STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) urologist Dr. Richard Maggio is aware of the transformative power of medical care for patients who might otherwise go untreated.
He participated in a medical mission last year that conducted 98 procedures on the impoverished and underprivileged in Ghana, an African country, as part of Operation International.
At the Ghanaian Association of Staten Island’s End-of-the-Year party on Saturday, December 21, 2024, in South Beach, urologist Dr. Richard Maggio of Richmond University Medical Center talks about his journey to Ghana. (The Staten Island Advance’s Owen Reiter)Reiter, Owen
The six surgeons, one urologist, one head and neck surgeon, one plastic surgeon, one plastics fellow, and two general surgeons at Holy Family Hospital in Techiman saw extreme cases of conditions that are typically treated with surgery, such as enormous hydroceles, terrible burn scars, giant goiters, and extreme hernias, to name a few.
Dr. Maggio was named one of Staten Island’s Brightest Lights of 2023 by the Staten Island Advance/SILive.com.
At their End-of-Year celebration on Saturday at the Crystal Ballroom in South Beach, the Ghanaian Association of Staten Island, in collaboration with the Ghanaian Muslim Community of Staten Island, honored Dr. Maggio for his exceptional dedication to providing life-saving medical care and surgeries to underprivileged populations in West Africa.
The journey to Ghana was an incredible experience, according to Dr. Maggio. There are situations in the world where people lack access to medical care. Some folks have common problems that simply spiral out of control. Others grow so disabled that they are unable to support their families, while others are shunned.
For some folks, the straightforward operations we perform change their lives. They are able to care for their family after they return to society. It’s wonderful to witness people’s gratitude and the joy on their cheeks as they recover. According to Dr. Maggio, I gain more from it than I contribute.
According to Sam Owusu-Sekyere, president of the Ghanaian Association of Staten Island, Dr. Maggio paid for his own 10,000-mile journey in order to do a favor. When they go, the physicians give the drugs and supplies they brought with them to the local physicians. We must acknowledge this and inform people of Dr. Maggio’s actions.
Dr. Maggio was given a Certificate of Appreciation by Assemblyman Charles D. Fall (D-North Shore/Brooklyn/Lower Manhattan) in recognition of his outstanding efforts. Dr. Maggio did not visit any of Ghana’s main cities. He visited a tiny village. After a flight that seemed to stretch on forever, he got into a car and drove on less-than-ideal roads.
Fall informed Dr. Maggio that To step up, volunteer, and change the world, you truly need to have a pure heart. Some people never receive the assistance they need to recover, but you did, and for that I am personally grateful.
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