Projects
Training & Capacity Building
Building Ethiopia’s Advanced Cardiovascular Workforce
Fellowship-Level Training for Sustainable National Impact
Heart Attack Ethiopia (HAE) leads a nationally integrated cardiovascular training and capacity-building program designed to address Ethiopia’s critical shortage of advanced cardiac specialists. Through a formal partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia and Amrita University, India, HAE facilitates long-term, high-level training for Ethiopian medical professionals who return to serve permanently within the national healthcare system. This program represents a strategic shift from short-term interventions toward sustainable, nationally owned solutions for cardiovascular care.
Why Training Matters
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in Ethiopia. Despite the growing burden, access to advanced cardiac care remains extremely limited due to a severe shortage of specialized professionals. While international medical missions have saved many lives, they cannot meet long-term national demand. Sustainable cardiovascular care requires building Ethiopia’s own permanent workforce, professionals trained to deliver advanced care, train others, and strengthen the health system from within. HAE Training & Capacity Building programs are designed for fully trained physicians and nurses committed to returning home to care for patients with life-threatening cardiovascular and neurological conditions.
Program Overview
Our Advanced Cardiovascular Training Program is a structured, fellowship-level initiative that equips Ethiopian healthcare professionals to provide complex cardiovascular care at the highest international standards, helping to reduce patient waiting lists, restore timely access to care, and build sustainable national healthcare capacity.
Training Duration
Long-term fellowship training: 24 months
- Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
- Adult and Pediatric Interventional Cardiology
- Cardiac Anesthesia and Critical Care
- Neuro-Interventional and Neuro-Critical Care
Short-term specialized training: 12 months
- Cardiac Perfusion
- Cardiovascular Operating Room (CVOR) Nursing
- Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nursing
- Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) Nursing
Training Location
Amrita University, Kochi, India – one of Asia’s largest and most advanced cardiovascular centers.
Program Focus
- Advanced clinical skills
- Hands-on procedural experience
- Systems-based cardiovascular care
- Knowledge transfer and leadership development
Training Tracks
Physician Training Programs
- Cardiothoracic Surgery (Adult & Pediatric) – Fully trained thoracic surgeons | 2 years
- Interventional Cardiology (Adult & Pediatric) – Fully trained cardiologists | 2 years
- Neuro-Interventional & Neuro-Critical Care (Adult & Pediatric) – Fully trained neurologists | 2 years
- Cardiac Anesthesia & Critical Care – Fully trained general anesthesiologists | 2 years
- Structural Heart Disease Training Program – Fully trained interventional cardiologists | 1 year
Allied Health Training Programs
- Cardiac Perfusion – Locally trained perfusionists | 1 year
- Operating Room (OR) Nurse – Registered nurses with ≥2 years experience | 1 year
- Cath Lab Nurse – Registered nurses with ≥2 years experience | 1 year
- Adult ICU Nurse – Registered adult nurses | 1 year
- Pediatric ICU Nurse – Pediatric nurses with ≥2 years pediatric experience | 1 year
Monitoring and Evaluation
Candidates for each training track will be selected through a rigorous, structured, and competitive process. Trainee progress will be continuously monitored and evaluated under joint oversight by two dedicated program directors—one appointed by Amrita University and one from the HAE Global Faculty—ensuring shared accountability and quality assurance.
- Quarterly virtual progress reviews will be conducted with both program directors in attendance. These sessions will formally assess clinical performance, academic milestones, and detailed procedural logs.
- Biannual in-person site visits will be carried out by the respective program directors to provide comprehensive, hands-on evaluation of trainee development, skills acquisition, and adherence to program standards.
This dual-institution, multimodal evaluation framework ensures high training standards, transparency, and continuous quality improvement across all training programs.
A Nationally Integrated Partnership Model
This program operates under a formal tripartite partnership that ensures national ownership, quality training, and long-term sustainability.
