PAACS Orthopedic Task Force
Why a PAACS Orthopedic Task Force?
The Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) was created to train African surgeons to offer physical healing and spiritual hope in Jesus' name to Africa's sick and suffering. The intermediate goal is train 100 excellent African surgeons in Africa by the year 2020, who will then go and serve in their own countries.
The PAACS OrthopedicTask Force exists to help PAACS in that goal. But why a separate task force for orthopedics?
The Need
Because of the lack of specialists, general surgeons in Africa have a much broader practice than in the west. Well-trained surgeons in Africa must be trained in orthopedics as well as other specialties not typically included in the generals surgery training in Western residents.
Up to now, many orthopedic surgeons have felt called to contribute their time and expertise to help train these eager African residents, but most can only stay at a mission hospital for relatively short periods of time, limiting the impact of their efforts. They must use the equipment that is available, which is often old, poorly maintained, and with limited disposable elements. That hampers effective training. Industry is reluctant to contribute in meaningful ways to these individual efforts because of the lack of long lasting impact and the lack of proper long term care for the instruments they would supply.
The Task Force focus
The focus of this group of orthopedic doctors will be to:
- Ensure consistent deployment of orthopedic rotations per year on site to effectively train PAACS residents and help disciple them in their Christian walk. Multiple orthopedic surgeons would come for shorter, consecutive and back-to-back trips to cover the rotation. Several well-equipped sites would the foundations for these rotations so that equipment could be supplied and maintained, thus facilitating the training. Orthopedic doctors in North America who may not be able to to go personally can serve as senders. Prayer support for the rotations will be essential as well as financial contributions for equipment needs, travel and housing expenses for the PAACS residents.
- Continue to improve the developed curriculum based on what a general surgeon in Africa needs to know about orthopedic problems and a set of core competencies to treat these diseases. The curriculum includes evaluation tools to test the residents.
- Pursue industry support for the organization as it grows and become an effective force.
study orthopedics
Want to help?
If you are a board certified orthopedic physician or surgeon and are interested in developing curriculum, teaching aids or training residents while on short term missions, please contact PAACS.