LAUSR

Introduction: We have summarized a 3-year project that has resulted in the establishment of a new congenital heart surgery program in collaboration with Kenyatta National Hospital of Nairobi - Kenya (Africa). In 2013, we started with only 18 patients undergoing surgical interventions. This has grown to more than 70 cumulative surgical procedures in the following years, with ever decreasing mortality. Materials and methods: The first step is to select a site and collaborative partner that will have adequate hospital equipment and personnel and the potential for self-sustainability. The next major step was the construction of surgical education teams that travel to the site for a 2-week educational mission twice a year. Finally, our program behooves the medical staff at local centers to educate themselves and adopt the principles of cardiac programs of excellence by visiting established heart surgery institutions so that they can return to their own centers with newly acquired knowledge and strategies that will better serve their patients. Discussion: In summary, near a great humanitarian work, the program is important for sharing our program model of effectively delivering high-quality pediatric cardiac care to underserved regions Conclusion: By outlining the steps it takes to achieve a program that can assess, educate, and train local pediatric cardiac specialists in current diagnostic modalities and new surgical and interventional techniques to the point where they are able to treat patients without the assistance of international consultants.