PAACS Resident Profile
Dr. Ian Simel
General Surgery Resident
Tenwek Hospital – Kenya
Dr. Ian Simel is a third-year general surgery resident at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya. He holds tightly to Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Knowing that God is in control of every situation, he desires to make a difference in the lives of Africans by providing care from a Christian perspective. By training with PAACS, he has realized that he is not only a surgeon, but a Christian first.
Serving Others
Christ’s disciples are known by their love. As a follower of Jesus, Dr. Simel chooses to serve his patients from that perspective. His bedside manner is warm and loving. He believes being a Christian is not something that should be left at church or at home and he wants to share Christ's love with others. Dr. Simel appreciates the PAACS training program because he is encouraged to share his beliefs at the workplace, not only with patients, but with his co-workers, too. The faculty have shared their life stories with him, how they came to know Christ and their calling into missions. Dr. Simel is inspired by the faculty giving up their homes, getting out of their comfort zones, immersing themselves in a different country, and thriving in an unfamiliar culture.
Serving God
Dr. Simel prays for God’s will in his future. He feels called to work in a public hospital where people need the most help, but he trusts that God will establish the plans He has for him. Dr. Simel is grateful to those who support PAACS and his training. He shared that “PAACS is not just a training program, it is more like a church. You are giving to an organization that is changing people’s lives. Residents are only the tip of the iceberg. So many more people are touched beyond us. I hope to become a donor in the future because I see the impact PAACS is having on people’s lives. The Lord sees and knows that when you give, you are giving to Him!”
