Interview with Nimrod Mwang'ombe, MD; Kenya, Africa; World Neuroscience Leader

SUMMARY: Professor Nimrod (Nim) Juniahs Mwang'ombe from Kenya is interviewed by Dr. James Ausman. Dr. Mwang'ombe is highly recognized neurosurgeon on the African Continent and Internationally. His amazing life story follows. But the inspiring interview must be seen and heard to see how this man, who walked barefoot to school as a child grew up in Mombasa, Kenya, where he was raised to become a world leader. Because of the advanced thinking of his grandparents, who were also among the first educated in Africa, his mother and Minister father and then Bishop, in the Anglican Church had Nim attend private schools of different nationalities, which was common in Colonial Africa at that time. He eventually attended the University in Kenya in Nairobi. There he received his surgical and neurosurgical training. He then went to Queen's Square Neurological and Neurosurgical Hospital in London. At Queen's Square he experienced some of the most advanced global leaders in neurosurgery and interdisciplinary discussion and care of patients, which was found in other leading Neuroscience centers at the time in the UK, Mexico, Chile, Spain, and which is now appearing in the USA and globally.

Rather than succumb to the "brain drain" which led many physicians not return to their countries of origin, Nim did return to Kenya, "to make a Difference" that he believed he would hot have made by any other choice. He became Head of Neurosurgery at the University of Kenya, developed many training programs in hospitals and has fulfulled his expectations of training many neurosurgeons in Africa. He led to the development of modern neurosurgery with subspecialties in Kenya.

In my experience knowing Nim and attending African Grand Rounds, monthly, for almost 2 years, I find the neurosurgeons there to be very intelligent, practical, with terrific judgment and experience, obviously at different levels depending upon the resources in each of the 50 SubSaharan African countries. As Nim says, because of the over 1 billion Subsaharan African population, their neurosurgical exposure is far greater than those in the developed world. What they need in Africa is people help them develop the subspecialties, and residents from outside Africa to become involved with the large number of patients they see. They have seen and treated the complex cases not experienced in the developed world, but need the subspecialty expertise to reach a higher level. They have the talented people.

Can you imagine the millions of people he has directly and indirectly affected from his work in Neurosurgery? You will be surprised by his recommendation for neurosurgeons to become involved POLIITICS, because they will make better decisions than those non-medical people in those positions. His experiences are priceless to see and hear as he describes the evolution of his life as a neurosurgeon. His life story is engaging. His accomplishments are outstanding. One person Can Make a Difference and Professor Mwang'ombe has.

Outstanding, inspiring video. (75 minutes). Good for Video and Podcast; You will not hear this story elsewhere. What is your goal in life? If you want to save yourself, devote your life to helping others. "Love thy fellow as yourself", is the biblical directive. Which becomes the "Golden Rule" of life. (JIA)