About Us

Alexander Dombrowski

Benjamin Wooster

Bryan Springer

Bryan Springer, MD is the medical director and co-founder of Operation Walk Carolinas. He is an Orthopaedic Surgeon at the OrthoCarolina Hip and Knee Center in Charlotte, NC specializing in adult reconstruction (joint replacement) of the Hip and Knee. He currently serves as the Fellowship Director at the Hip and Knee Center. He is actively involved in research, education and is a member of the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, The Hip Society, The Knee Society and is President of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society. Dr. Springer has been involved in Operation Walk for 2 years. He accompanied Operation Walk Denver on 2 mission trips to Panama. It was during those trips that he realized how important it was to provide access to joint replacements to patients who would otherwise have no access to this life changing operation. “Our team is committed to providing this care to the less fortunate in third world countries. I am excited to have such a talented team participate in this mission.”

Support Bryan Springer

These trips are 100% voluntary and the entire mission is based on fundraising. Choose a team member to receive your generous gift or donate where it is needed most. Any donation small or large is appreciated and we thank you in advance for your contribution.

Nima Eftekhary

Raymond Kim

Walter Beaver

Walt Beaver, along with partner Bryan Springer are co-founders of Operation Walk Carolina’s. He specializes in adult reconstruction of the hip and knee (joint replacements). The desire to pursue the path of giving back in third world countries started over 10 years ago by joining a group from Denver Colorado to their Op Walk trip to Panama. The needs of there patients who were the most disabled with no resources available was heart breaking. To have the resources and the abilities to help these patients is now the most meaningful part of his life. Also, to have his friends and family members along with many patients who donate resources make these trips financially viable and completes our mission. He will continue this great mission for years to come with the most talented group of volunteers from around the country. “To whom much is given, much is expected”. He will continue this work with the support of all of the donors that make these trips a reality.

Javier Muniz

I became involved with Operation Walk In 2018. My first trip was to Honduras. I had no idea what was is store for me. What I experienced was something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I discovered the amazing reward of giving your absolute all and not expecting anything in return

Sheetal Desai-Oghra

I went on my first OpWalk trip in 2023 to Honduras. Before I left, I explained to my two young boys why I had to go on this incredible mission.  I told them there is no greater joy in this world than serving others and those who are in most need.  I became a physican for this reason and I am so grateful to be a part of the OpWalk organization dedicating their mission to helping the lives of others.

Abby Price

Caitlin Krusen

Jennifer Suckow

I have worked as a physician assistant in orthopedics for over 20yrs with a particular interest in joint replacement surgery. Operation Walk Carolinas aligns my passions for helping others with an opportunity to change lives and communities in an immediate and profound way. When you can give the gift of painfree mobility to these patients you have also restored their hope and their independence. Seeing the genuine gratitude and trust from these patients we help gives me true joy as a healthcare professional. If I worked 50 more years in US healthcare, it would not generate an ounce of the warmth and kindness that I feel on a single mission trip. These trips change you at your core. Although these patients see an immediate physical improvement in their mobility, under the surface you will see a restoration of hope, resilience and renewal to their human spirit. I am honored to have served as a PA on trips to Cuba, Panama and Honduras and can’t emphasize enough how special it is to witness the incredible teaming of people that occurs on these trips.

Jon Hendershot

Laura Wood

Leah Dvorkin

Paul Coleman

To give back when one has been given so much is a hallmark of gratitude, in my estimation. I have so much to be grateful for in the life that I live. For this reason it has been a tremendous honor and privilege to have participated in five Operation Walk mission trips to date – two with Operation Walk Denver, and three with Operation Walk Carolinas.

Bonnie Koski

Gabrielle Spangler

I was born and raised in Charlotte, NC and love every inch of my city. I have been a RN for 4 years solely working with orthopedic patients. I currently work at the Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital where I enjoy caring for patients postoperatively. In my free time I love spending time with my family, listening to music, and studying to receive my Master’s degree in nursing.

Katrina Carta

My name is Katrina Carta and I have been an RN with Novant health system for 2 years. I have been an orthopedic floor nurse for over 8 years now, I graduated with my bachelors degree from SUNY Brockport in western NY. I lived in NY my whole life until I moved to Charlotte a little over two years ago.

Kimberly Renner

Nicole Hall

Patricia Madrid

Pricila Tressler

Becki Dannelly

Brandon Bryant

Candace Burgess

I am a mother, wife, daughter, sister and Anesthetist. I enjoy caring for others and have based my entire profession around my compassion towards those in need. Over the years I’ve searched for a medical mission group to join that would fulfill my need to help those less fortunate then myself in underdeveloped countries.

Erin Devine

I joined the Operation Walk Carolinas family in 2018 as a medical volunteer. I’m convinced that the success of our mission to provide safe, exceptional healthcare to those in need is made possible by the humanity, connection, and oneness cultivated within the Op Walk Carolinas community of patients, family members, volunteers, and supporters. I am incredibly grateful to be a part of an organization that has changed the lives of so many for the better, including my own. Thank you!

Magda Echeandia

Randy Efird

Thomas Wherry

Erica Ghigliotty

¡Saludos a mi equipo y los apoyantes de Op Walk Carolinas! Greetings to my team and supporters of Op Walk Carolinas! My name is Erica Ghigliotty, PT, DPT. I am a bilingual Physical Therapist at Atrium Health Cabarrus and am excited to be a part of a life-changing cause in 2024!

