SPACIES

SPA East Africa Pediatric Anesthesia Fellow for 2016-17

By Faye Evans, MD
Boston Children’s Hospital

Dr. Tsitsi Chimhundu-Sithole has been selected as the SPA East Africa Pediatric Anesthesia Fellow for the 2016-17 academic year.

Prior to starting the fellowship, Tsitsi worked as an anesthesiologist in the two major referral hospitals in Zimbabwe. Harare Hospital is a large institution that houses a children’s hospital. Harare Children’s Hospital is a 350-bed centre that performs approximately 1300 pediatric surgical cases annually. The hospital has three dedicated pediatric ORs, a six-bed PICU, as well as a burns unit. In contrast, Parirenyatwa Hospital, the largest referral hospital in the country, has 1800 beds catering for both adults and pediatric patients.  It has no operating room dedicated to children.

Despite there being three pediatric surgeons and six pediatric surgery residents, Zimbabwe has no trained pediatric anesthetist at present.

I asked Dr. Chimhundu-Sithole to share with you her interest in pursuing a fellowship in pediatric anesthesiology. Her answer is below.

The residency training in Zimbabwe is a general program with no opportunity for sub-specialty training afterwards. During residency I noticed this deficit and developed a keen interest in pediatric anesthesia. There is a drive in the department of Anesthesia to apply for WFSA Fellowships. Joining the University of Nairobi Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship has been an amazing opportunity for me. The exposure has been absolutely phenomenal. I have already joined the University of Zimbabwe as junior faculty and am looking forward to teaching in Pediatric Anesthesia upon my return. The first SAFE Paeds course is due to be held in Zimbabwe later this year. While in Nairobi I have trained as a SAFE Paeds pediatric trainer.

I have a particular interest in cardiac and regional anesthesia; and in developing simulation training when I return. I would also like to assess the unmet burden of pediatric surgical disease in the country and how anesthesia can play a role in addressing this. At Parirenyatwa there is no regular pediatric list. I have been lobbying strongly for a dedicated pediatric OR, equipment, drugs and dedicated staff.
Long term plans include establishing a Pediatric Anesthesia fellowship in Zimbabwe and in conjunction with previous fellows of the Nairobi program. This would increase training capacity from the present annual intakes of three Fellows. In addition, I look forward to developing my research interests. Strong collaborations with pediatric anesthesia fellowships abroad would be useful in accelerating capacity building.

I am very fortunate to have a family that is very supportive of my professional career. My husband and two children are still in Zimbabwe and have been gracious enough to allow me to do this. My kids are my inspiration. 

In collaboration with the World Federations of Societies of Anaesthesiologists as well as Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland, the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) continues to provide financial support and guidance for fellowship development, as well as mentorship for their young faculty.