Heart Attack Ethiopia (HAE)
- Program coordination and oversight
- Candidate selection and preparation
- Monitoring, evaluation, and impact measurement
Federal Ministry of Health – Ethiopia
- Official endorsement and national ownership
- Strategic deployment of trained professionals
- Reintegration into the public health system
Amrita Hospital – India
- Academic and clinical training delivery
- Mentorship by world-class specialists
- Access to advanced cardiovascular facilities
Upon completion of training, all trainees will return to Ethiopia and commit to serving within the public healthcare system and HAE-affiliated hospitals for the required service period (two years of mandatory service upon completion of a one-year training program and four years of mandatory service upon completion of a two-year training program). During this time, they will apply their advanced skills and expertise to address the significant backlog of patients awaiting care, including many children and young adults, by delivering timely, lifesaving cardiovascular treatment and helping restore dignity, hope, and life to families and communities.
Our Team
Heart Attack Ethiopia’s Training and Capacity Building programs are led by a distinguished group of global physician-educators and clinical leaders committed to sustainable, ethical, and high-impact healthcare development in Africa. Each training program is overseen by dedicated Program Directors who provide academic leadership, clinical oversight, mentorship, and continuous evaluation throughout the training period and the post-training service commitment.
HAE PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Dr. James Kauten
Chief of HAE Cardiovascular Training Program and Director of Adult Cardiac Surgery
Jim Kauten, M.D. has been in practice as a cardiothoracic surgeon since 1986. In 1988, Professor Ellis L. Jones, MD and Dr. Kauten started the Cardiac Surgery program at Piedmont Hospital. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, and the American College of Chest Physicians. Dr. Kauten is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He earned his medical degree in 1978 from the University of Health Sciences of the Chicago Medical School. He completed his General Surgery residency at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 1983 and his cardiac surgery fellowship at Emory University in 1986. In 2011, he was awarded an MS in Medical Informatics from Northwestern University.
Dr. Kauten has been on the medical staff at Piedmont Hospital since 1988 and the Piedmont Heart Institute since 2009. In his career, he has performed over 11,000 open heart surgical procedures and over 2000 minimally invasive transcatheter valve replacements (TAVRs). He retired in December 2024 after 38.5 years in practice. He was an integral member of the Marcus Heart Valve Center’s Transcatheter Valve Replacement team. His clinical interests included valvular replacement surgery, transcatheter procedures for all types of cardiac valves, aorta and aortic root replacement, the Ross procedure, mitral valve repair, as well as CABG. Dr. Kauten was a principal investigator for multiple TAVR and other valve trials.
Dr. Kauten serves on the HAE Board as Director of the HAE Cardiac Training Program. Through a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia and Amrita University, Kochi, India, HAE facilitates long-term, high-level training for Ethiopian Medical professionals with the intent to return to Ethiopia as cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, and cardiac ICU specialists. Dr Kauten has spent 4 weeks in Ethiopia, over the past two years, performing open heart surgery on Ethiopian patients and is planning to return.
In his spare time, he enjoys worldwide travels with his wife visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites and has been to over 100 countries. He is very involved in Amateur Radio, building and designing computers and networks, 3D-design and printing, sporting clays shooting, long-range shooting, bird hunting, and photography. He also enjoys two grandchildren in Washington, DC and tries to visit them as often as possible.
Professor Mamas Mamas
Director, Adult Interventional Cardiology
Professor Mamas trained in Medicine at the University of Oxford and is currently a Professor of Cardiology at Keele University and is a practicing interventional cardiologist.
Professor Mamas is an Associate Editor of Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, Member of the AHA CLCD Cardiovascular Interventions Science committee and a Board member of ESC Cardio Oncology and the lead of the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society National Registry responsible for national PCI reporting.
Professor Mamas is the Clinical Director of the Centre for Prognosis Research at Keele University, and leads a group of clinicians, data scientists and statisticians whose research interests focus around the use of routinely collected electronic healthcare data to inform the diagnosis, treatment and clinical outcomes of real-world patients with cardiovascular disease. He has published over 1000 peer-reviewed manuscripts, cited over 67,000 times using big data in populations with cardiovascular disease and has a h-index of 103. He serves as the training program director for interventional cardiology for Heart Attack Ethiopia.
