Operation Walk Virginia | Moving ahead to relieve joint diseases........................................................................................

Future Missions —— Testimonials —— Video Gallery —— Calendar

	Gerard A. Engh M.D. better known as Dr. Jerry comes from a long line of surgeons. His father, brother and nephew are all orthopedic surgeons and his youngest son is a neurosurgeon. Dr. Jerry completed medical school at the University of Virginia in 1966 and completed his orthopedic residency in 1971 at Yale University. After serving in the United States Army as a medical officer, he joined his father and brother in practice at the Anderson Orthopedic Clinic in Arlington, Virginia in 1973. Dr Jerry's proudest accomplishments relate to his extensive research with knee replacement surgery through the Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute and the enjoyment he has gained by training fellows for over 25 years. He has served as past president of the Knee Society, a national organization of specialist orthopedic surgeons, and co-founded Alexandria Research Technologies, a company that advances the design of total joint implants. In 2006, Dr Jerry started Operation Walk Virginia as a non-profit volunteer organization and hopes to leave this as a lasting legacy to helping others.
	Dr. Hamilton has been involved with Operation Walk Virginia since it’s inception. Involved in the planning, fundraising, and organization of each of the first two operation walk trips to Nicaragua have proved very rewarding. While the workload is significant during the one week stay in Managua, the need is so exceptional and the patients so thankful, that this far outweighs the fatigue. “Despite taking time away from the practice in Virginia and my family, there are so many rewarding aspects of the trip that I hope to make it an annual tradition. Because there are so few treatment options for patients in underdeveloped countries, the severity of disease is profound. This not only makes the surgery a life changing event for the patients, but exposes me to surgical complexities rarely seen in the United States. This makes it not only interesting, but sends me back home a better surgeon each time.”
	Kevin B. Fricka, M.D. has been a member of the Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic since 2006 specializing in hip and knee replacement. He graduated from Harvard University in 1995 where he was a member of the varsity basketball team. Dr. Fricka completed medical school at George Washington University in 1999 and completed his orthopaedic residency training at University of California-San Diego in 2005. From there he finished a fellowship in hip and knee replacement at Rush University in Chicago, IL. Since joining the Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic, Dr. Fricka has developed a busy clinical practice combining the enjoyment of patient care, patient education, fellowship training and research. This will be his first volunteer medical mission with Operation Walk and he is very excited about this opportunity to help others overcome the disability associated with arthritis.
	Dr. Norman Whitmire received his MD degree from the Yale University School of Medicine in 1995. After a one-year internship at the University of Pennsylvania, he completed his residency at The Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA (just outside Philadelphia). He has been practicing general internal medicine in Northern Virginia since 1999. This trip will be his third with Operation Walk.
	Julie Warner has been a team leader of Operation Walk Virginia since its inception in 2006 and has loved every minute of it. She has been the Patient Care Director of the Inova Joint Replacement Center for the past 2 ½ years and has worked on IJRC since 2001. She has a BA in Psychology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and her BS in Nursing from George Mason University. She is 2 classes away from completing her Masters in Nursing Administration. Julie was a regional finalist for Nurse of the Year for her work with Operation Walk Virginia. Her work with Operation Walk is her biggest passion.
	Ms. Vera Broecker hails from South Carolina, where she grew up and studied nursing. Upon graduation from Clemson University, she entered the U.S. Army as an officer and a nurse. In addition to her nursing degree from Clemson, Vera is a graduate of the U.S. Army Medical Officer Basic Course, Combat Casualty Care Course, and Airborne School. While on active duty Vera served in the 10th CASH (Combat Army Support Hospital). After eight years in uniform, Vera followed her husband and worked as a nurse in various states and overseas from 1995 to present. Ms. Broecker has served as an emergency room nurse; orthopedic; ear, nose and throat (ENT); and gynecological (GYN) nurse, and is presently serving in Mount Vernon Hospital’s post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Vera is married and lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two children.
	Toby Gray is a Certified Physician Assistant who is trained and specializes in orthopaedic surgery. After graduating with honors from Nova Southeastern University’s physician assistant program in 1998, Gray went to work for Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving as a physician assistant for Martin Roche, MD and Marc Philippon, MD. Gray then founded Surgical Assist in January of 2001. Surgical Assist employs 17 people and provides first assistant’s to surgeons in 3 Florida markets. In these markets, Surgical Assist works with over 100 surgeons in 30 different hospitals and surgery centers. Surgical Assist specializes in all specialties of surgery. Gray and Surgical Assist continue to work with Martin Roche, MD and Holy Cross Hospital. Gray is married to Hollie Gray and they have 2 sons, Jack and Dylan.
	Alfred Mack has been a Surgical Technologist at Mount Vernon Hospital from 1990-2008, contribute to the success of the first trip to to Nicaragua and also a member of the US Army Reserves from 1990-2008. Successfully built a progressive career with the United States Army Reserve as a key team player in developing, integrating and supporting troop organizations. Served as an Senior NCO responsible for monitoring current combat and health service support operations in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq in support of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
	Ericka Pitts -RN#4,BSN,CNOR. I was born in New Jeresy raised in VA. I am a grad from Marymount University 1995 ANS- Assoc in Nursing and BSN 1996. I have been a Team Leader with OP Walk Va for the past 3 years. My main duties are in the Operating Room. I enjoy traveling to other countries to help people improve their actives of daily living through much needed joint replacement.This is a wonderful feeling and will continue to be a part of OP Walk VA through out my life.