The Story
We at Jose’s Hands believe it is important to introduce first-year medical school students to medical missions in underserved and underrepresented communities abroad. Exposing students early to the various social, cultural, and health conditions facing a developing world community provides a hands-on, eyewitness account necessary for building and sustaining a lifelong involvement in philanthropic medical service.
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Medical missions give doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals the opportunity “to help people” in ways they once only dreamed about as kids. Medical missions bring hope to three billion people throughout the world who live without basic healthcare services. Africa alone has a shortage of one million healthcare providers. Medical missions aim to bridge that gap.
Medical mission volunteers are true heroes to those in need. The greatest resource of a successful medical mission are volunteers with a sincere desire to put their skills to good use in a region in desperate need of medical attention. We at Jose’s Hands seek out these special volunteers and place them on missions that will change not only their lives but more importantly the lives of those they serve.
On October 1, 2008, José Jamil Miranda suddenly passed away. Born in Puerto Rico, José began his medical education at Yale in 1997 in the United States Army Health Professions Scholarship Program. In 2001, he earned his MPH from Harvard School of Public Health in and his MD from Yale in 2002. He completed his residency in orthopaedic surgery at Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia in 2006 and became a staff orthopaedic surgeon at Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2007. In June 2008, José was promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. Army. During his medical training, José received numerous awards in both academic and military arenas, but more importantly, José was loved and admired by his patients and colleagues alike.
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What made José so uniquely special to family and friends was his giving nature and insatiable enthusiasm in everything that he did—qualities difficult to express through words alone. José was a dedicated and devoted man; caring for and giving to others was the cornerstone of his life. He was a leader in his field and among his peers, earning their respect and admiration. With an infectious smile and boundless energy, he sought out and created a positive environment in every aspect of his life.
Jose’s Hands was established as an organization to honor José and perpetuate his values and his legacy. We at Jose’s Hands are proud to honor him and what he stood for by enabling medical students the opportunity to explore a unique and underserved area of public health that will create a permanent connection between José’s family and the world.
