PROVIDENCE – Dr. Russell E. White, cardiothoracic surgeon from University Surgical Associates, will use his recent $500,000 L’Chaim Prize honoring his work as chief of surgery at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Kenya to continue the effort.
White said he plans to use the prize to expand the mission of Tenwek Mission Hospital, which is estimated to perform more than half of the country’s cardiac surgeries.
White said the money will be used to provide further training for cardiac surgeons, who regularly see children with valve damage stemming from untreated strep infections years earlier. Besides learning to repair valves, the surgeons will also be trained on treating esophageal cancer, complications from tuberculosis and other common ailments affecting people in the region.
White, a clinical professor of surgery at Brown University, has served as the chief of surgery at Tenwek Hospital since 1997.
“I’m deeply honored to have been named for this award at a time when many missionary hospitals in Africa cannot buy needed medical equipment or are unable to serve the vast number of patients that walk through their doors,” White said. “When I see these patients who wouldn’t be cared for anywhere else, I know I’m in the right place.”
The award was created to highlight extraordinary Christian medical missionary service while also rewarding recipients with funds that could be used to improve their respective organizations. It was established last year by Mark and Erica Gerson, who were driven to help Africa’s population because of their religious beliefs.
“Since being on staff at University Surgical Associates, Dr. White has improved health care in Kenya in a number of ways and has been instrumental in the medical training programs as far away as Malawi, Zambia and South Sudan,” said Dr. William G. Cioffi, president of University Surgical Associates. “It is our hope that Dr. White continues to impart his humanitarian spirit to medical school residents and local Kenyan doctors so that they can also make positive impacts in other disadvantaged parts of the world.”
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
