In August 2025, Thomas Pham, MD, FACS, Maha Mohamed, MD, FACP, FAST, and Kenneth Tran, MD, FACS, from Stanford University in California, along with Tsuyoshi Todo, MD, FACS, from Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, California, completed the first multidisciplinary ACS H.O.P.E. transplant partnership visit to Lusaka, Zambia—marking a major step forward in dialysis and transplant care.
The visit was defined by collaboration with our Zambian colleagues, whose dedication to advancing patient care is central to the program’s success. In vascular surgery, Dr. Tran worked side by side with Drs. Abel Kapembwa and Emmanuel Liche (Lusaka), as well as Drs. Kasunde and Boniface (Ndola), who are now confidently performing brachiobasilic AV fistula creations independently. Surgeons from Livingston and Katete, including Dr. Halwindi, also participated enthusiastically and are preparing to expand access in their communities. Their progress not only strengthens dialysis care but positions them as future trainers for colleagues across Zambia
On the nephrology front, Dr. Mohamed collaborated with Dr. Aggrey Mweemba and his team to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment and lay the groundwork for Zambia’s first nephrology fellowship, slated to begin in 2026. She also worked with Dr. Teddy Kajimotu and house officers to support clinical teaching, research development, and future international presentations—ensuring Zambian trainees will shape the global nephrology dialogue.
In transplant surgery, Drs. Pham and Todo partnered with Drs. Bassem Wadie, Victor Mapulanga, and Emmanuel Liche to perform living donor nephrectomies and kidney transplants, refining peri- and postoperative protocols together. Through shared decision-making and bedside collaboration, Zambian teams demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a steadfast commitment to patient safety.
This inaugural multidisciplinary effort reflects the ethos of ACS H.O.P.E.: building enduring capacity while safeguarding patient trust. Every skill transferred, protocol refined, and research project launched is guided by the principle that patients deserve safe, equitable, and compassionate care.
Cultivating this model of shared learning and sustainable impact will strengthen kidney care for generations of Zambian patients. Special thanks to our Zambian partners for their leadership and vision. The collaboration continues with vascular surgeon Salim Lala, MD, MBA, FACS, from George Washington University in Washington, DC, traveling in September, transplant surgeons Kenneth J. Woodside, MD, FACS, and Amy Lu, MD, MPH, MBA, FACS, arriving in November, and Gazi B Zibari, MD, FACS, IHPBA (Hon), and Hosein Shokouh-Amiri, MD, FACS, traveling in December.
