Children's Surgery International (CSI) is proud to announce a monumental step in our partnership with Bahir Dar University College of Medicine and Health Sciences (BDU). CSI and BDU have envisioned a program that moves beyond self sufficiency to train future generations of Pediatric Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgeons across Ethiopia and advances our mission of reducing healthcare disparities.
On March 18, 2023, Siva Chinnadurai, MD, MPH, Chair of CSI Board of Directors, and Professor Yeshigeta Gelaw, MD, M.Med, FCOphth(ECSA), Chief Executive Director of Bahir Dar University College of Health Science, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the first Pediatric Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship in Ethiopia. This fellowship is the result of 8 years of partnership and nearly a year of program development.
The program will feature contributions from internationally recognized Pediatric Otolaryngologists and Facial Plastic Surgeons from across the United States and Ethiopia and will strengthen our joint focus on advanced teaching, clinical and technical skill transfer, and research collaboration.
The team has wrapped up their surgical days at Bahir Dar university Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital Information Center. We can't wait to share more information, stories, and reflections from trip volunteers, in the coming days. Thank you, team, for your hard work, flexibility and sacrifices to help so many!
This story was shared by #CSIEthiopia volunteer Mary Jo Wagner, highlighting the critical need to improve access to specialized care: "A particularly gratifying day today because the CSI team was able to give life-changing surgery to two patients who wouldn't give up on the chance that we could find room in our packed schedule. One of the fortunate ones was this 19-year-old man, Demeke, who traveled more than 750 km by foot and bus to come to Bahir Dar on Monday with the hope of having surgery. Demeke first walked 6 hours from his home in northern Ethiopia to a small village. He then took two buses to arrive here. He asked one of our interpreters, Desie, if he could have surgery. Desie told him our schedule was full, and it was best to go home. He was distraught at the news but he refused to leave. He slept at the hospital with no food or drink and waited patiently every day in hope we had a cancelation. And by luck, we did. He became one of our last patients of the day, to the delight of everyone, including Desie. Desie said, "I'm so happy with this. It was the will of God." Demeke himself was visibly moved and thanked Luke, one of our ENT surgeons, who was also so pleased to help. It was special to witness." OR Nurse Lead Jessica Driscoll reported Demeke was beaming from ear to ear, thrilled to receive his life-changing surgery. When she visited him in the PACU, Demeke could almost not believe the image in the mirror was him! "He gave me the biggest hug, and I returned it; grateful to have had the opportunity to serve this deserving patient!"
Wednesday was another busy day in Bahir Dar! CSI is grateful to have such collaborative host partners. Volunteers have been having 12+ hour days at the hospital. Surgeries and their associated specialized training make for full schedules with lasting impacts for these incredible children, their families, and their communities.
Medical records volunteer Mary Jo Wagner shares an initial reflection on being a part of the #CSIEthiopia team: "We wrapped up our first day of surgery after 12 hours and 11 patients, and I am left in awe by the care, patience and skill of this team. And I am especially impressed by the patience and kindness of the expectant families and their little babies who have endured incredibly long waits to both be evaluated for surgery and then wait their turn for their life-changing transformations by the CSI team of ENT and Urology surgeons and Pediatricians. As a first time volunteer with CSI and my first introduction to Ethiopia, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to experience this life-affirming work."
Today is National Doctors' Day! Special thanks to all the doctors who volunteer with CSI both on surgical trips and in roles stateside as well as to our physician partners in the communities we serve.
#changinglivesonechildatatime #DoctorsDay #nonprofit #pediatricsurgery ... See MoreSee Less
Join our team! CSI is hiring an Operations Manager.
For more information and to apply, visit:
jobs.minnesotanonprofits.org/job/operations-manager-minneapolis-minnesota-80337 ... See MoreSee Less
Meet some of the Ethiopian patients who received life-changing surgery last week: 3 month old Natnael, 4 month old Meklite, and 19 year old Demeke.
To the CSI and BDU surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, CRNAs, non-medical volunteers, families, and donors who helped to restore hope to these patients and so many others, thank you. Each of your commitments has made a transformative difference.
#nonprofit #globalhealth #changinglivesonechildatatime #pediatricsurgery #medicaltraining #Ethiopia #cleftstrong #volunteer #dogood ... See MoreSee Less
Children's Surgery International (CSI) is proud to announce a monumental step in our partnership with Bahir Dar University College of Medicine and Health Sciences (BDU). CSI and BDU have envisioned a program that moves beyond self sufficiency to train future generations of Pediatric Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgeons across Ethiopia and advances our mission of reducing healthcare disparities.
