I've raised £27800 to help our colleague Dr Aquiles Salas to fund his cancer surgery
Organised by Martin Prince
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Dr Aquiles Salas, Professor of Medicine at Universidad Central de Venezuela needs our help now. Two weeks ago he was diagnosed with tumours affecting both kidneys. Since removing both kidneys is not an option, he needs delicate surgery using advanced techniques to remove the cancer growths while leaving the rest of the kidney intact. These techniques are not available in Venezuela, where, given the economic and political crisis, even basic healthcare is now a struggle. The cost of the robotic surgery in a well equipped US hospital will be US$ 37,000 - for the first kidney. This surgery should be life-saving, since there is no evidence that the cancer has spread.
Aquiles has devoted his life and career to the advancement of medicine in Venezuela, and to the health and wellbeing of his fellow citizens. He has led the development of Geriatric Medicine in Venezuela and the Latin American region, and is a passionate advocate for the care and support of people living with dementia. He has worked tirelessly to support the Fundacion Alzheimer de Venezuela and Alzheimer's Disease International. He leads the Caracas team of the 10/66 Dementia Research Group with whom he has published over 40 research papers highlighting the health and social care needs of older people in Latin America, China and India. Aquiles has, and will continue to give so much - he is a kind, and modest man, and an exceptionally dedicated professional and humanitarian. I do hope that his many friends and colleagues, and those whom his work has benefited may now be able to do something to help him "
Professor Martin Prince, King's College London
