by Dr. Mehret Desalegn, Pediatric Surgeon at AIC Kijabe Hospital, Kenya
I was born and raised in southern Ethiopia, where I witnessed firsthand the profound healthcare disparities affecting children across our continent. As a medical student and later as a doctor, I became increasingly aware of Africa’s critical shortage of pediatric surgeons—a gap that leaves millions of children in underserved communities without access to life-saving care.
My professional journey took a defining turn when I encountered one of the first graduates of the PAACS BethanyKids program in Kenya. Observing his clinical excellence and dedication to patient care demonstrated the transformative impact that well-trained surgeons can have in resource-limited settings. This experience inspired me to pursue pediatric surgery as a means to address the vast unmet surgical needs.
Through the AMH-sponsored fellowship at Kijabe Hospital, I received world-class training that equipped me to manage complex pediatric surgical conditions. The program’s emphasis on both technical skill and compassionate care shaped my approach to serving vulnerable populations.
Today, as a practicing pediatric surgeon and educator at BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, I am committed to two equally important missions: providing high-quality surgical care to children in need and training the next generation of African pediatric surgeons. This dual focus represents a sustainable solution to our continent’s surgical workforce challenges.
The reality across Africa is clear: when we invest in surgical training, we invest in healthier futures for entire communities. I am grateful to all who have supported this critical work, and I remain dedicated to expanding access to pediatric surgical care throughout our continent.