15+
International Surgical Missions
1,200+
Children Operated Globally
5
Continents of Surgical Teaching
60+
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Introduction
Access to advanced pediatric surgical care remains a privilege often determined by geography. While healthcare systems in countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom routinely utilize robotic surgery, covert scar techniques, and comprehensive bowel rehabilitation programs, many developing nations continue to face a severe shortage of trained pediatric surgical specialists.
Throughout my professional journey—from my early medical training in Nagpur, India, to leadership positions at Texas Children's Hospital, the University of Missouri Children's Hospital, and most recently in Richmond, Virginia—I have witnessed this disparity firsthand. Bridging the global pediatric surgery gap has become one of my most important professional missions.
The Role of Peedh Parai International
To actively address these healthcare disparities, I founded Peedh Parai International, a 501(c)(3) pediatric surgical charity dedicated to improving access to specialized surgical care for children worldwide.
Over the past several decades, our multidisciplinary teams have completed more than fifteen international surgical missions, providing life-changing surgical care to over 1,200 children across underserved communities in India, Africa, and South America.
However, our mission extends beyond performing surgeries. Sustainable healthcare is built by strengthening local medical systems through education, mentorship, and long-term collaboration.
Working in advanced healthcare environments allows surgeons to refine techniques in esophageal preservation, gastroschisis management, bowel reconstruction, and robotic fundoplication. Through Peedh Parai International, we transfer these advanced skills directly to local surgeons in countries including Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Vietnam.
Knowledge Transfer: The Ultimate Medical Tool
Every international mission places significant emphasis on education. Alongside performing surgeries, our teams conduct structured lectures, live operative demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and practical training using the equipment available within local hospitals.
Our objective is to equip local surgeons with the knowledge and confidence to independently manage complex pediatric conditions long after our mission has concluded.
We regularly provide training in the diagnosis and surgical management of:
- Congenital anomalies including esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula, and diaphragmatic eventration.
- Complex gastrointestinal conditions such as Hirschsprung's disease, bowel malrotation, and choledochal cysts.
- Minimally invasive surgical techniques, including transaxillary subcutaneous procedures that correct persistent torticollis while avoiding visible neck scars.
As a recipient of the Fulbright & Jaworski Faculty Excellence Award and former Educator of the Year at Baylor College of Medicine, I firmly believe that empowering local healthcare professionals creates lasting improvements in pediatric surgical care for future generations.
A Unified Goal for Pediatric Care
The future of global pediatric surgery depends upon continuous collaboration, education, and the sharing of knowledge across borders.
Whether I am contributing to academic literature by editing a Springer Nature textbook on esophageal surgery or demonstrating advanced laparoscopic techniques in a rural hospital in Uzbekistan, the mission remains the same:
Every child, regardless of where they are born, deserves access to safe, advanced, and high-quality pediatric surgical care.
About the Author
Dr. Ashwin Praful Pimpalwar, MD, FRCS, MCh, MS, MBA most recently served as Attending Pediatric Surgeon and Head of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Bon Secours Mercy Health Children's Hospital in Richmond, Virginia.
He previously served as Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, and as Professor and Surgeon-in-Chief of the Children's Hospital at the University of Missouri. He completed his Pediatric Surgery Fellowship at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and holds board certifications in pediatric surgery from the Royal College of Surgeons of London, the European Board of Pediatric Surgery, and PGIMER, Chandigarh, India.
Dr. Pimpalwar is the recipient of the Fulbright & Jaworski Faculty Excellence Award, a two-time Educator of the Year at Baylor College of Medicine, and an elected member of the Academy of Distinguished Educators. He has authored or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, edited a Springer Nature textbook on esophageal surgery, and founded Peedh Parai International, a nonprofit organization that has delivered pediatric surgical care to more than 1,200 children across multiple continents.