Our Programs
L'Chaim Initiative
African Mission Healthcare co-founder Mark Gerson and board member Rabbi Erica Gerson established the L'Chaim (To Life) Initiative to catalyze quality medical education and care through mission hospitals across Africa. The initiative consists of the annual L'Chaim Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service, the Mission Hospital Teaching Network, and the L'Chaim Scholars program.
L’Chaim Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service
The world's largest annual award for direct clinical care, the $500,000 L'Chaim Prize goes to the laureate's institution to support high-impact, life-saving health programs. A panel of leaders in African medical care selects the winner.
Mission Hospital Teaching Network
Also part of the L’Chaim Initiative, the Mission Hospital Teaching Network brings together teaching hospitals to share experiences, train students from across Africa, and benefit from African Mission Healthcare’s resources and experience. We make long-term investments to develop and expand the capacity of teaching hospitals whose graduates fan out across the continent to care for and train others. There are currently 12 institutions across eight countries participating in this network.
Burundi
Kibuye Hope Hospital
Ethiopia
Soddo Hospital
Cameroon
Mbingo Baptist Hospital
Baptist Institute of Health Sciences
Kenya
Kijabe Hospital
Maua Methodist Hospital
Kapsowar Hospital
Chogoria Hospital
Liberia
ELWA Hospital
Malawi
Nkhoma Hospital
Sudan
Mother of Mercy Hospital
Gabon
Bongolo Hospital
Recent L’Chaim Prize Winners
Dr. Francine Kouya (2023)
Oncologist
Mbingo Hospital, Cameroon
Dr. Kouya, whose oncology training was sponsored by African Mission Healthcare, will use the prize to help develop Cameroon's leading cancer center of excellence.
Dr. Tim Nunn (2022)
Orthopedic Surgeon
CURE Hospital, Ethiopia
Ethiopia has 50,000 children in need of treatment for spinal deformities. The Prize is helping Dr. Nunn start the country's first pediatric spine service.
Dr. William Rhodes (2021)
General and Reconstructive Surgeon
Kapsowar Hospital, Kenya
Serving in remote western Kenya since the late 1990s, Dr. Rhodes is using the Prize to train teams of surgical care providers to work in "surgical deserts."
Dr. Sister Priscilla Busingye (2020)
OB-GYN, Banyatereza Sisters of Uganda
Rwiibaale Health Center, Uganda
Dr. Busingye is Uganda's leading urogynecologist treating women with birth injuries. The Prize is helping build a maternal health center of excellence.
Dr. Tom Catena (2019)
Surgeon
Gidel Mother of Mercy Hospital, Nuba Mountains, Sudan
"Dr. Tom" is the only surgeon available to more than 2,000,000 people. The Prize formed the basis of a campaign to keep this hospital open in a war-torn region.
Dr. Rick Sacra (2018)
Family Practice
ELWA Hospital, Liberia
Dr. Sacra remained in Liberia through years of civil war and the Ebola epidemic. The Prize supported family medicine residency training for Liberian doctors.
Dr. Russ White (2017)
Heart Surgeon
Tenwek Hospital, Kenya
The Prize catalyzed a campaign to build the Tenwek Cardiothoracic Center, the only hospital of its kind between Egypt and South Africa. The award also supported African heart surgery training.
Dr. Jason Fader (2016)
Surgeon
Kibuye Hope Hospital, Burundi
Dr. Fader was the inaugural winner of the L'Chaim Prize, which helped complete a surgical building and start Burundi’s first internship program for doctors.
More Ways To Help
Africa faces a dire shortage of trained healthcare professionals, particularly in more advanced fields like surgery. African Mission Healthcare’s Mission Hospital Teaching Network is a group of like-minded mission hospitals committed to significantly expanding training capacity.
HIV remains a leading cause of death in Africa, right alongside a twin epidemic of tuberculosis. Your support helps train health workers and improve care.
Across Africa, just 5% of necessary surgeries are performed due to limited capacity. We are helping to change that reality.
Through the Surgical Access for Everyone (SAFE) initiative you can sponsor a patient’s surgery, including C-sections. You can save a life today.
Only 20% of Africa's hospitals and clinics can provide oxygen. Through O2 Africa, we are installing oxygen plants and distributing oxygen cylinders.
Far too many African women and children die as a result of preventable causes, especially those related to pregnancy or childbirth. Your support can help change that.
