Otology in Kenya

Kenya Outreach Program

Frequncy:

Twice annually for 10 days (spring and fall)

Areas of Focus:

Educational Lectures, rural outreach, otologic surgery

Affiliations:

University of Kentucky Otolaryngology Department (supporting institution), University of Nairobi

Specific Volunteer or Resource Needs:

Provision of donated otologic instruments. In the past this has included drills and a facial nerve monitor.

Summary

Since 2012, Matthew L. Bush, MD, PhD, an attending otolaryngologist from the University of Kentucky Otolaryngology Department, has traveled to Kenya biannually with a team of volunteer residents to assist John Ayugi, MBChB, MMED, a staff otolaryngologist at the University of Nairobi, in establishing an otologic surgery program at the university. Teaching is integral part of this trip. As the modern practice of otology is still relatively new in the country, the team from University of Kentucky serves an important dual role of performing surgical procedures whilst serving as peer supervisors of the Kenyan resident colleagues on basic tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy techniques. Operative candidates are identified between trips and middle ear procedures are performed during the visit. For many patients in the region, this is the only access to otologic surgical care that they have during the year.