Cardiostart International Incorporated

It's a privilege to give. It's a choice give. Give, without causes and reasons. When one’s heart dares to listen, to see, many things are possible. So, it began with this one surgeon and his heart. It’s the power of one then of multitude. Together, a catalyst of change is manifested in a collective, tangential existence. And thus, what is not to be inspired? Give. Be. One, CardioStart!

I have been involved in pro-bono work since 2011 with the Dominican Heart Foundation (HCD) and other internationals nonprofit organization, being one of them Cardiostart International (CSI). For me was a pleasure work with CSI, as a doctor I just can say "It's a privilege to work with an outstanding team like them, a respectful and delivered team that really enjoy and love the medicine helping and respecting the unprivileged patients". I just hope to see more entities like CSI interested and working with quality & dedication for undeveloped countries.

Our organization, HSCV, has worked with Cardiostart for a number of mission in Hanoi Vietnam. Thanks to their support many of our children received life saving operations. We are proud to be on of their partners! They are a great team!

I know Cardiostart very closely, my husband is one the many volunteers who travels to underserved countries to help those in need. I know how passionate they are and all the effort, care and love they give to each of the patients that they have the chance to treat.
Very proud of them.

I have been on two missions with Cardiostart. They both changed my life in the most positive ways. the teams and the leaders were amazing and the work that was done was the best!
I cannot wait until my schedule allows me to return on another mission.

CardioStart is not affiliated with any religious or government organizations and insists that all clients are never charged for their services. The primary goal is sustainable education and training in order to expand cardiovascular services to areas of the world where that care is minimal or non-existent. All volunteers cover the majority of their expenses and give their time and expertise willingly. The amount of donated equipment and supplies is remarkable and invaluable to the recipient facilities. CardioStart works hard to lessen the inequities in the world in terms of cardiac care. It is a very worthy organization.

I have been on two missions with Cardiostart. One mission to Brazil and one to the Dominican Republic. On both of the missions the volunteers were professional and determined to provide the best and most loving care for the local patients and staff. The missions went a bit longer than expected and everyone jumped in to help without a complaint. I would not hesitate to work with Cardiostart anywhere in the world.

Keith Leviit, MD
Cardiac Anesthesiologist.

Truly selfless organization. A great one to be a part of!

As a professional in the health field, I completely support all non-profit organizations that benefit other's overall health status. Cardiostart is a wonderful non-profit organization that is helping both kids and adults with the most important thing in health care- cardiac health. All of their employees and volunteers are well educated and have a big heart. They handle everything with true professionalism while still showing empathy. I highly encourage everyone to take a chance and volunteer or donate to this humanitarian effort!

Amazing professionals with great expertise and volumes of knowledge. It was my great fortune to have had the opportunity to work along side of so many empathetic, kind, loving selfless individuals on a mission to Peru with this amazing organization! Well organized with great ability to think outside the box. Touching lives around the world knowing that everyone on this planet is worth the effort and care. Cardiostart follows thru.

Leonora Gerspach-Siegel RN CNOR

I have done two missions with Cardiostart. One to Brazil that changed two weeks before the mission and ended up providing advanced education to cardiac surgery service in the poorest state on that country while helping the local staff perform 28 surgeries in two weeks. It was incredible to learn and teach at the same time. The second was our recent trip to Nepal which occurred right after the earthquake. Again to an underserved area where we did whatever was needed by the local hospital to help provide relief including the purchase and installation of tents for a remote village that had been destroyed. I hope to do many more missions with them as the whole focus is empowering and educating the local teams so that they can provide high quality cardiac surgery and care.

It's a important non profit organisation and had been helping people in need for several years. I have personally been in with the organisation on charity missions .

In the 2014 Heart Care Dominicana had the privilege of working with Cardiostart, with which we were able to help more than 5 people who barely possesed any resources so that they could recieve open heart surgery.

This year, 2015, around 15 people will recieve free open heart surgerys thanks to the great work of the Cardiostart fundation. Cardiostarts job, just like ours, is to help those in need, since they don't have access to the different cares neded due to their lack or resources.

We are honored to give them our most sincere recomendation to this great foundation, and hope that others can come to trust them as we do.

-Heart Care Dominicana

It is a great time to be involved with CardioStart. We have just returned from helping in Nepal during the second earthquake and have two mission teams ready to go to Nigeria and the Dominican Republic. This year we have doubled our missions and efforts to help more people. Our goal is not only in helping the facilities, patients, families and staff but also our volunteers. On a personal level each volunteer grows in their experience. Each mission is different with new challenges. You must push the envelope of your own personal development and in such self actualisation occurs. Are you ready to grow? No time like the present. I am glad I am a part of it every day.

I first connected with CardioStart in Tampa, Florida over 10 years ago when I began collecting unwanted medical supplies from work and the inventory ballooned very rapidly into a project that needed warehouse space. Over the years, I have been involved with the charity in many ways, volunteering on missions to Peru, Grenada and Vietnam, totalling 8 missions and scout trips. I have worked in the operating rooms side by side with local teams and recently directed the Outreach Projects in South VIetnam. I have recommended to family and friends and always enjoy the volunteers attracted to the missions. On the recent mission to Vietnam, we had volunteers from 10 countries around the world, coming to serve as CardioStart Team Members.

I have been with CardioStart 5 years. I have been on 5 medical missions to Peru and helped prepare over 75 patients for cardiac surgery. I have the most worldly, compassionate, and adventurous people ever. My professional career as a cardiologist has been hugely enhanced. I see CardioStart as being a big part of my human legacy.

Since 2002 I have been to Iran, Peru and Vietnam for 10 missions with Cardiostart. This has provided me with opportunity to soar. Through Cardiostart I have been able to help patients regain a new quality of life. In Vietnam I had the opportunity to heal broken hearts by becoming friend with old enemies. Serving those who once I would have tried to kill as a US Soldier in Vietnam, has had a great impact on them and me. I will go anywhere with Cardiostart again and again!

My expericene with Cardiostart has been life changing and very fufilling. The operation of organization is first rate. The outcomes for the patients is second to none. It is a wonderful opportunity to give back to those in need. The focus on teaching centers will pay dividends for the hosptials they assist. I highly recomend this NGO.

Cardiostart International is a great Non-profit organization who helps indigent patientes arround the world with Heart disease. Several times a year a group of totaly self-funded volunteeres get together and travel overseas to third world countries to perform cardiac surgery procedures for free. This year 3 missions were accomplished ( Vietnam, Peru and Ghana) a total of 67 surgical procedures were performed, giving a second chance to live to these people, otherwise thy would died.

This was the hardest working vacation I've ever taken. That said I would return in a heartbeat. To bring together professionals from all over the world and have them create a TEAM in just over two weeks is incredible. In over thirty years of hospital service I have never felt so valued and at the same time humbled by those I was working with and for - the patients of Arequipa, Peru.
Panting for breath on the fourth floor outside the ICU, chasing parts, working day shift, racking my brain for Spanish words that weren't quite there anymore -
the patients , they made it all worthwhile.

I have been a volunteer with CardioStart for over 5 years and I continue to be amazed at how much our organization accomplishes on each 2 week medical mission. A group of volunteers, many of whom have never worked together, manage to provide complex cardiac surgeries for patients who would never have the opportunity to have this surgery if it weren't for CardioStart. Our non-medical volunteers also make a tremendous impact with orphanages and shelters in the areas where we work. I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have had to impact the lives of patients and my fellow health care colleagues.