The cheers during the second graduation ceremony for Kamuzu Central Hospital’s pediatric surgery training program in Malawi, Africa felt like a family celebration, and in many ways, it was. Three newly trained pediatric surgeons stood beaming as they graduated from the invaluable program, a moment made possible through a powerful partnership with Texas Children’s.
As a hospital devoted to caring for children in Texas and around the world, this milestone is a vivid reminder of what our global initiatives look like in action.
One of the new graduates will remain at Kamuzu Central Hospital to work alongside Dr. Bip Nandi, a pediatric surgeon who is part of the Global Surgery and Anesthesiology team. Dr. Nandi has played a significant role in shaping the program in Malawi into what it is today.
The other two graduates will return to South Sudan as the only pediatric surgeons in the country. They will serve a staggering population of 5.4 million children who previously had no dedicated pediatric surgical care.
The program reflects Texas Children’s commitment to advancing children’s health globally. By supporting training programs, providing faculty salary support and investing in sustainable, community-driven solutions, we continue to help expand access to high-quality care where it’s needed most.
Kids Operating Room (KidsOR), a Scottish foundation focused on increasing surgical capacity for children worldwide, funded this year’s graduating class. While KidsOR funded the class, our hospital ensured strong on-site leadership and mentorship for the trainees.
Chief of the Global Surgery and Anesthesiology Program Dr. Jed Nuchtern shared that the collaboration among organizations for the program is achieving the overall goal: saving children’s lives in African countries where healthcare resources are limited.
“Our pediatric surgery training program has now helped train five pediatric surgeons, with five more in the pipeline,” Dr. Nuchtern said. “We are immensely proud of these graduates and the services they provide in resource-challenged areas of the world.”
This celebratory event marked a major leap forward for pediatric care in two African countries where specialized surgery is desperately needed. By investing in providers abroad, we are impacting global health for generations to come.
Click here to learn more about our global health initiatives and how you can support our efforts.