Tenwek's Cardiothoracic Center - the largest cardiothoracic hospital in sub-Saharan Africa

 What a blessing this will be to all those children and young adults with rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart disease!  The official opening is coming up later this year (2024) and Franklin Graham is scheduled to be there for the dedication ceremony. Samaritan's Purse has been a significant partner in bringing this project to fruition committing to provide $4 million of the $45 million cost of construction.  The center will be named after the late reverend Billy Graham, Franklin's father, and is projected to be the largest cardiothoracic hospital in all of sub-Saharan Africa.  Dr. Russ White, a longstanding missionary CV surgeon from the U.S. has been instrumental in training the 2 Kenyan physicians who will be heading up the physician leadership of the new hospital, and also in obtaining funding for construction.  His vision and leadership are not mentioned in the video, but it is safe to say that this project would not be happening were it not for his lifelong commitment to Tenwek Hospital and the Kenyan people.  It has always been part of the mission that the Kenyan trainees would eventually take over the leadership of the hospital, and the key medical staff positions...it's exciting to watch it actually begin to happen!!  Dr. Agneta Odera, and Dr.Arega Leta will be the first cardiothoracic fellows trained at the new hospital, and will then take over leadership of the program going forward.  Both Dr. Odera and Dr. Leta were in general surgery training together at Tenwek hospital under the supervision of Dr. Russ White, and Dr. Carolyn Spears - two long-term missionaries associated with World Medical Missions (the international mission arm of Samaritan's Purse).  Marilyn and I have been a witness to this project as it has been developing over the years and are very excited to see it coming to completion!  I think back on all the patients that I have helped care for on the medical service over the years who have suffered from advanced rheumatic valvular disease and advanced heart failure and am very thankful that they will now have a program that can help them survive and perhaps even thrive!...God is good!!

The Billy Graham Cardiothoracic Center at Tenwek 

Dr. Leta and Dr Odera with Dr. Russ White at graduation from the General Surgery program 2012