Dr. Jim Sanchez is the Founder of the Mobile Hospital on Wheels in the Philippines, a groundbreaking initiative he conceived in the Philippines in 2007. As a US-trained plastic surgeon, Dr. Sanchez was inspired by his mentor, Dr. William Magee, the founder of Operation Smile. Driven by a deep sense of purpose, he committed himself to providing free cleft lip repairs to impoverished patients in the Philippines, a country with a high incidence of this congenital defect. Recognizing the significant challenges posed by limited resources, Dr. Sanchez developed a specialized technique of administering anesthesia through peripheral nerve blocks, allowing him to perform surgeries without the need for full sedation. This innovative approach not only reduced the risks and costs associated with general anesthesia but also made it possible to perform these life-changing surgeries in the most humble of settings, starting with the back of his van as his first operating room.

As word of Dr. Sanchez's work spread, local civic groups, including the Rotary Club, joined forces to support his mission, eventually providing a container van to serve as a more spacious operating room. His pioneering peripheral nerve block technique soon found applications in a variety of other surgical procedures, from hernia repairs to tumor removals. With the growing support of his UST Medicine Class of 1980 classmates in the US, a nonprofit organization, Friends Who Care LLC, was established. Together, they spearheaded a fundraising campaign that resulted in the purchase of a bus retrofitted with three operating room suites. This mobile unit now allows Dr. Sanchez and his dedicated team to bring their vital services to even more remote and underserved areas of the Philippines. Dr. Sanchez's unwavering commitment to his mission has transformed countless lives, and his legacy continues to inspire those who work alongside him in bringing hope and healing to the forgotten corners of the world.