Ripple Effects in Africa
On this week’s CMDA Matters podcast, Dr. Mike Chupp is joined by three dedicated cardiac surgeons from three different countries who now work at the busiest heart surgery program in the nation of Kenya at Tenwek Hospital.
Meet Our Guest
Dr. Russ White is the chief of surgery and the director of the cardiothoracic surgical training program at Tenwek Hospital. He has served as a medical missionary at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya for the last 25 years. He and his wife have five children, all of whom grew up on the mission field.
Dr. Arega Fekadu Leta is a cardiothoracic surgeon and the acting director of the cardiothoracic surgery program at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya. He is an assistant professor of surgery with Loma Linda University in California, and he serves as faculty in the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS). He was born and grew up in Ethiopia, is married to his wife Bikiltu Kenna and is the father of three beautiful daughters.
Dr. Agneta Odera is a pediatric, general and cardiothoracic surgeon currently based at Tenwek Hospital. She holds a bachelor of medicine and surgery from University of Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Odera is a 2012 graduate of the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), as well as the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons in general surgery, and then she obtained sub-specialty fellowship training in pediatric surgery and cardiothoracic surgery. At Tenwek Hospital, she works and serves as a faculty member training interns, residents and fellows with COSECSA/PAACS. She provides surgical care to the needy and underserved, while also training, mentoring and building capacity of trainees. She also passionate in empowering and driving research in Africa for Africa. Dr. Odera is a proud member and the current chairperson of Women in Surgery Africa (WiSA). Her passion is to capture the essence of what it takes to be a thriving woman surgeon, to celebrate the uniqueness that allows them to successfully balance multiple roles and to challenge them to greatness and leadership with lasting legacy.
RESOURCES
- Give to CMDA
- CMDA Bookstore
- CMDA Matters on YouTube
- Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons
- Tenwek Hospital
- Samaritan’s Purse Prescription for Renewal Conference
- Center for Advancing Healthcare Missions
- “The Future of African Healthcare is Female”
- Women Physicians and Dentists in Christ Annual Conference
- 501 Foundations in Christian Coaching
