Rwanda Successfully Promulgates ATLS, Strengthening National Trauma Care

In February 2025, Rwanda officially promulgated the Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) program, marking a major milestone in the country's trauma care system. Led by the Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital (RMRTH), the Rwandan Surgical Society, and the Ministry of Health, with support from the ACS Committee on Trauma (COT) and ACS Region 17, this effort ensures standardized, lifesaving trauma management training for healthcare providers.

Recognizing the need for a comprehensive national trauma framework, the Ministry of Health established the National Trauma Task Force, integrating experts from tertiary hospitals, the University of Rwanda, and district hospitals. The promulgation of ATLS is a key part of broader trauma system development efforts supported by the ACS COT and the ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery, which also includes:

• Establishing the Rwandan Trauma Task Force
• Drafting a national trauma system development plan to expand trauma education, implement trauma center standards, and enhance quality improvement efforts

The ATLS rollout at RMRTH included:

• First ATLS Provider Course (Feb 14-16, 2025)—Trained 15 surgeons and emergency physicians, with nine selected as Instructor Potentials.
• ATLS Instructor Course (Feb 18-19, 2025) —Prepared nine instructor candidates, four of whom later became certified instructors.
• Second ATLS Provider Course (Feb 21-23, 2025) —Enrolled 14 participants, with 13 completing and eight advancing as future instructors.

By the conclusion of the training, Rwanda had seven certified ATLS instructors, one course director, one coordinator, five instructor candidates, and 30 ATLS providers, forming a strong foundation for future trauma education.

These efforts have received strong support from Minister of Health Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, the chief of staff RDF MS Maj. Gen Dr Ephrem Rurangwa, and RMRTH Commandant Brig. Dr. Eugene Ngoga, reinforcing Rwanda’s commitment to training, governance, and infrastructure development. With continued investment, Rwanda is poised to become a regional leader in trauma system development.

Directors and Instructors

• Christopher M. Dodgion, MD, MSPH, MBA, FACS—Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee
• Hakim ElKholy, MD, FACS—Region 17 Chief, Egypt Country Director, Egyptian Life Support Training Center
• George Abi Saad, MD, FACS—Lebanon National Director, COT member, American University of Beirut Medical Center
• Emnet Tesfaye, MD—Ethiopia National Director, Hawassa University
• Tewodros Tessema, MD—Ethiopia Course Director, Hawassa University
• Barclay Stewart, MD, MPH, PhD—Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Washington in Seattle
• Abdullah Al Harthy, MD—Oman National Director
• Dia Ageib, MD—Region 17 Chair

Instructors

• Kindalem Worku, MD—Assistant Professor, Hawassa University
• Fayrouz Abu-Hamdan, MD—Clinical Instructor, Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee

Educators

• Walid AbouGalala, MBBS, EMDM, MSc, MAoMEdu—Consultant in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation; Consultant, Emergency Preparedness and Response Department, Ministry of Public Health, Qatar
• Getu Ataro, MEd—Ethiopia National Educator, Hawassa University

Coordinators

• Samir Ballouz, MSc—Region 17 Course Coordinator, American University of Beirut
• Ephrem Gechere, MSc—Ethiopia National Coordinator, Hawassa University
• Maria Paulsen, MEd—Course Coordinator, Department of Surgery, University of Washington in Seattle

Of note, Drs. Chris Dodgion, Emnet Tesfaye, Fayruz Abu-Hamdan, and Walid AbouGalala are not pictured in the group photo. 

Maria Paulsen, assisted with pre-trip coordination, planning and training of the Rwandan site coordinator, but she was unable to join the in-person portion of the trip. 

We extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Dany Westerband who assisted with the initial filing of the paperwork for site approval, championed this process, and participated in planning meetings.