Otolaryngologists Open WAISS to Improve Access to Care

by Jennifer Fink •

Traditional dancers perform for guests during the WAISS ribbon-cutting celebration.

At the time, there were two possibilities: a hospital built by a New York-trained surgeon that had become a world-class center for spinal surgery and an oncology hospital built by a Swedish group. Dr. Boahene spoke with representatives of both groups, hoping to secure a deal to purchase nearby land. Both groups agreed at different times. Then, both backed out. Dr. Boahene resumed his search. Eventually, the orthopedic hospital agreed to sell a portion of its land. FSS purchased it, and Dr. Gassner found an architectural team to draw up blueprints, pro bono. The next years were spent reviewing plans, fundraising, overseeing construction, and procuring surgical instruments and medical equipment for the hospital.

“I have replaced all my dark hair with grey hair since we started,” Dr. Boahene said. “Building a hospital in Ghana—building there in general—is a challenge. Building a hospital to the standards we are used to in the U.S. is a whole new level of challenge.”

The new 87,000-square-foot hospital is adjacent to the FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital in Accra, Ghana’s capital. Thanks to the expertise of world-class volunteer surgeons and nurses, WAISS currently offers minimally invasive urologic surgeries, head and neck cancer surgery, minimally invasive skull base surgery, microvascular reconstruction, craniofacial surgery, and more. These professionals will work alongside local healthcare providers, passing along their expertise.

“The facility is world-class. We believe that we will be able to train the next generation to the highest level of competence,” Dr. Sofola said.

He and Dr. Boahene are not yet done, however. They envision WAISS as a flagship facility akin, in some ways, to the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Minnesota. Just as Mayo now has satellite hospitals in other states, which attract patients who need high-level care, Drs. Sofola and Boahene expect WAISS to be the standard setter.

“We anticipate that we’re going to build more facilities in all corners of the continent,” Dr. Sofola said. “Our hope is that patients can receive the highest level of care, in a culturally sensitive environment, close to home.”      

Jennifer Fink is a freelance medical writer based in Wisconsin.