On March 18, 2023, Siva Chinnadurai, MD, MPH, Chair of CSI Board of Directors, and Professor Yeshigeta Gelaw, MD, M.Med, FCOphth(ECSA), Chief Executive Director of Bahir Dar University College of Health Science, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the first Pediatric Otolaryngology and Facial Plastic Surgery Fellowship in Ethiopia. This fellowship is the result of 8 years of partnership and nearly a year of program development.
The program will feature contributions from internationally recognized Pediatric Otolaryngologists and Facial Plastic Surgeons from across the United States and Ethiopia and will strengthen our joint focus on advanced teaching, clinical and technical skill transfer, and research collaboration.
#nonprofit #pediatricsurgery #medicaltraining #globalhealth #advancement #research #surgery #collaboration #Ethiopia #accessstocare ... See MoreSee Less
The team has wrapped up their surgical days at Bahir Dar university Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital Information Center. We can't wait to share more information, stories, and reflections from trip volunteers, in the coming days. Thank you, team, for your hard work, flexibility and sacrifices to help so many!
#nonprofit #globalhealth #volunteer #pediatricsurgery #medicaltraining #cleftstrong #pediatricnursing #PediatricAnesthesia #Ethiopia #changinglives #dogood ... See MoreSee Less
This story was shared by #CSIEthiopia volunteer Mary Jo Wagner, highlighting the critical need to improve access to specialized care: "A particularly gratifying day today because the CSI team was able to give life-changing surgery to two patients who wouldn't give up on the chance that we could find room in our packed schedule. One of the fortunate ones was this 19-year-old man, Demeke, who traveled more than 750 km by foot and bus to come to Bahir Dar on Monday with the hope of having surgery. Demeke first walked 6 hours from his home in northern Ethiopia to a small village. He then took two buses to arrive here. He asked one of our interpreters, Desie, if he could have surgery. Desie told him our schedule was full, and it was best to go home. He was distraught at the news but he refused to leave. He slept at the hospital with no food or drink and waited patiently every day in hope we had a cancelation. And by luck, we did. He became one of our last patients of the day, to the delight of everyone, including Desie. Desie said, "I'm so happy with this. It was the will of God." Demeke himself was visibly moved and thanked Luke, one of our ENT surgeons, who was also so pleased to help. It was special to witness."
OR Nurse Lead Jessica Driscoll reported Demeke was beaming from ear to ear, thrilled to receive his life-changing surgery. When she visited him in the PACU, Demeke could almost not believe the image in the mirror was him! "He gave me the biggest hug, and I returned it; grateful to have had the opportunity to serve this deserving patient!"
#nonprofit #pediatricsurgery #globalhealth #accesstocare #Ethiopia #changinglives #volunteer #medicaltraining ... See MoreSee Less
Wednesday was another busy day in Bahir Dar! CSI is grateful to have such collaborative host partners. Volunteers have been having 12+ hour days at the hospital.
Surgeries and their associated specialized training make for full schedules with lasting impacts for these incredible children, their families, and their communities.
#nonprofit #cleftstrong #pediatricsurgery #medicaltraining #globalhealth #PediatricENT #pediatricurology #pediatrics #Ethiopia #dogood #medicalvolunteer ... See MoreSee Less
Adorable pre-op snapshot of Aycheshi, 3 years old, prior to life-changing surgery.
#cleftstrong #nonprofit #globalhealth #pediatricsurgery #medicaltraining #Ethiopia ... See MoreSee Less
Medical records volunteer Mary Jo Wagner shares an initial reflection on being a part of the #CSIEthiopia team: "We wrapped up our first day of surgery after 12 hours and 11 patients, and I am left in awe by the care, patience and skill of this team. And I am especially impressed by the patience and kindness of the expectant families and their little babies who have endured incredibly long waits to both be evaluated for surgery and then wait their turn for their life-changing transformations by the CSI team of ENT and Urology surgeons and Pediatricians. As a first time volunteer with CSI and my first introduction to Ethiopia, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to experience this life-affirming work."
#nonprofit #pediatricsurgery #medicaltraining #volunteer #globalhealth #teamwork #pediatricnursing ... See MoreSee Less