The US-India Bladder Exstrophy Collaborative
Since 2009, a team of surgeons, anesthesiologists, social workers, and other healthcare providers from hospitals in India and the U.S. have worked together to help more children in Asia and Africa receive the complex surgery necessary to address bladder exstrophy.
This video beautifully captures the collaboration between A-BE-C, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Cincinnati Children’s, Dayton Children’s, and Seattle Children’s, and their efforts to make an impact on the lives of children and families living with exstrophy.
A special thank you to David Pierce for his time and talents in bringing this story to life.
One Act of Kindness Can Change Everything
Since 2019, A-BE-C has deepened its commitment to children with bladder exstrophy in Uganda with the A-BE-C Uganda Initiative, a team of passionate surgeons, nurses, and social workers who travel to Uganda each year. These volunteers pay their own way, leave their families behind, and work alongside Ugandan medical professionals to perform surgeries, provide training, and build sustainable local expertise.
Raising Our Voices in Washington: A-BE-C at the AUA Advocacy Summit
A-BE-C proudly took part in the AUA Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C.—a powerful event that brings together urologists, patient advocates, and policy makers to influence healthcare legislation and elevate the needs of the urologic patient community.
Uniting the World’s Brightest Minds: The 2025 IBEC Conference at CIVIL Hospital
Imagine a room filled with 51 of the world’s top pediatric urology specialists, all gathered with a single mission—to transform the lives of children born with bladder exstrophy. That’s exactly what happened at CIVIL Hospital, as it proudly hosted the 2025 International Bladder Exstrophy Collaborative (IBEC) Conference!
An Exstrophy Journey to India
Rachel Althizer is traveling with A-BE-C for the 2023 International Exstrophy Workshop in Ahmedabad, India, as a social worker to assist children and families with exstrophy as they prepare for surgery.
Keep On Keeping On
We recently had the rare opportunity to get some words of wisdom from Australian, Tom Flood, who was born in 1930 with bladder exstrophy. In those days, very little was known about bladder exstrophy and no treatment options were available. His parents were told that Tom was not expected to survive and if he was not in pain, just to leave things as are. But Tom had other plans!
A-BE-C Partners with Physician Group to Raise over $500,000 to Aid India in Their Fight Against Covid
A-BE-C has teamed up with a group of physicians in a coordinated effort to send much needed oxygen concentrators to partner hospitals in major cities in India, to aid in their continued fight against Covid. India is experiencing the world’s worst outbreak, with 400,000 new cases each day.
Persis Makes it Home Safely Amidst Pandemic
A-BE-C traveled to Ahmedabad, India for the 12th Annual Operative Workshop on BE. Here is an update on Persis who received closure surgery at the workshop.
Expanding Our Reach
Over the past 3 years A-BE-C has helped facilitate surgeries for children with bladder exstrophy in Uganda, and trained Ugandan…
The 11th Annual Workshop in Ahmedabad, India Was a Resounding Success
The 11th annual workshop in Ahmedabad, India Was a resounding success thanks to a dedicated international collaboration of medical experts.…
Families in India learn post-surgical care for bladder exstrophy
Among the nearly 100 children who received checkups and medical procedures for bladder exstrophy at the operative workshop in India in…