The last time I was in Central America was in March of 2020. I was in my final year of Physical Therapy school serving individuals in need in Guatemala alongside my colleagues. Little did I know that volunteering rehab services and donating valuable items would be cut short due to a nation-wide, and utlimately global shutdown in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

I am participating in the Operation Walk Carolinas trip to Honduras to continue what I started and was unable to finish. I strive to have a life-long commitment to serving the underserved and utilizing my ability to speak Spanish to minimize language barriers between hispanohablantes (Spanish-speakers) and providers. Everyone deserves the opportunity to maximize their quality of life with access to healthcare.

Lynne Ray

Andrea Moreno

I have been blessed to participate in 5 operation walk mission trips. It’s easy to live and lead with a serving heart when the patients on the receiving end respond which such profound gratitude. I’m honored to show my daughter the importance of giving back. My heart has grown bigger with each trip and I never come back the same. More humbled, more thankful, more passionate about life. Help send me back again so that I can continue helping others in need. Gracias!

Luis Gaytan-Mercado

Sarah Mathis

Hey friends!

I am Sarah Mathis PT, DPT, and I will have been a PT for 10 years by the time we go on our next Honduras trip!

This will be my 2^nd trip with the Operation Walk Carolinas team.  I had been on missions trips in the past, including a clinical rotation during PT school in Belize, so I was extremely excited when I first learned about Operation Walk from friends at Atrium who had been on past trips.  I was honored to be a part of the team last year, and I am so excited to be invited back for the 2024 trip.

Last year we had 48 patients, with 53 total joints performed, and too many lives (including mine) were changed to even count.  I fell in love with the whole experience, especially the love and gratitude the people of Honduras shared.  I came back humbled and inspired, and on a continuous search for ways I can give back when I have been blessed with so much.

None of these trips would be possible without the support from our friends and family, who prayed for our safety and success, checked in on us, and financially supported us along the way.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for your love and support!

Arielle Gardner

Chelsea Blackwelder

Kristen DelBene

Miranda Mendez

Paul Walters

Romana Balulovska

William Bessett

Christopher Brown

Laura Shepherd

I have been an RN for 10 years. I previously worked at Novant Health Charlotte Orthopedic Hospital and have been at Atrium Health Mercy for the past 7 years. I graduated from UNC- Charlotte with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. I have spent my entire career working in the Operating Room, with the majority of my OR experience dealing with Orthopedics. I am passionate about missions and providing care for patient’s during their orthopedic surgeries. This is part of the reason Operation Walk Carolinas is an ideal team for me. I have had the privilege of working with this amazing team of people since 2017. I look forward to what The Lord has in store for me as I continue to work with Operation Walk Carolinas.

Amy Whisnant Gavaza

Amy Whisnant is the Director for Perioperative Services for Carolinas Health System representing: Carolinas Medical Center Mercy. Amy has 20+ years of perioperative clinical and management experience spanning from positions in the operating room, surgical services, PACU, Business Management, Ambulatory Surgery Director of Nursing and most recently Perioperative Director for Carolinas Medical Center Mercy.

Brittany Spong

Ernesto Martinez

Jennifer Lilly

Maggie Echeandia

I have been a nurse for 10 years with experience in the Neonatal ICU and Operating Room. The 3 trips I’ve been on with Operation Walk have been the highlight of my career. It is an honor to be able to help such a kind, gracious, deserving community! My work in Honduras has without a doubt made me a better nurse for my patients back home.

Michael Maykowski

Victoria Muniz

Ever since I was accepted into nursing school, I looked up to my father who had gone on several trips with Operation Walk Carolinas. To be involved with this group was always a dream of mine. I am now please to say that I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in two trips to Honduras with Operation Walk Carolinas. This is the reason I became a nurse, to have the ability to create change in people’s lives for the better.

Christopher Petrie

Chris Petrie works with Crosslink/Stryker Orthopedics in Charlotte, NC. He, along with a number of his Operation Walk Carolinas teammates have had the opportunity to join the Operation Walk Denver team on two recent missions to Panama. In his nearly 19 years in the Orthopaedic device industry he can tell you these trips have been the most rewarding experiences in his professional career. As a team member he is responsible for securing the implants and instruments utilized in the hip and knee replacement procedures. “Cuba….here we come!”

John Brennan

Sean Rawlings

Aimee Whitaker

Maria Elena Lopez

My name is Maria and I work in Sterile Processing. I’ve been in my field for 15 years and love what I do and know how important my role is for every patient. I love learning new things, to grow in knowledge and be efficient in every area. I like to teach other the importance of expanding their understand in the role they play for patients and how critical a small mistake can make.

Mary Figueroa

I am a single mom of 5 children ages 14 to 22 and I have one grandchild. It’s easy for me to get wrapped up in day To day life and not pay attention to what’s important. Opwalk Carolinas has allowed me to open my eyes to what is to be appreciated in life. I’ve learned to humble myself and pass those values on to my children.

Alexander Mills

Andrew Beaver

Clay Beaver

Daniel Hill

“I have worked for Stryker Orthopedics for the past 10 years (first in Sydney, Australia and now in North Carolina) and I love what I do. I really enjoy playing a supporting role in these procedures that give patients their lives back. I was blessed to join the 2019 OpWalk Carolina Trip to Panama and see first hand the wonderful work being done. This is an amazing team of people, providing care for an amazing group of deserving patients. I am so grateful to Stryker for supporting these trips and beyond grateful to Dr. Springer and his team for the chance to join them.

David Thompson

Jacquelyn Muniz

Joe Glynn

This project has become very near and dear to me. After having a total hip done by Dr. Beaver in December of 2018 I was lucky enough to go on the 4/19 Panama trip.

Mary Beaver

Summerson Springer

I was raised in a small town in West Virginia. I watched family members, friends and other citizens in my community help others daily. As a young child, I learned the joy of helping others without expecting anything in return.

The Steadman Clinic