WE TRAIN
PEDIATRIC SURGEONS
In 2007 BethanyKids became the first site in East Africa for training pediatric surgeons accredited by the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). This training program is also the first specialty training program under the Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeon (PAACS), which ensures that the professional training is coupled with spiritual discipleship. In 2024 we began training surgeons in Uganda in addition to our founding program in Kenya.
The physicians who train at BethanyKids come from as far away as Madagascar and Sierra Leone, and many of them are returning to their home as the first pediatric surgeons in their country. Including both current trainees and our graduates, we’re already impacting the quality of pediatric care in 10 different countries. BethanyKids’ commitment to training local pediatric surgeons has a chance to impact tens of thousands of people that currently do not have access to this kind of care.
“Alone, I am not the answer. Training these surgeons will outlast anything I could do on my own and ensures that pediatric surgical care will continue for years to come.”
– Dr. Britney Grayson, Chief Medical Officer
Our graduates self-identify as Christian missionaries and share our values of sacrificial and unconditional love – so they are not just returning home for a job, they are returning home to pioneer pediatric programs to transform the lives of children who otherwise would have very little chances in life.
Dr. Brian Musau
Born in a small Kenyan village Brian grew up helping in the farm. He had earlier hopes of being a professional soccer player, until a bad fracture ended that dream. Brian learned up BethanyKids through our surgical camps and was impressed by the clinical excellence and the Jesus-centered heart to BethanyKids.
Dr. Catherine Jackson-Cole
Dr. Catherine was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone and has already worked with BethanyKids surgeon Dr. Lebbie. She is delighted to be joining the BethanyKids program and committing herself to pediatric surgery.
Dr. Denis Oluka
Training at our Uganda training hospital, Dr. Denis has already been an incredible asset to our team, organizing surgical outreaches in remote communities across Uganda for a full year before formally beginning his fellowship.
Dr. Emmanuel Bua
Dr. Emmanuel is our first trainee to train under our training program in Uganda. Part of his passion for pursuing pediatric surgery is knowing how many children fall through the cracks who’s lives could have been saved with access to a good pediatric surgeon. He is an active researcher and has focused his research on barriers to safe surgery in low and middle income countries, social justice, equity, medical education and innovation in medicine.
Dr. Fred Sebashoka
Born in Uganda, Dr. Fred was raised in his home country of Rwanda. His aspiration to become a pediatric surgeon stem from the shortage of specialists in Rwanda and his love for children. He hopes to advance Jesus-centered surgical care for underserved communities in Rwanda.
Dr. Isaac Wekesa Wanjala
Dr. Isaac is the oldest of three children and before coming to train with BethanyKids was a medical officer at Webuye County Hospital.
He has long loved working with kids and knew he wanted to specialise in paediatric surgery since he studied general surgery. He hopes to lead by example and bring more paediatric surgeons into the western regions of Kenya.
Dr. James Anya
Dr. James’ path has not been an easy one, growing up in the midst of civil war where, as children, he and his siblings were recruited as soldiers. But when his mother became partially paralyzed and he was supporting her in hospital, those around him quickly realised his gifts and potential to become a doctor himself. Getting into elementary school, high school and even medical school was never easy, but his faith and his desire to care for others carried him through to 2023 where he joined the BethanyKids’ paediatric surgical fellowship.
Dr. Marlene Ishimwe
Dr. Marlene had a passion for surgery from an early age. She worked hard to meet the standards required to get into medical school and qualified to attend Hope Africa University in Bujumbura, Burundi. At this institution she fully embraced what she described as her divine purpose for her life as she began the path to study children’s medicine. She will be one of the few paediatric surgeons in her home country of Burundi when she returns to practise.
Dr. Minyali Lomnyaki
Dr. Minyali grew up grazing cattle in a rural Massai community in Tanzania and first heard of BethanyKids through another pediatric surgical fellow. He has been impressed seeing the way BethanyKids integrates our faith in Jesus into our surgical practice. Seeing the number of children in his home country of Tanzania who lack access to a trained pediatric surgeon has motivated Dr. Minyali to prepare himself so that he might be a resource to the many who need care.
Dr. Muse Freneh
Dr. Muse Freneh is from a small town in Ethiopia. He completed a 2 year MCS program through the PAACS program in Sodoo Hospital and has always wanted to join the BethanyKids pediatric fellowship program, so is so excited that that dream is finally coming true.
Dr. Nicholas Mumbetsa
Dr. Nicholas served in a rural part of his home country of Kenya as a medical officer before joining BethanyKids as a surgical fellow. During his time in Kwale county he saw first hand how few children would get access to necessary surgical care because of the profound lack of access. He’s excited to train with BethanyKids, and become part of the solution to the problems he saw first hand.