The PanAfrican Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) first opened a surgical residency program at the SIM Galmi Hospital in 1997. Due to staffing difficulties, the program had to be shut down before it had completed its first two years. In August of 2012, Galmi Hospital re-opened it’s PAACS program under the direction of Dr. Joe Starke and Dr. Yakoubou Sanoussi.
About PAACS
Recognizing the need to mentor and train African surgeons in Africa, PAACS began in 1996 as a conversation between several surgeons working in mission hospitals across the continent. PAACS is a non-denominational, multinational organization focused on training and discipleship of these young surgeons.
By 1997 three training sites were opened, but by the end of the second year, only one program remained. But God was faithful! Today, there are 12 PAACS programs, and already 51 graduates! The SIM Galmi Hospital is blessed to be a part of this great vision!
PAACS exists to train and disciple African surgeons to glorify God and to provide excellent, compassionate care to those most in need.
PAACS at Galmi
The SIM Galmi Hospital was one of the three initial PAACS training sites to open in 1997. Dr. Harold Adolph started the program, accepting Yakoubou Sanoussi, a young Nigerien doctor, as our first student. Unfortunately, during the second year of the residency, Dr. Adolph was no longer able to continue practicing nor teaching due to health problems. A replacement could not be found in time, our students were forced to pursue other means of training and the PAACS program shut down.
This was a confusing turn of events for so many, but God’s hand was still at work. While Dr. Sanoussi continued his studies to become a surgeon, God began directing Dr. Joe Starke, a surgical oncologist in the US, toward the SIM Galmi Hospital.
After completing a surgical fellowship in France, Dr. Sanoussi returned to Galmi Hospital with his family in 2009 to be our chief of surgery. The following year Dr. Starke and his family relocated to Niger and together these two very gifted surgeons began laying the foundation to re-open the PAACS program at Galmi.
In 2012 the SIM family at Galmi Hospital welcomed two French-speaking doctors from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since that day our program has expanded to seven residents, and we saw our first surgeon graduate in August 2017!
Get Involved
We have a great need for surgeons with all subspecialties including:
- Trauma Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
- Orthopedics
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Plastics and Maxillofacial Reconstruction
Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering at Galmi Hospital.
We also have a need for financial assistance to subsidize the running of the PAACS program at the SIM Galmi Hospital. For more information on supporting PAACS at Galmi, check out our PAACS project page.
Apply for the Program
Are you a doctor wishing to train to be a surgeon? Are you a disciple of Jesus? Are you a citizen of an African country? Do you speak both English and French? Are you willing to spend your first five years of practice in an under-served medical center in Africa?
Interested in applying to be our next PAACS Surgical Resident? Apply now.