This summer, a team of UVA Health clinicians participated in the institution’s first surgical mission trip to Nigeria, partnering with the VOOM Foundation to deliver life-saving cardiovascular care to medically underserved patients. Over three weeks, the mission provided critical interventions across two sites—Lagos and Oraifite in Anambra State—reaching thousands of patients through a combination of surgery, interventional procedures, primary care, and skills training.
Adanna Akujuo, MD, (second from left) and medical mission team members.
The trip was led by Adanna Akujuo, MD, a cardiac surgeon and professor in the Department of Surgery and vice chair of the VOOM Foundation Board of Directors. She spent two weeks on the ground, while five additional UVA team members joined for one week in Oraifite. The UVA contingent included cardiac surgery fellow Erik Scott, MD; intensivist and TCV ICU Director Akram Zaaqoq, MD, PhD, cardiac anesthesiologist Jonathan Curley, MD; perfusionist Kevin McElroy; and cardiac surgical technician Sheila Mike.
Together with more than 90 international volunteers from the U.S., Italy, Canada, Kenya, and Nigeria, the team completed 33 open heart surgeries, 54 cardiac catheterizations, 3 pacemaker implantations, 32 eye surgeries, and over 2,400 primary care evaluations.
In total, they distributed nearly 4,000 pounds of medication. These services reached patients who otherwise have little or no access to specialized care—an especially urgent need in Nigeria, a country of over 230 million people where just 298 heart surgeries were performed last year.
The VOOM Foundation’s mission goes beyond providing care—it focuses on building long-term capacity through education. International teams work side-by-side with Nigerian staff to ensure knowledge transfer and promote sustainable growth in local healthcare systems. Dr. Akujuo emphasized this dual mission as a natural fit for UVA’s academic environment. “As an academic institution, UVA is well versed in training,” she noted. “It’s an invaluable resource for both our Nigerian partners and our own trainees, who learn to function in environments with limited resources.”
The trip was also marked by logistical and clinical challenges, including limited resources, advanced disease presentations, and systemic inefficiencies. Despite these hurdles, the teams functioned seamlessly. “It is truly amazing how people from different countries and institutions, who speak different primary languages, can come together and function immediately as one team with a common goal,” said Dr. Akujuo. “One of the most memorable aspects is the profound gratitude expressed by patients and families.”
UVA’s involvement was sparked in part by a presentation during the Department of Perfusion and ECMO’s Lunch and Learn series earlier this year, where Dr. Akujuo shared her experience with VOOM. Support from departmental leaders, including Surgery Chair Allan Tsung, MD, and members of the Cardiac Anesthesiology Division, helped mobilize a multidisciplinary team.
For those considering future involvement, Dr. Akujuo says,
“Don’t hesitate. If you’ve ever thought about serving locally or internationally, stop considering and act—it will be one of the most fulfilling things you’ll ever do.”
To learn more or sign up for a future mission, visit www.voomfoundation.org, and contact Dr. Akujuo with any questions.
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