You may have read our previous blogs about urologist Dr. Neil Kocher’s medical mission to Belize, and how he worked with the Global Surgical Expedition* (GSE) to help improve the health of underserved patients. This Fall, Dr. Kocher embarked on another medical mission, this time to Honduras. In this blog, we’ll tell you a little bit more about the program he joined and the impact it’s had on the Honduran community, Dr. Kocher and Premier Medical Group.
Better Healthcare, Better Lives
Dr. Ko
cher, a fellowship-trained urologist in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, heard about the GSE when the program first began in 2012. He was drawn to the medical charity whose mission is to provide surgical care for populations in need, especially in underserved nations. Through volunteer and donor involvement, the team works to fix disabling and chronic conditions, helping people get back to working and to living better, healthier lives.
Since its inception, the organization has deployed 55 surgical teams that have provided surgeries to nearly 2,000 patients. The surgeries are provided at no cost to recipients, which is significant considering the value of the work that GSE has done is estimated to amount to over 3 million dollars.
Though he was interested in lending a helping hand to patients in need since the program’s inception, it wasn’t until 2024 that Dr. Kocher discovered the expedition was searching for a specialist in urogynecology.** Wanting to give back and help promote improvements in healthcare to the underserved, he approached Premier Medical about offering his expertise in Belize. Premier Medical supported him wholeheartedly. The network not only agreed to the mission but championed his effort with overwhelming support from before his departure to well after his return, including raising over $6,000 in donations for the Global Surgical Expedition.
The Mission Continues
In September, Dr. Kocher joined the GSE once again, this time spending 10 days in Honduras, completing 15 urogynecology surgeries for conditions such as stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, vesicovaginal fistula and more. These can be extremely painful and life-altering conditions that affect a patient’s ability to function properly and hold down employment. As Dr. Kocher explained, in addition to some more complex surgeries, the group did some very basic operations that here in the U.S could be done in 5 minutes in an outpatient facility. But in countries like Belize and Honduras, where Dr. Kocher has gone on missions, these conditions caused life-long disability, and even death.
In addition to surgeries and basic care, Dr. Kocher and the GSE team helped improve the local healthcare infrastructure. The team worked alongside and trained local physicians and nurses, and collaborated closely with care teams so they could continue their work enabling patients to return to normal activities with dignity and comfort even when the expedition was over. The team delivered donated equipment and medical supplies, helping local facilities expand their capabilities and improve safety standards. And they helped build enduring partnerships that focus on education, mentoring, and empowering local teams — shifting from short-term mission trips toward sustainable healthcare improvement.
Do Good, Feel Good
For Dr. Kocher and his colleagues on the Global Surgical Expedition, it was a life-changing experience. Dr. Kocher witnessed firsthand the profound impact the medical missions have on patients who might otherwise never receive the treatment they desperately need. Some of the more personal takeaways included:
• A rewarding sense of purpose: Working in an environment in need can reconnect doctors to the humanitarian reasons they entered medicine, reminding them of the real, life-changing impact of their skills.
• A professional rejuvenation: Providing much-needed healthcare in resource-limited settings like Belize and Honduras is a challenge, forcing providers to adapt and innovate, reigniting creativity and problem-solving.
• Empowerment of local physicians: The opportunity to train, share skills, and build confidence among local healthcare providers in Belize and Honduras enabled them to independently perform complex surgeries.
Emotional fulfillment: Seeing patients who had suffered for years walk out of surgery healed and grateful provides a profound emotional boost for everyone involved.
Sense of sustainable impact: Rather than short-term “mission” work, the ongoing partnership that Dr. Kocher has built with GSE has created great pride in being part of something that creates lasting improvements in the local health system.
Local Support with Global Impact
Premier Medical Group’s support of his medical mission work is something Dr. Kocher points to as proof of Premier’s positive impact, both at home in the Hudson Valley and abroad. Upon his return from the mission in Honduras this year, Dr. Kocher presented his takeaways to providers and staff during an internal town hall meeting in early October. He thanked his colleagues who had donated to the Global Surgical Expedition in the past and encouraged everyone to support upcoming missions by donating or participating themselves.
“Every contribution, large or small, helps provide life-changing surgeries and restore hope for patients around the world,” he said.
Dr. Kocher’s presentation was met with enthusiastic support. During a donation drive in October 2025, providers and staff at Premier Medical Group raised $10,555 on behalf of the Global Surgical Expedition, bringing the total donations raised to almost $17,000 since 2024. The fundraiser and overall support of the GSE medical missions are extensions of the impactful work Premier does in the Hudson Valley through Premier Cares Foundation and local charities. Now, championing the community’s health and wellness has expanded to a global scale, helping reach those most in need of care around the world.
“To be able to participate in this and give back not just regionally but also globally, I think, is something that we should be aware of and quite proud of,” Dr. Kocher said.
The Women’s Health & Wellness Center at Premier specializes in diagnosing and treating a wide range of female pelvic disorders and female sexual health issues. The multidisciplinary team of experienced urologists and gynecologists understands the personal nature of these conditions and provide confidential, compassionate, and individualized care. If you would like more information, we’re happy to help. Visit our website or call us today at 845-437-5000
*[https://www.globalsurgicalexpedition.org/our-mission/]
**[https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-a-urogynecologist]
***[https://www.premiermedicalhv.com/specialties]