedicated local healthcare professionals.
Many of the women we treated had suffered for years from debilitating conditions, including obstetric fistulas, pelvic organ prolapse, and urinary incontinence. For some, these conditions meant chronic discomfort, social isolation, and the loss of independence. Access to specialized surgical treatment was often limited or nonexistent.
Through surgery, we were able to offer these women more than relief from physical suffering. We helped restore their dignity, confidence, and hope for a better future.
Your Impact in 2026
Together, we achieved remarkable results:
212 | Patients treated |
103 | Surgeries performed |
10 | Local physicians trained |
3 | Countries served |
Behind every number is a person whose life has been touched by your generosity. These accomplishments reflect not only the care provided during our missions but also our commitment to building sustainable surgical expertise in underserved communities.
Highlights of Our 2026 Missions
Zambia — Bringing Specialized Surgical Care Where It Is Needed Most
Our month-long mission to Zambia took us to Mwandi Mission Hospital in the rural Western Province and to Lusaka, the nation's capital.
In Mwandi, we worked alongside dedicated general practitioners who provide essential medical and surgical care despite severe shortages of equipment, blood, and basic surgical supplies. Together, we performed numerous life-saving and life-changing procedures.
In Lusaka, we focused on introducing advanced female pelvic reconstructive surgical techniques to local obstetricians and gynecologists. In a country of more than 21 million people, there are no formally trained specialists in this field, leaving countless women without access to essential treatment.
The enthusiasm and dedication of the Zambian physicians reinforced our belief that education is the foundation of sustainable change. We hope to build on this initial mission by developing a long-term surgical training program that will empower local physicians to care for women in their own communities.
Ghana — Training the Next Generation of Surgeons
Our longstanding partnership in Ghana continues to grow, reflecting more than a decade of commitment to developing local expertise in female pelvic reconstructive surgery.
Through hands-on surgical training, ongoing educational conferences, and close collaboration with Ghanaian physicians, we continue to support the development of skilled specialists capable of providing advanced care independently.
One of our most ambitious initiatives is the development of the Center of Excellence for Female Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery in Ho, Ghana, in partnership with the University of Health and Allied Sciences.
This center is envisioned as a regional hub for specialized surgical care, education, and training, serving not only Ghana but also neighboring West African countries.
Our goal is to create a lasting institution where future generations of African surgeons can receive advanced training and provide high-quality care to women who might otherwise go untreated.
Honduras — Restoring Dignity and Quality of Life
During our surgical mission to Honduras, we performed complex pelvic reconstructive procedures for women who had endured years of suffering from pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and other debilitating conditions.
For many of these patients, specialized surgical care had been beyond their reach.
Witnessing their relief and gratitude following surgery was profoundly moving. Each successful procedure was a reminder that restoring a woman's health can also restore her confidence, independence, and ability to participate fully in her family and community.
These experiences continue to inspire our commitment to reaching women who have limited access to specialized healthcare.
Our Philosophy: Teaching the Teachers
While providing surgical care is essential, our mission extends far beyond individual operations.
We believe that the most meaningful and lasting impact comes from empowering local physicians with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to care for their own communities.
Our philosophy of "teaching the teachers" focuses on building sustainable surgical capacity rather than relying solely on short-term medical missions.
By training local surgeons, we hope to multiply our impact so that hundreds, and eventually thousands, of women can receive specialized care long after our visits have ended.
Our ultimate measure of success is not how many surgeries we perform, but how many surgeries local physicians will be able to perform independently in the years ahead.
Looking Ahead to 2027
As we look toward the coming year, we remain committed to expanding our surgical education programs, strengthening our partnerships in Zambia, Ghana, and Honduras, and advancing the development of the Center of Excellence in Ghana.
These initiatives represent exciting opportunities, but they also require continued financial support.
Your generosity helps provide essential surgical supplies and equipment, supports physician education and training, and makes life-changing surgical care possible for women who would otherwise have few options.
Together, We Can Change More Lives
As you consider your year-end charitable giving, we invite you to continue supporting the Freed & Kwon Humanitarian Medical Fund.
Your donation is more than a financial contribution. It is an investment in a woman's health, a surgeon's education, and a community's future.
Every gift, regardless of size, brings us closer to a world where access to quality surgical care is not determined by geography or financial circumstances.
We are deeply grateful for your trust, compassion, and generosity. Because of you, we have been able to touch lives, relieve suffering, and lay the foundation for lasting improvements in women's healthcare.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of this journey.
We wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a healthy, peaceful New Year.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Jeffrey S. Freed, MD, MPH
President and Co-Founder
Soo Y. Kwon, MD
Vice President and Co-Founder