Dr. Gyaandeo Maharajh
Director, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Gyaandeo Maharajh is an internationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon specializing in complex congenital heart surgery for children and adults. With decades of experience and advanced training in leading cardiac centers, he has pioneered programs that ensure seamless care for patients with congenital heart disease. Currently serving as Chief of Cardiovascular surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Dr. Maharajh is widely regarded as a leader in his field. His commitment extends beyond borders: he regularly volunteers his expertise in both the Caribbean and Africa, playing an active role in multiple global initiatives, performing life-saving surgeries and mentoring local teams. Through these efforts, Dr. Maharajh advances access to world-class cardiac care in underserved communities, combining surgical excellence with a passion for education and capacity building.
Dr. Rebecca Piland
Director, Adult Cardiac Anesthesiologist and Intensivist
Rebecca Piland, MD is a dual-trained cardiac anesthesiologist and critical care physician with experience across cardiothoracic anesthesia, intensive care, and perioperative echocardiography. She completed fellowship training in Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine after anesthesiology residency at UT Southwestern.
Dr. Piland is deeply engaged in global health education and capacity building, serving as Chair-Designee of the Society for Education in Anesthesia–Health Volunteers Overseas Global Outreach Committee and as a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists Global Outreach Committee. Her work emphasizes sustainable training partnerships, ICU development, and bidirectional learning aimed at strengthening local systems and long-term impact.
Dr. Brianna McKelvie
Director, Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist
Dr. Brianna McKelvie received her medical degree from Western University, Canada in 2010. She completed her pediatric residency at Dalhousie University and her pediatric critical care fellowship at the University of Ottawa. She then completed an MSc in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) at the University of Toronto. She is currently a pediatric critical care physician at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, Canada. She is the Program Director for the pediatric critical care medicine fellowship and the Quality Lead for the PICU. She is also active in research, with a focus on patient safety, quality improvement and critical care in the community.
Mesfin (Yana) Dollar
Director, Adult Cardiovascular Perfusionist
Mesfin Yana Dollar is a senior cardiovascular perfusionist at Mayo Clinic and an experienced healthcare professional specializing in advanced cardiac surgery and patient-centered care. He practices in a high-acuity clinical environment, working closely with cardiothoracic surgeons and multidisciplinary teams to support complex heart and lung procedures. A rheumatic heart disease survivor, Mesfin’s professional path is deeply shaped by his personal journey—from surviving life-saving heart surgery as a teenager to later working alongside the very clinicians who inspired his career. His expertise includes extracorporeal circulation, clinical perfusion practice, and global health engagement, with a growing focus on expanding access to cardiovascular care and cost-effective medical solutions in East Africa. Mesfin deeply loves his profession, values mentorship and healthcare leadership, and is devoted to his family, grounding his work in compassion, purpose, and service.
AMRITA PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Dr. Rajesh Thachathodiyl
Director, Adult Interventional Cardiology
Dr. Rajesh Thachathodiyl, MD, DM, FACC is a senior interventional cardiologist and Professor of Clinical Cardiology at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Kochi, India, where he also serves as Director of the Coronary CT Angiogram Programme. With over two decades of clinical, academic, and leadership experience, Dr. Rajesh is widely recognized for his expertise in interventional cardiology and advanced cardiac imaging.
He completed his cardiology fellowship at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, following residency training in Internal Medicine at S.C.B. Medical College, Cuttack. He is board certified in both Cardiology and Internal Medicine in India and became a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) in 2019.
Dr. Rajesh has been a pioneer of transradial cardiac interventions at AIMS and currently spearheads the institution’s transradial interventional program. His clinical volume includes extensive experience in echocardiography, diagnostic and interventional coronary procedures, structural heart interventions, pacemaker implantations, and cardiac CT angiography. He personally interprets and reports all CT angiograms under his program, having performed thousands of studies.
