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Surgeons & Specialists

By donating surgical or specialty procedures, medical professionals at participating medical centers can make a difference in the lives of individuals in your own community who are otherwise unable to access surgical care. Consider donating your time and expertise through Operation Access so that you can help those in need!
 
Volunteer Opportunities:
 
Surgeon/Specialist: Medical professionals at participating medical centers directly donate surgical and specialty procedures to OA patients, either in their practice or at hospitals and surgery centers where they have privileges.
 
Ambassador: Medical professionals who work with OA’s Program Managers by placing phone calls or writing letters to prospective surgeons, specialists, or medical centers, encouraging them to volunteer with OA.
 
For further information on these opportunities click here. 
  

Specialties

Breast
Colorectal
Dermatology
Gastroenterology
General
Gynecology
Head & Neck
Ophthalmology
Optometry (Alameda)
Orthopedic
Plastic & Reconstructive
Radiology
Urology
Vascular Surgery
  

Surgeon Profile: Patrick Bennett, MD

Volunteer since: 1999
Medical Center: Marin General Hospital
Practice: Marin Urology
 
Dr. Patrick Bennett, of Marin Urology, has been a dedicated volunteer since 1999. In his ten years of volunteering with Operation Access, he has never turned down a case, and gives all his OA patients the same level of high quality care that he would give to any other patient. Dr. Bennett is humble, never seeking or expecting recognition. Rather, he provides these services out of a sense of obligation. After receiving a scholarship to UCSF, he feels a genuine debt to his community. Having grown up in San Rafael, he is happy to have the opportunity to use his expertise to give back to the community. In addition to his volunteer work with Operation Access, he also volunteers at Marin Community Clinic several times per month, and treats patients with Medi-Cal and County Medical Services Program coverage, which few doctors accept.
 

Surgeon Profile: Andrea Metkus, MD

Volunteer since: 2003
Medical Center: Mills-Peninsula Health Services
Practice: Peninsula Surgical Specialists, San Mateo
 
Dr. Metkus has been volunteering with Operation Access since Mills-Peninsula began participating in 2003. As OA’s Surgeon Champion for the medical center, Dr. Metkus is a leader among her colleagues and has recruited many new volunteers over the years. She practices at Peninsula Surgical Specialists in San Mateo and has provided donated surgical care to 40 uninsured patients since joining OA.
 

Surgeon Specialist Profile: Mark Lawler, MD

Volunteer since: 2006
Medical Center: Novato Community Hospital & North Bay Regional Surgery Center
Practice: Marin Orthopedics
 
Dr. Mark Lawler, of Marin Orthopedics, has been a volunteer since 2006 and is a surgeon champion for Operation Access. He enthusiastically provides donated surgeries for patients unable to afford the cost of orthopedic surgeries. In reference to the patients he treats through OA, Dr. Lawler says “I take on cases like [these] because volunteerism is important to me. Operation Access makes it easy for me to help people in my own community and at my own hospital.”
 

Surgeon Specialist Profile: Robert Mickel, MD

Volunteer since: 1996
Medical Center: California Pacific Medical Center
Practice: San Francisco ENT
 
Dr. Mickel approaches each and every Operation Access patient with profound compassion. Since joining OA, he has helped 25 uninsured patients be able to live a better quality of life. From excising a suspicious tumor to repairing a perforated ear drum, Dr. Mickel has alleviated much emotional and physical pain over the years. His concern for his patients’ health extends beyond his donated surgeries, as he willingly follows patients on a pro-bono basis even after their care is no longer coordinated by OA.
 

Surgeon Specialist Profile: David Ellison, MD

Volunteer since: 2005
Medical Center: Mills-Peninsula Health Services
Practice: Ear, Nose & Throat Medical Associates of San Mateo County
 
Dr. Ellison is known by his patients for his kindness, humility, and respect. He is a very enthusiastic volunteer, and his caring and thoughtful approach to medicine greatly enhances his relationship both with his patients and with OA. Dr. Ellison volunteers regularly at the Samaritan House Free Clinic and is currently Chief of Surgery at the San Mateo Medical Center, where he has worked for the past 22 years.