Dr. Joshua Mbelwa
General Surgery Resident
Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre
Tanzania
“I was drawn into surgery as a specialty that gives us direct access to God’s work of creation” says Dr. Joshua Mbelwa, a second-year resident at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center (ALMC) in Tanzania. “We get to see how wonderful and intricate the human body is. In addition, we partake in God’s work, and we relieve pain, correct deformities, and treat various conditions. I have the privilege to see God healing people through our hands.”
Dr. Mbelwa's journey with the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) began during his internship at ALMC. The interactions he saw between the residents and faculty caught his attention. It was unlike any other program he had seen. The confidence and skill of the residents inspired him to strive for that same level of excellence. Now in his second year, the rigorous demands of PAACS have pushed Dr. Mbelwa to excel and become the best version of himself. “The spiritual curriculum is a constant reminder that there is more to my calling into medicine than just meeting the physical and physiologic needs of patients, but rather to reach their spiritual needs as well.”
Recently, a particularly challenging case during his rotation in the orthopaedics department underscored the integration of faith and practice for Dr. Mbelwa. A patient with a fractured left femur underwent surgery for open reduction and internal fixation. Initially, it did not yield the expected results. The team faced repeated challenges during a revision operation two days later. It proved to be a long and difficult procedure. As exhaustion was setting in, the consultant urged everyone on the team to pray. While it seemed like they were doing everything right, something was just not working. Individually each member of the team prayed. Miraculously, shortly after their time in prayer they were able to achieve a good reduction and the perfect hardware placement that they had been seeking. Dr. Mbelwa is sure that it was divine intervention. The breakthrough came so shortly after they acknowledged the need for God’s help. This reminded him of the importance that PAACS places on faith alongside surgical skills and how God can help him to overcome even the most daunting challenges in surgical care.
After graduation, Dr. Mbelwa is eager to continue treating the sick, but he would also like to mentor future surgeons for Africa. "I want to help others realize their full potential in this calling.”
