Thanks to a grant from the Thoracic Surgery Foundation (TSF), the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the Edwards Lifesciences Foundation, people in Western Kenya will soon have better access to cardiothoracic surgery. Dr. Emily Farkas at Indiana University received the grant and together with Professor Barasa Otsyula, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at MRTH, will begin to procure supplies and equipment to set up this program, in collaboration with the work done at the Duke-MTRH Cardiology Center of Excellence.
Duke established the Cardiology Center of Excellence at MTRH back in 2009, providing patients with diagnostic imaging, as well as specialized in- and out-patient care. The new surgery program will build off of the success of the Center of Excellence to provide improved cardiovascular care for the many people who call Western Kenya home.