I plan to provide safe, evidence-based anesthesia care to adult and pediatric patients during head and neck procedures and during general surgical procedures in the resource-limited setting of Zambia. My role will include preoperative assessment, delivery of anesthesia, pain management and assessment, and post-operative monitoring.
This will make a difference by addressing critical gaps in surgical access for this area. With a focus on safety I can use my skills to reduce perioperative morbidity and improve patient outcomes for vulnerable patients who may otherwise go without an opportunity for care.
In addition to contributing to the opportunity for local patients to receive anesthesia for needed surgical procedures - I intend to collaborate with local healthcare providers to share practical anesthesia techniques, promote sustainable practices, and support capacity building through knowledge exchange. By combining clinical service and education I hope to not only contribute to immediate safe surgical access also to strengthen anesthesia care in the region, for the long-term. Both patients and local healthcare providers will benefit through my contribution and collaboration.
This population is as important as any underserved medical region in Africa - however there is a critical shortage of head and neck surgeons in Africa. This opportunity to lend my anesthesia expertise for life-changing procedures gives me a sense of purpose for children and adults confined to this geographical area.
The expected impact is that I will be able to provide safe anesthesia for critical procedures to as many patients as possible in underserved areas of Zambia.
I hope that I can not only bring some useful anesthesia knowledge to local providers, but also that I can learn how to be a better resource for future missions in Africa.
Operation International's Team: Heart of Texas (Team HoT) landed in Livingstone, Zambia, with a diverse surgical team. Team HoT is comprised of surgeons, anesthesia providers, advanced practice providers, nurses and support staff. While the mission focused on expanding access to surgical services for underserved patients, one of its most valuable outcomes was the exchange of knowledge, perspectives, and clinical practices between anesthesia providers working in vastly different healthcare environments. This medical mission experience at Livingstone University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Livingstone, Zambia provided a unique opportunity for bidirectional professional growth and collaboration in anesthesia care.
The team made a daily trek to LUTH on foot by morning and returned each evening. After a day of setup and supply organization - the team set about working alongside Zambian surgeons, nurses and anesthesia professionals. My personal experience as an anesthesia provider yielded meaningful daily discussions regarding resource utilization, patient assessment, perioperative management, airway strategies, monitoring techniques, and approaches to anesthetic care in settings with limited equipment and medications. These interactions highlighted both the universal principles that guide safe anesthesia practice and the innovative adaptations required when resources are constrained.
From my perspective, the experience reinforced that patient safety and improved outcomes are shared goals that transcend geography, healthcare systems, and professional roles. Through collaborative case management, observation of local practices, and mutual teaching opportunities, both team HoT and the staff at LUTH gained a deeper appreciation for alternative approaches to clinical challenges. The exchange of tools, techniques, and strategies fostered professional development on both sides and strengthened a culture of continuous learning.
Importantly, the mission demonstrated that global health partnerships are most effective when approached as opportunities for reciprocal learning rather than one-way teaching. Exposure to different surgical and anesthetic cultures broadened clinical perspective, encouraged critical evaluation of established practices, and promoted adaptability, innovation, and cultural humility.
These lessons will continue to influence my approach to future patient care by enhancing clinical decision-making, resource stewardship, and commitment to safe, evidence-based anesthesia practice. Ultimately, the value of this mission extended far beyond the individual procedures performed. It strengthened international professional relationships, facilitated meaningful knowledge exchange, and contributed to the shared mission of improving perioperative safety and patient outcomes for communities served by Livingstone University Teaching Hospital and beyond.