In addition to clinical work, Dr. Rajesh is deeply committed to education and research. He supervises intensive cardiac care services, leads daily teaching programs for cardiology fellows, and has contributed to more than 40 peer-reviewed publications. He has also served as a co-investigator in major international clinical trials, including OASIS 5 and OASIS 6, and remains actively involved in global cardiology conferences and training initiatives.
Dr. R. Krishna Kumar
Director, Advanced Pediatric Cardiology
Dr. Raman Krishna Kumar is presently a Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatric Cardiology at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Center, Amrita University, Kochi, Kerala.
He has pioneered the delivery of advanced of care for Children with Heart Disease in India. He helped establish the pediatric heart program at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in 1998. Under his leadership, this program acquired global reputation in quality of clinical services, research and training. The program is a destination from patients and trainees from all over India and many parts of the world. A significant proportion of the national workforce has been trained at AIMS. The pediatric heart program at AIMS, Cochin was awarded the and BMJ award for quality improvement (2014) for delivering outstanding outcomes. The program is a Children’s HeartLink Global Center of Excellence for training. It was also awarded the status of a collaborating center of excellence in research by the Indian Council of Medical Research. He delivered the Duckett Jones Memorial Lecture at the American Heart Association at the annual conference in Nov. 2025. He has authored over 280 publications and co-edited 5 books.
Dr. Praveen Varma
Director, Adult Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Brijesh P. Kottayil
Director, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Dr. Brijesh P. Kottayil, MBBS, MS, MCh is a Professor in the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre (AIMS), Kochi, India. He is a highly regarded pediatric cardiac surgeon with extensive experience in complex congenital heart surgery, neonatal cardiac care, and valve repair.
Dr. Kottayil completed his medical training at Government Medical College Calicut, followed by a Master of Surgery at Government Medical College Mysore. He earned his MCh in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery from the prestigious Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Trivandrum—one of India’s leading centers for pediatric cardiac surgery training and research.
His advanced training includes international observerships at globally renowned institutions such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford, and the Children’s Heart Center in Linz, Austria, where he trained under world-recognized leaders in pediatric cardiac surgery. These experiences have strengthened his expertise in pediatric heart valve repair, complex biventricular conversions, and minimally invasive pediatric cardiac surgery.
Dr. Kottayil has received several prestigious honors, including a Gold Medal in General Surgery, the TSFRE grant for advancing pediatric heart valve repair in India, and the K. M. Cherian Young Investigator Award. He has authored over 40 publications in leading international journals and remains deeply committed to advancing cost-effective, high-quality pediatric cardiac care. His work continues to impact clinical outcomes, training, and innovation in pediatric cardiac surgery both in India and internationally.
Dr. Thushara Madathil
Director, Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia and Cardiac Critical Care
Dr. Thushara Madathil is a cardiac anesthesiologist and critical care specialist with over a decade of experience in advanced perioperative cardiac care, academic leadership, and research. She completed her MBBS, MD in Anesthesiology, and DM in Cardiac Anesthesiology at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, where she has served in the Department of Cardiac Anesthesia and later advanced to Chief of Cardiac Anesthesia.
Her clinical expertise spans high-risk cardiac surgery, perioperative echocardiography, acute aortic syndromes, ECMO, post–cardiac surgery intensive care, interventional pulmonology, and minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery. She has played a key role in developing and sustaining a high-quality cardiac anesthesia program recognized for excellence in managing complex cases such as hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy and acute aortic pathology.
Dr. Madathil is deeply committed to medical education and capacity building. She has been actively involved in postgraduate training since 2016, mentoring residents and fellows, guiding dissertations, and contributing to curriculum development and accreditation processes. Her teaching emphasizes both academic rigor and empathetic, patient-centered perioperative care.
Her research portfolio includes over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals, with a growing focus on artificial intelligence applications in echocardiography and critical care. She has led interdisciplinary collaborations with engineering and public health teams, contributed to COVID-19 critical care research, and co-authored a textbook on pediatric cardiac intensive care. She is an active member of the Indian Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthesiologists.
Mr. Baburaj V. D.
