South Florida PBS Health Channel Premieres The Surgery Ship, a Powerful Docuseries Featuring Mercy Ships' Life-Changing Medical Mission
Boynton Beach, FL, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The South Florida PBS Health Channel is proud to announce the premiere of The Surgery Ship, a compelling docuseries that takes viewers aboard a floating hospital delivering critical medical care to some of the world's most underserved populations. The eight-part series debuts Friday, May 23 at 8 PM, with new episodes airing every Friday at 8 PM.
The Surgery Ship intimately follows the real-life work of Mercy Ships, a global nonprofit that operates the world's largest non-governmental hospital ships. The series offers a front-row seat to the work of dedicated volunteer medical professionals aboard Mercy Ships' state-of-the-art floating hospitals as they deliver life-saving surgeries and healthcare to some of the most medically underserved regions in the world.
Viewers will witness extraordinary cases—including unchecked tumors, severe deformities, and life-threatening conditions—while also confronting the ethical and emotional challenges these professionals face when resources are limited and the needs are great.
Every day my work brings real change to people's lives and that's an immense joy for me,' says Dr. Gary Parker, volunteer surgeon with Mercy Ships. 'Many of my patients have been told they're worthless and they feel like they don't belong. After surgery they see themselves in a new light, realizing their intrinsic worth. I will never tire of witnessing this transformation.'
As patients arrive with hope in their eyes, doctors and nurses are tasked with making impossible decisions—who gets treatment, and who must wait. It's a powerful journey that explores not just medicine, but also compassion, humanity, and resilience.
'The Surgery Ship tells the powerful stories of the patients, families and volunteers who all had their lives dramatically changed while on board the ship. The series is riveting, compelling and in many ways, heartwarming. We think viewers will love the stories, the culture and the joy they see on screen,' said Penelope Douglas, Director of Content & Acquisitions, South Florida PBS.
Watch the premiere on Friday, May 23 at 8 PM on the Health Channel, and stream anytime here: https://allhealthtv.com/program/the-surgery-ship
About the Health Channel:
AllHealthGo is South Florida PBS' exciting new digital health media venture that is building a trusted source of health and wellness information for consumers hungry for information and understanding. Through AllHealthGo's Health Channel, the only 24/7 health and wellness TV channel in the country, we connect you with medical and well-being specialists in real-time, promoting healthier lifestyle options. In partnership with prestigious organizations, the service aims to empower you with the most up-to-date information, enabling you to take more control of your and your family's health. To complement the live interactions with medical and well-being specialists, AllHealthGo offers a robust companion digital platform that provides access to specialized services.
About Mercy Ships:
Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteers from over 60 countries serve on board the world's two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit mercyships.org and follow @MercyShips on social media.
Attachment The Surgery Ship Press Release
Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Belmont Abbey nursing students among five nationwide taking part in Mercy Ships internship in Madagascar
BELMONT, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Three Belmont Abbey nursing students have been selected among only five nationwide to join a Mercy Ships internship program. Nursing students Emma Harris, Caroline Gutierrez and Eric Dike will take part in the inaugural summer internship program. Mercy Ships is a global Christian nonprofit organization that delivers healthcare to communities in medical deserts by operating fully volunteer staffed hospital ships that provide free, life-changing surgeries and medical care. Charlotte nonprofit gives families furniture to 'make their house into a home' This summer, the trio will spend two weeks aboard a floating hospital ship in Madagascar, the Africa Mercy, shadowing medical professionals, assisting in transformative surgeries, and witnessing care being delivered to those who would otherwise go untreated. All three are from North Carolina: Gutierrez, Gastonia; Harris, Charlotte, Dike, Wake Forest. But this once-in-a-lifetime experience comes with a challenge. Gutierrez, Dike and Harris must raise funds to cover their travel and participation costs. They've each launched a GoFundMe campaign to make this mission possible. The Belmont Abbey students will depart with Mercy Ships on July 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Upturn
21-05-2025
- Business Upturn
South Florida PBS Health Channel Premieres The Surgery Ship, a Powerful Docuseries Featuring Mercy Ships' Life-Changing Medical Mission
Boynton Beach, FL, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The South Florida PBS Health Channel is proud to announce the premiere of The Surgery Ship, a compelling docuseries that takes viewers aboard a floating hospital delivering critical medical care to some of the world's most underserved populations. The eight-part series debuts Friday, May 23 at 8 PM, with new episodes airing every Friday at 8 PM. The Surgery Ship intimately follows the real-life work of Mercy Ships, a global nonprofit that operates the world's largest non-governmental hospital ships. The series offers a front-row seat to the work of dedicated volunteer medical professionals aboard Mercy Ships' state-of-the-art floating hospitals as they deliver life-saving surgeries and healthcare to some of the most medically underserved regions in the world. Viewers will witness extraordinary cases—including unchecked tumors, severe deformities, and life-threatening conditions—while also confronting the ethical and emotional challenges these professionals face when resources are limited and the needs are great. Every day my work brings real change to people's lives and that's an immense joy for me,' says Dr. Gary Parker, volunteer surgeon with Mercy Ships. 'Many of my patients have been told they're worthless and they feel like they don't belong. After surgery they see themselves in a new light, realizing their intrinsic worth. I will never tire of witnessing this transformation.' As patients arrive with hope in their eyes, doctors and nurses are tasked with making impossible decisions—who gets treatment, and who must wait. It's a powerful journey that explores not just medicine, but also compassion, humanity, and resilience. 