Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Partnership

Prior to the pandemic, an affiliated team with the OGS from the Division of Otolaryngology (Dr’s. Vincent Biron, Yaser Alrahji and Andre Isaac) collaborated with Kenyan counterparts from the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) to create a needs assessment. This assessment included specific actionable items for improving access to head and neck medical and surgical care for Western Kenya. In 2020, the team received funding from Royal College Canada International to carry out these objectives to provide surgical training, lay groundwork for an otolaryngology residency program, help streamline effective referral pathways, and find solutions for low-cost diagnostics and surgical equipment. These objectives are carried out in Eldoret and virtually. The most recent trip to Eldoret occurred in October 2022. This composed of a hybrid laryngotracheal reconstruction course, live cases, and advanced otology training for local surgeons. During the rest of the year, the UofA-Moi team maintains communication and training objectives through virtual platforms for monthly tumour boards and will soon provide mentorship during surgery through use of augmented reality (AR) and smart glasses technology. Remote mentorship technology is supported by a partnership with OhanaOne.

Read more about the team's trip to Kenya here.