As geopolitical stability shifts around the world and technology continues to advance, TRIMEDX Foundation continues to evolve and introduce new ways to meet today’s challenges. In this spirit the Foundation recently conducted its first ever virtual mission trip with partner CURE International in Niger, CURE Hopital des Enfants. Virtual mission trips allow the Foundation and its volunteers to provide real-time technician assistance between visits, or at times when it is unsafe to travel.

“Virtual mission trips are not a replacement for in-person visits, they’re a force multiplier, allowing us to stay connected and responsive between visits. We are also learning that virtual engagement builds confidence. It’s not just about fixing a device; it’s about empowering local teams to take ownership of their own equipment.” Kevin Collazo, TRIMEDX Foundation Technical Services Manager

The virtual mission trip was designed to enable volunteers and partners to provide virtual training to biomedical technician, Josue at CURE over the course of a week. The mission trip was conducted over Zoom and was supported by Foundation partners at Elite BioMedical Solutions and CBET.edu. The week’s itinerary included:

Monday – Patient monitoring, functional testing, and performance verifications and calibration training

Tuesday – Anesthesia and ventilator training

Wednesday – Review of first two day’s sessions with TRIMEDX Foundation volunteer Keith Baird

Thursday – Imaging equipment and X-ray safety training conducted by Keith Baird

Friday – Discussion and brainstorming around equipment maintenance, best practices, and communication strategies

These online sessions allowed for robust discussion and problem-solving brainstorming around the challenges Josue faces which include limited resources, parts availability issues, and difficulties in prompt reporting of equipment issues. Potential solutions were explored such as creating designated drop-off and pickup areas for broken equipment, using tags to identify malfunctions, and identifying high-failure parts for inventory management. The session concluded with plans for future training sessions, and a follow-up meeting with hospital management to discuss implementing suggestions to improve equipment performance.

Tina Crafton, TRIMEDX Foundation Volunteer Coordinator was responsible for coordinating the logistics for the trip. “Our first virtual trip was an incredible adventure. We strive to support our partners even when we can’t physically be there. Our new technician portal and monthly virtual training offerings are some of the ways we’ve recently expanded our reach through technology; virtual mission trips are a natural progression in our online offerings. The ability to customize the week to a specific partner and to have the schedules of the participants cleared for the week, in some ways made this trip even more effective than being there in person.”

Kevin Collazo adds, “We look forward to more virtual mission trips. Our goal is to integrate virtual support with our technician portal and Virtual Volunteer Program, creating a continuous support system rather than one-time intervention.”

The excerpted letter below from Josue demonstrates the meaningful impact made during the virtual trip.

Dear Trainers,

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the online training you dedicated to me over the past few days.

The fact that this training was organized specifically for me makes your commitment even more meaningful. Your availability, patience, and the clarity of your explanations truly reflect a high level of professionalism and a genuine spirit of knowledge sharing.

I would also like to warmly thank your respective organizations — TRIMEDX Foundation, Elite Biomedical, and CBET — for making this initiative possible. It was a true honor for me to learn from such experienced and respected professionals. The discussions and technical insights provided have significantly contributed to my professional growth.

I sincerely hope that this collaboration can continue, especially with future sessions that include more hands-on practical components, ideally working directly with equipment, to further strengthen and consolidate the technical knowledge gained.

Please accept my deepest appreciation and respect.

Kind regards,

Josue