Congenital Heart Disease Program at Tenwek Hospital

Tenwek Hospital is a growing mission hospital located in the western highlands of Kenya. It serves as a primary care facility for over 600,000 people and is a regional referral center as well. Although the hospital serves all age patients without regard for race, tribe, religion or gender, the specific focus of this program is children and young adults with congenital heart disease or acquired heart disease secondary to rheumatic carditis. Work was begun in 2008 and has continued with annual surgical team trips since that time. Participation has grown to include a network of surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists and nurses from a variety of academic centers and private practices. These annual trips serve to educate and to support the Kenyan team whose expertise has grown in both medical and surgical management of commonly encountered cardiovascular disorders.