Director, Adult and Pediatric Cardiovascular Perfusionist
Baburaj V.D. is a seasoned perfusionist and clinical leader with decades of experience across military, tertiary hospital and academic settings. He completed a Diploma in Operation Theatre Technique from SNDT University, Mumbai, and formal Perfusion Technology training at the Military Hospital (CTC), Pune. Baburaj began his clinical career with the Indian Navy in 1989, retiring as a Petty Officer in 2009 after wide-ranging service aboard ships and at naval hospitals; he served as Senior Perfusionist at Command Naval Hospital, Mumbai, from 2005–2009. Since 2009 he has been part of the Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery (CVTS) department at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi — progressing through Senior and Chief Perfusionist roles to Perfusion Coordinator. He coordinates MSc and BSc perfusion programmes for Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and provides hands-on teaching and practical training to perfusion students. Clinical strengths include adult, paediatric and neonatal cardiac surgery support, initiation and maintenance of VA and VV ECMO in operating theatres and ICUs, participation in cardiac transplantation teams, neonatal perfusion, aortic and minimally invasive cardiac procedures, ventricular assist devices, and the implementation of miniaturised perfusion circuits. He also oversees perfusion equipment maintenance, inventory and clinical data management, and regularly conducts seminars and training sessions for students and colleagues. Areas of interest include ECMO, VADs, heart and lung transplantation, and innovations in neonatal and minimally invasive perfusion techniques.
First Cohort Snapshot
The inaugural cohort includes six Ethiopian physicians undergoing 24 months of intensive fellowship-level training in cardiac surgery, interventional cardiology, and cardiac anesthesia and critical care. Future cohorts will expand to include perfusionists and specialized cardiac nurses through short-term training tracks.
This phased approach ensures quality, scalability, and long-term impact.
Who can apply
HAE invites qualified Ethiopian healthcare professionals to apply for upcoming cohorts of the Advanced Cardiovascular Training Program. Selection is conducted in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia and partner institutions to ensure national priority alignment and long-term impact.
Selection criteria
- Clinical excellence and professional integrity
- Commitment to return and serve within Ethiopia’s public health system
- Endorsement from relevant institutions
- Alignment with national cardiovascular care priorities
- Prior service with, or demonstrated commitment to, the HAE mission is considered an added advantage for prospective candidates.
We invite you to be part of this nationally led effort to build Ethiopia’s advanced cardiovascular workforce. Together, we can strengthen local expertise, expand access to lifesaving care, and ensure that no Ethiopian life is lost due to the lack of advanced cardiovascular capacity.
Ideal Candidates
HAE Training and Capacity Building programs are designed for highly motivated Ethiopian healthcare professionals who are fully trained in their respective disciplines and committed to returning to Ethiopia to serve patients facing life-threatening cardiovascular and neurovascular disease. Ideal candidates demonstrate clinical excellence, strong ethical grounding, and a deep sense of responsibility to help address the overwhelming backlog of patients who have waited months or years for definitive care.
All trainees are expected to return and serve within the Ethiopian public healthcare system and HAE-affiliated hospitals, contributing to sustainable national capacity building and equitable access to lifesaving services.
Requirements for the application process:
- Medical Degree & Specialty Certificates (MBBS, MD, MS, or equivalent)
- Medical Registration Certificate (National/State Licensing Body)
- Recommendation Letter (from a senior faculty or medical professional)
- Statement of Purpose (detailing specialization interest and career goals)
- Copy of Passport
- Proof of Clinical Experience (if applicable)
Physician Training Programs
- Program Duration: 2 years
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained adult or pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons
- Demonstrated commitment to advanced surgical excellence and high-acuity cardiac care
This program addresses the critical shortage of cardiac surgeons in Ethiopia and aims to reduceprolonged surgical waiting lists.
- Program Duration: 2 years
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained adult or pediatric cardiologists
- Strong interest in catheter-based cardiovascular interventions
Graduates of this program expand access to timely, lifesaving interventional cardiac care for patients with limited treatment options.
- Program Duration: 2 years
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained general anesthesiologists
- Interest in cardiac anesthesia, perioperative medicine, and critical care
This training pathway is essential to the safe and effective delivery of complex cardiac surgical and interventional programs.
