Programs:

Surgical Residency Program

Surgery - PAACS - Thompson

In February, 1996, a group of 15 missionary and African surgeons working indifferent hospitals met in Kenya to create the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons.  Their goal: to respond to the long-standing shortage of general surgeons for their hospitals and in their countries.

Since its inception in 1996, PACCS has increased its training programs from one to seven training programs in Gabon, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Kenya.  It has graduated seven general surgeons, all of whom are currently working in strategic rural hospitals in Africa.  The number of residents in training has grown to 30.  PAACS’s short-term goal is to train and disciple 100 African surgeons by 2020.

PAACS Bongolo

paacs-bongoloPAACS Bongolo was started in 1998 with the first graduate finishing in 2003.  The requirements for perspective residents include an active Christian faith and graduation from a known African medical school.  The full-time teaching faculty includes Dr. Keir Thelander (Program Director) and Dr. David Thompson (PAACS Director for Africa).  The teaching is supplemented in some sub-specialty areas by visiting faculty including the disciplines of orthopedics, gynecology, ENT, Maxillo-facial surgery, plastic surgery, and anesthesia.  In an average year there are 10 visiting faculty.  As all PAACS programs it is a 5 year training program involving the full breadth of surgery.  Bongolo has one resident per training year.  Each resident also has the option, when available, to do outside rotations in Nigeria and Kenya.  The program consists of lectures 3 times a week, teaching rounds, and intraoperative teaching.  More than the medical side the residents are disciple in their faith in praying with patients, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them, and in weekly Bible Study.  Being the longest standing PAACS program, we have graduated 5 residents from the program.  Graduates have come from the countries of Congo (Brazzaville), Madagascar (2), Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola.  As you can see the focus of PAACS is to train and disciple African Christian Surgeons. Please pray for Bongolo Hospital as we train the next generation of surgeons and pray for the residents as they undertake the arduous task of learning the art and practice of surgery.

More information about PAACS

PAACS Website

PAACS Brochure.

PAACS at Bongolo Hospital

Bongolo Residents & Attendings

Urgent Need

from the August 2009 PAACS Bulletin:

Dave Thompson

Dear Colleagues,

We have a problem.  The lack of surgeons willing to serve on the mission field remains our biggest hurdle to adequately staff our existing training programs and expand to the six or so hospitals that would love for us to open new programs.  Our goal is to train and disciple 100 African surgeons by 2020, and unless we can expand (not just survive!), we will not reach that goal.  In the meantime, people die of simple surgical diseases and souls go to a Christless eternity.

Simply stated, God is a gentleman.  It doesn’t seem like that should be a problem for us, but it is.  He is still Jehovah-Jireh – the God who provides – but as a gentleman, He is not willing to force anyone to accept His call.  As you read in this bulletin of both triumphs and wide open doors for exciting service, please let yourself hear God’s call.  As a veteran of 32 years in Africa, I promise you that the very best years of my life have been the eleven years that I have trained and discipled the wonderful young physicians of PAACS.

Dave Thompson

PAACS Director for Africa


PAACS Bulletins

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The Pan African Academy of Christian Surgeons sends out a monthly Bulletin. For the most recent Bulletins, click below: