I will be the first assist (Surgical Physician Assistant) of a team that will perform 40-50 Thyrodectomies and Abdominal Herniorrhaphy on patients who have large symptomatic goiters and hernias. We will also facilitate the transfer of education, surgical skills, knowledge and recent innovations to the local medical community including local Medical School students. Passing on our expertise will provide local medical staff the necessary knowledge and skills to perform these complex procedures in the future.
We will serve the local Kigali population who suffer from large goiters and large abdominal hernias. These conditions are common and are most often left untreated in these communities due to the complexity of the surgery and cost involved.
Many suffering from these large hernias and large goiters are unable to work and have difficulties with daily activities including caring for their families. Goiter patients have neck pain, difficulty lying flat, eating, and sometimes difficulty breathing. Some hernia patients have limited mobility, issues with nausea /vomiting and impaired bowel function. Surgical correction can provide outcomes for the locals that are life changing.
Our mission was a great success. We worked long days and performed 16 thyroidectomies for large symptomatic goiters. We also held a breast cancer screening clinic in which 32 women were screened and had any necessary Ultrasound and/or mammograms.