- Program Duration: 2 years
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained neurologists
- Interest in neuro-interventional procedures and neuro-critical care
This program addresses the growing burden of stroke and complex neurovascular disease in settings with limited access to advanced care.
- Cardiac Perfusion
- Program Duration: 1 year
- Ideal candidates include:
- Locally trained cardiac perfusionists
- Experience supporting cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiac surgery
Perfusionists are the technical backbone of cardiac surgery programs and are critical to reducingsurgical delays.
- Operating Room Nurse
- Program Duration: 1 year
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained registered nurses
- A minimum of two years of clinical nursing experience
- Interest in perioperative and surgical care
- Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Nurse
- Program Duration: 1 year
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained registered nurses
- A minimum of two years of clinical nursing experience
- Interest in interventional cardiology and acute cardiac care
- Adult Intensive Care Unit Nurse
- Program Duration: 1 year
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained adult registered nurses
- Interest in the management of critically ill adult patients
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Nurse
- Program Duration: 1 year
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained pediatric registered nurses
- A minimum of two years of pediatric clinical experience
- Demonstrated commitment to caring for critically ill children
- Program Duration: 1 year
- Ideal candidates include:
- Fully trained interventional cardiologists
- Clinicians with prior experience in complex coronary procedures
- Candidates with a strong interest in structural heart interventions and team-based care
The program is a one-year advanced fellowship undertaken after completion of a two-year Interventional Cardiology program.
Application Process
- Complete the online application form
- Upload required professional documents
- Institutional review
- Final selection and placement
Partner With Us
HAE welcomes collaboration with government institutions, academic centers, corporate partners, and supporters who share our commitment to strengthening Ethiopia’s cardiovascular workforce. Together, we can ensure that advanced cardiac care is accessible, sustainable, and delivered by Ethiopian professionals for generations to come.
NEXT MISSION | July 3 -18
Medical Missions
Heart Attack Ethiopia (HAE) organizes biannual medical missions that bring together dedicated healthcare professionals to provide critical cardiovascular care to underprivileged patients in Ethiopia at no cost. Since its inception, HAE has successfully conducted two medical missions, during which our team performed an impressive 120 life-saving cardiac interventions. These interventions include essential procedures such as Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCIs), Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), Permanent Pacemaker (PPM) implantations, and Cardiac Ablations, all aimed at improving the health and quality of life for those in need.
Mission #1 | February 2024
HAE successfully conducted its first lifesaving mission in collaboration with the Children’s Heart Fund of Ethiopia (CHFE), performing 32 advanced cardiovascular procedures at a total cost of $400,000, including in-kind donations of medical supplies.
Mission #2 | August 2024
HAE successfully carried out its second lifesaving mission in collaboration with the Children’s Heart Fund of Ethiopia (CHFE), St Paul’s Millennium Medical College/St. Peter’s Specialized Hospital, and TiKur Anbesa Specialized Hospital (TASH). This initiative led to the successful execution of 90 advanced cardiovascular procedures, including open-heart surgeries, at a total cost of $1.4 million, which also included generous in-kind donations of medical supplies.
Mission #3 | February 2025
Our third cardiovascular mission to Ethiopia was a resounding success, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to delivering lifesaving cardiac care to underserved communities. A dedicated team of 17 volunteers—14 from the United States, 2 from England and 1 from Botswana—worked collaboratively across two major hospitals in Ethiopia, performing 86 critical procedures, including valve replacements, coronary artery bypass surgeries, and percutaneous coronary interventions.
In a pioneering effort, we launched Ethiopia’s first fully accessible heart attack care pilot program—an important milestone toward establishing a comprehensive primary PCI center at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH). This initiative is designed to ensure that no patient is denied essential cardiac care due to financial limitations.
A key highlight of this mission was the signing of a tripartite memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian Airlines and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. This strategic partnership will enhance logistical coordination and support for future missions, strengthening our ability to provide timely, high-quality care.
