Community Outreach: Advancing Specialized Care Around the World

Urological surgery workshop in Ghana included nearly two dozen surgeries.

In a brightly lit, compact pediatric operating room, dozens of doctors, nurses and students crowded in to catch a glimpse of what was happening on the video monitor. Dressed in scrubs and colorful surgical caps, they surrounded the seasoned surgeon, who had traveled to Ghana from the United States to share his knowledge and expertise.

First-timers club

COLLABORATION The U.S. volunteer team poses with the Ghanaian team for a photo that was shown on the national television program “Sunday TODAY” with host Willie Geist.

For most of the Ghanaian team, this was the first time they had seen a laparoscopic surgery firsthand, and they were eager to soak in as much knowledge as possible.

“This is the first time we’ve been able to do laparoscopic surgery, and that’s due to recent equipment upgrades,” explains Richard Yu, MD, the surgeon behind the scope. Dr. Yu, a pediatric urologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, led the global health workshop in Ghana as part of International Volunteers in Urology (IVU). The nonprofit provides medical and surgical training to local doctors and nurses and is committed to improving patient outcomes and making quality urological care accessible and sustainable worldwide.

Dr. Yu embarked on his first global health workshop in 2008, and the experience profoundly shaped his perspective on medicine. The lack of resources and stark inequities in other parts of the world deeply affected him, sparking a passion for global health and inspiring him to encourage other clinicians to experience its transformative impact firsthand. The most recent weeklong workshop in Ghana, which took place in February 2025, was Dr. Yu’s fifth with IVU.

Raising awareness

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER Dr. Richard Yu with Ghanaian attendings who worked with the Boston Children’s team.

Although common worldwide, urological conditions often receive little attention due to their private nature, with stigma and lack of access to specialized care being contributing factors. These conditions, particularly urological birth defects, have a major impact on children’s lives, resulting in untreated congenital abnormalities and other urological conditions. IVU, Dr. Yu and his team sought to change this narrative through their global health workshop. The workshop team included Dr. Yu, a surgical fellow, a surgical resident, an operating room registered nurse, a surgical technologist and a communications director. The participants joining Dr. Yu included three clinicians from Boston Children’s Hospital: Kenneth Softness, MD; Andrea Dyer, MSN, RN, CNOR; and Angela Ruhiu, CST. Tyler Gaines, MD, from Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hosptial and I attended as well.

The group raised money for IVU and brought critical supplies with them to Ghana, including sutures, forceps, bandages and antibacterial ointment. They also brought books, toys and gifts to give to the children undergoing surgery, as well as gifts for those staying in the hospital wards.

Essential care for the underserved

WILLING AND ABLE (Left to right) Angela Ruhiu, Dorcas Arthur and Andrea Dyer took part in the IVU mission trip.

Through intentional local partnerships, IVU seeks to increase access to essential care for underserved communities. For this workshop, the team partnered with the clinical team at the 1,200-bed Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana’s second-largest hospital. Located in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti region, the hospital serves a catchment area of more than five million people. With limited resources, the hospital has only one specialized pediatric urologist. The workshop focused on providing hands-on training and education, ensuring that KATH’s medical professionals gained pediatric and reconstructive urology expertise.

“Everyone takes something away from the experience,” says Dr. Yu. “We teach the team in Ghana, and we learn a lot from them as well.”

In partnership with the clinicians at KATH, the team performed 23 life-changing surgeries during their trip. Dozens of residents, nurses and students gained invaluable experience. The workshop culminated with a half-day lecture series on topics including genital reconstruction, hypospadias repair and postoperative care.

The IVU initiative also contributes to global efforts to reduce healthcare inequities. According to the World Health Organization, “collaborating locally is key for progress globally toward health-related sustainable development goals.” IVU’s work directly addresses the challenge of specialty access, offering a sustainable model for international healthcare collaboration.

“I would encourage anyone interested in global health to learn more about IVU and consider participating in an upcoming workshop,” says Dr. Yu. “It will expand your perspective on life and how you care for patients.” OSM