'The Surgery Ship tells the powerful stories of the patients, families and volunteers who all had their lives dramatically changed while on board the ship. The series is riveting, compelling and in many ways, heartwarming. We think viewers will love the stories, the culture and the joy they see on screen,' said Penelope Douglas, Director of Content & Acquisitions, South Florida PBS. Watch the premiere on Friday, May 23 at 8 PM on the Health Channel, and stream anytime here: About the Health Channel: AllHealthGo is South Florida PBS' exciting new digital health media venture that is building a trusted source of health and wellness information for consumers hungry for information and understanding. Through AllHealthGo's Health Channel, the only 24/7 health and wellness TV channel in the country, we connect you with medical and well-being specialists in real-time, promoting healthier lifestyle options. In partnership with prestigious organizations, the service aims to empower you with the most up-to-date information, enabling you to take more control of your and your family's health. To complement the live interactions with medical and well-being specialists, AllHealthGo offers a robust companion digital platform that provides access to specialized services. About Mercy Ships: Mercy Ships operates hospital ships that deliver free surgeries and healthcare services to those with little access to safe medical care. An international faith-based organization, Mercy Ships has focused entirely on partnering with African nations for the past three decades. Working with in-country partners, Mercy Ships also provides training to local healthcare professionals and supports the construction of in-country medical infrastructure to leave a lasting impact. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteers from over 60 countries serve on board the world's two largest non-governmental hospital ships, the Africa Mercy and the Global Mercy. Professionals such as surgeons, dentists, nurses, health trainers, cooks, and engineers dedicate their time and skills to accelerate access to safe surgical and anesthetic care. Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 and has offices in 16 countries as well as an Africa Service Center in Dakar, Senegal. For more information, visit and follow @MercyShips on social media. Attachment The Surgery Ship Press Release Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Yahoo
A nonprofit is turning old cruise ships into floating hospitals — complete with operating rooms, pools, and family cabins
Nonprofit Mercy Ships converts cruise ships into floating hospitals. Its first ship was an Italian cruiseliner, while another was previously a train ferry. Its newest ship, Global Mercy, was built for the nonprofit — a $200 million project. Not all cruise ships are created equal. Instead of vacationers, some accommodate Olympic surfers, refugees, or, as is the case of Mercy Ships' two vessels, folks in need of surgery. Since 1978, Christian nonprofit Mercy Ships has operated a fleet of cruise ships turned floating hospitals, providing complimentary medical services to the countries they visit. Onboard, reminders of the vessels' past life, like pools and hair salons, remain in place. Instead of waterslides and theater shows, the ships now have schools, operating rooms, CT scanners, and ICU beds. Mercy Ships has operated 5 vessels in its 47 years. The first was a converted Italian cruise liner. The decision to use floating resorts was based on a simple fact: 40% of the world's population lives on a coastline. "Coastal, rural cities have high medical deserts because they face extreme isolation and lack of infrastructure," Kerry Peterson, the senior vice president of Mercy Ship's US office, told Business Insider in an email. The nonprofit provides its patients with dental care and seven surgery specialties, such as pediatric and women's health — all for free. Food, lodging, anesthesia, post-operation rehabilitation, and transportation are also complimentary, even if more than one operation is required. In addition, the ships also offer specialized postgraduate training to locals through partnered residencies, fellowships, and rotations. Mercy Ships currently has 2 vessels, Africa Mercy and Global Mercy. According to Peterson, the nonprofit provided 4,746 surgeries and 13,312 dental procedures and trained more than 900 healthcare workers in 2024. Both ships exclusively operate in African nations. Like any typical cruise liner, Africa and Global Mercy have an auditorium, pool, library, café, and store. But instead of operating as vacations at sea, the two ships are more "akin to floating cities," Peterson said, noting there are onboard mechanical and carpentry shops, post office, bank, gym, salon, and laundromat. The nonprofit received a donation in early 2024 to fund the construction of a new vessel. Its first ship, Africa Mercy, was previously a train ferry before finding a second life. Mercy Ships acquired the Danish vessel, then known as Dronning Ingrid, in 1999. Following a $62 million refurbishment, it was re-deployed as Africa Mercy in 2007. According to the nonprofit, as of June 2024, the floating hospital had performed more than 70,910 surgeries in countries such as Liberia, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Madagascar, and Cameroon. The 12,917-square-foot deck that once accommodated trains now serves as the hospital. The space includes a pharmacy, a radiology lab, five operating rooms, 75 acute care beds, and five ICU beds. In addition to patient beds, Africa Mercy also has 159 cabins for 470 crew, although it sees about 1,000 volunteers — from surgeons to plumbers to housekeepers — throughout the year. Accommodation options include dorm-style cabins and rooms for couples and families. The second ship, Global Mercy, was built for the nonprofit. Mercy Ships began construction on its newest addition, Global Mercy, in 2015 — a $200 million investment, including the cost of equipment and the first patients. The nonprofit touts the 571-foot-long vessel, launched in 2022, as the largest civilian hospital vessel in the world. Larger than its predecessor, Global Mercy has 75,347 square feet of hospital space, including 102 acute care and seven ICU beds — in addition to a simulation lab for its training program. It provides surgical care to about 1,500 patients annually, having so far served patients in Senegal, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone. Global Mercy has 277 staterooms that can accommodate 640 crew. Its solo, double, couple, family, guest, and VIP cabins see about 1,500 volunteers annually. Peterson said Mercy Ships encourages its volunteers to explore the countries during their free time, whether grabbing dinner in town or staying overnight onshore — harkening back to the perks of a traditional cruise line. Read the original article on Business Insider