We were also profoundly moved by unexpected visits from patients whose lives were saved during our previous missions—powerful reminders of the lasting impact of this work and the lives it continues to transform.
HAE’s Cardiovascular Center at Myungsung Medical School and Myungsung Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (MCSH)
HAE’s Cardiovascular Center at Myungsung Medical School, anchored at Myungsung Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (MCSH); Ethiopia’s pioneering private Comprehensive Specialized Hospital with 165+ beds, advanced ICU/NICU, 24/7 emergency care, and cardiac diagnostics including Echo, ECG, and treadmill testing, is dedicated to advancing high quality, equitable cardiovascular care through integrated clinical services, education, research, and community engagement that will follow a stair-step, phased capacity building model.
In partnership with local and global collaborators, this approach aims to strengthen sustainable cardiovascular systems of care across Ethiopia by prioritizing workforce development, infrastructure growth, and seamless service continuity beyond episodic missions.
Institutional Partnership and Vision
HAE’s Cardiovascular Center has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Myungsung Christian Medical Center (MCM) to collaboratively develop a more sustainable CV system of care led by HAE-Ethiopia. Under this partnership, MCM serves as the central “mothership” for all HAE related cardiovascular activities, including clinical care, training, research, and coordination. From MCM and MCSH, multidisciplinary teams will be dispatched to HAE affiliated hospitals such as Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), St. Paul’s/Peter Hospital, CCE, and other partner institutions to support capacity building and service delivery.
This hub-and-spoke model is designed to strengthen coordination across sites, ensure consistent standards of care, and provide services in between missions by building local clinical capacity, standardizing care pathways, and supporting year round cardiovascular services across affiliated hospitals. Our vision is to bridge mission gaps with ongoing basic and intermediate CV support at MCSH backed by its proven excellence transitioning to full spectrum care as local expertise grows.
Clinical Services (Stair-Step Phased Development)
HAE’s Cardiovascular Center employs a stair-step, phased capacity-building approach coordinated through MCM and MCSH. Services start with basic CV offerings such as non-invasive diagnostics (echocardiography, ECG), outpatient management, and leveraging MCSH’s existing state-of-the-art angiography and labs alongside mission based advanced interventions, progressively scaling to sustained, comprehensive delivery with year round capabilities extended to affiliated hospitals. This model ensures safety, sustainability, and continuity of care.
Planned clinical services include:
- Phase 1 (Foundational): Non-invasive cardiology and diagnostic services
- Phase 2 (Mission-Enhanced): Invasive and interventional cardiology; primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute heart attack patients
- Phase 3 (Comprehensive): Structural heart interventions; cardiac surgery with integrated pre- and post-operative care; heart failure and advanced CV care
- Ongoing: Preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation services
Education and Training
As part of Myungsung Medical School and MCSH, HAE’s Cardiovascular Center plays a central role in training the next generation of cardiovascular professionals:
- Residency and fellowship training
- Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs
- Local and trainee exchanges
Research and Innovation
The Center is committed to clinically relevant research and innovation aimed at improving cardiovascular outcomes:
- Health systems and implementation research
- Outcomes and quality improvement studies
- Collaborative research with national and international partners
- Innovation in diagnostics, digital health, and point-of-care technologies leveraging MCSH’s high-quality labs
Community and Outreach
In collaboration with HAE–Ethiopia and partner institutions, the Center supports community-focused initiatives, including:
- Cardiovascular screening and prevention programs
- Public awareness and education campaigns
- Outreach services to underserved populations from MCSH and dispatched teams
Partnerships and Affiliations
- Myungsung Christian Medical Center (MCM) – central hub/mothership
- Myungsung Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (MCSH) – operational anchor with proven excellence (government ‘green status’ 2015-2017)
- Heart Attack Ethiopia (HAE–Ethiopia) – owner and operator
- Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH)
- St. Paul’s/Peter Hospital
- CCE and other affiliated hospitals
Contact Information
For clinical referrals, academic collaboration, or partnership inquiries, please contact HAE’s Cardiovascular Center through Myungsung Medical School or MCSH directly.