Ten surgeons on staff at Marin General Hospital helped 49 patients last year through the Operation Access program ­ a non-profit organization that helps connect uninsured patients with free surgical care through a network of Bay Area medical volunteers, hospitals and community clinics. Physicians practicing with Anesthesia Consultants of Marin also provided free services to these patients.

Eighty percent of the patients received specialized procedures. Twenty percent received general surgical services, like hernia repair or cyst removal.

Most patients were employed Latinos who did not speak English, according to an Operation Access report. Patients are referred through five Marin clinics.

Surgeons participating last year were: Drs. Malini Anand (obstetrics/gynecology), Robert Anderson (ophthalmology), Melinda Aquino (vascular surgery), Patrick Bennett (urology), Charles Bookoff (obstetrics/ gynecology), David Goltz (orthopedic), Danny Kao (gastroenterology), Jonathan Levin (general surgery), Malini Nijagal (obstetrics/gynecology) and Jahangir Sadeghi (ophthalmology).

Bennett, Aquino, Goltz, Levin and Sadeghi are also on staff at Novato Community Hospital.

March 4, 2008