Dr. Daniel Manishimwe
General Surgery Resident
Kibuye Hope Hospital
Burundi
In 2012, as Dr. Daniel Manishimwe finished secondary school in Rwanda, he carried a deep burden for his community. Access to healthcare was severely limited, and he had witnessed the consequences firsthand when his sister died at a young age because she could not receive the medical care she needed. That loss not only stirred a calling to become a doctor—it planted in him a desire to offer hope and healing where there had been only sorrow. Even now, that early grief continues to shape the way he serves his patients and their families.
The road to medicine, however, was not easy. Unable to find a way into medical school, he enrolled in a pharmacy program instead. Still, he prayed for the chance to become a doctor. Two years later, he received an unexpected call from someone in Burundi with news of an open spot in a medical program. “It felt like a dream,” he recalls. “But I knew it was the promise of God.” Though many urged him to stay the course and finish pharmacy school, he followed the voice of God in his heart and made the switch.
Soon after, a political crisis erupted in Burundi. Doubts crept in, and others questioned his decision to move to a war-torn area. But he reminded himself that the same God who had opened the door to medical school would be faithful to carry him through. Against the odds, he completed medical school in peace in 2020, trusting God who always keeps His promises.
During his studies, Dr. Manishimwe completed an internship at Kibuye Hope Hospital. Although there was no formal PAACS program at the time, he met PAACS residents from Kenya who were rotating through. Their example left a lasting impression. They spoke of a program that trained surgeons with excellence and grounded them in Christ. From that point on, surgery became his passion.
After graduation, he began serving in a rural community near the Tanzanian border, where poverty was widespread and access to healthcare was nearly nonexistent. Many people had nothing to eat, let alone money for treatment. Out of fear or lack of options, some turned to traditional medicine. Dr. Manishimwe knew he was called to serve communities like this—to provide surgical care, teach ways to improve their conditions, and point people to the hope found in Jesus.
In 2023, after years of prayer and preparation, he was accepted into PAACS. He is now a second-year general surgery resident at Kibuye, which was officially established as a PAACS training site in 2022. His time in the program has already deepened both his surgical skills and his walk with Christ.
One experience left a profound impact on him. A 9-year-old girl arrived with a severe injury but, tragically, did not survive. Her grieving family spoke of seeking justice. Dr. Manishimwe was taken back to his own childhood pain—the loss of his sister that had shaped his calling. In that moment, he wanted more for this family, not more pain, but peace.
Through prayer and conversation, he shared about his own story of loss, the love of Christ, and the hope found in God’s promises. Their hearts softened. They chose forgiveness, accepted Christ, and now live with the hope of being reunited with their daughter in heaven. Today, they share their testimony as a Christian family committed to following Jesus.
“I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus in my community,” he says. “To be a disciple and a skilled surgeon, especially for vulnerable people who don’t have the resources for good healthcare. That is my daily prayer.”
