Operation Straight Spine (OSS) was conceived in 2002 by two spinal surgeons, Dr. Jeff McConnell & Dr. Ujjwal K Debnath, i.e. establishing a charitable mission project to provide spinal disease and deformity treatment for the poor and under served in India. While training together at the Centre for Spinal Studies and Surgery in Nottingham England, their passion for spinal surgery and the desire to donate their time and services to those less fortunate in the global community grew further.
In 2005, the first trip to India took place to conduct feasibility and needs study and establish local support. The aim was to create a recognized spinal correction service at an established charity hospital in India. The service would provide comprehensive medical and state-of-the-art surgical care to children and adults from socially deprived areas that would not otherwise have access or could not afford such treatment.
Jeffrey R. McConnell, MD, an Orthopedics spinal surgeon working at the Pennsylvania Spine & Scoliosis Institute, OAA Orthopedic Specialists, Allentown, PA, with over 35 years surgical experience. In the U.S., Dr. McConnell established the Spine Education and Research Foundation to help fund the project, solicited donors, recruited skilled team members, and arranged for donated supplies and equipment.
Dr. Ujjwal K. Debnath, MS (Ortho), FRCS, FRCS (Tr&Orth), DM (Orth) an Orthopedic surgeon who was working in Cardiff, Nottingham and London in UK (for 17years) returned to India in 2011 to continue with the ongoing project to serve the community in Eastern India. He has established OSS Trust to provide the ongoing Orthopaedic & Spine surgical and rehabilitation services.
