PAACS Resident Profile
Dr. Karanja Njuguna
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident
AIC Kijabe Hospital
Kenya
Dr. Karanja Njuguna, a second-year orthopedic resident at AIC Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, draws daily inspiration from Matthew 5:6, "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." This verse not only encourages him to embody kindness and compassion but also to reflect Christ’s work within him. It is guiding him to serve not for his own glory but to let others see the transformative power of faith in action.
His journey into medicine was sparked by a childhood curiosity that began at the age of 7 or 8. Dr. Njuguna would perform autopsies on his father's chickens to understand the cause of their death, aiming to prevent future losses. This early interest in understanding life’s frailties laid the foundation for his future in medicine, where he now focuses on alleviating human suffering— a calling he finds infinitely more fulfilling.
Dr. Njuguna's passion for surgery was ignited during an internship at Kijabe, where he served in a rural village with the surgical department. He was drawn to the hands-on aspect of surgery but was equally moved by the unnecessary suffering he witnessed. He recalls a patient who had endured a debilitating infection from a fracture for over five years. This experience highlighted the desperate need for more accessible surgical care.
It was in this same setting that Dr. Njuguna encountered PAACS-trained surgeons, whose approach to surgery was vastly different from others. Christianity was integral to their practice; they used the Bible not just as a spiritual guide but as a tool for patient care, offering encouragement and compassion that transcended physical healing. Dr. Njuguna noted, "It wasn’t simply about treating a disease, but about seeing the patient as a whole, considering their family, their job, and their life beyond the hospital."
Now, as he progresses through the rigorous PAACS program, Dr. Njuguna is not only busy with improving his surgical skills and research but also with integrating his faith more deeply into his daily practice. "Each day I am reminded that Christ is the focus," he says. This helps him grow in his skills and in his approach to patient care, emphasizing the spiritual nourishment that can often be as healing as medical intervention.
One poignant patient encounter involved a man with a chronic infection, facing the potential loss of his limb. The patient was initially resistant to amputation of his limb. The patient was however deeply moved by conversations with Dr. Njuguna, who shared prayers and scriptures with him offering peace in the midst of life’s storm. Dr. Njuguna offered hope and a perspective that even in loss, life could be rich and meaningful. His life did not lose purpose because he no longer had that limb because Christ is the giver of purpose. "Losing a limb still allowed him to live," Dr. Njuguna reflects. The patient ultimately accepted the need for amputation but was left with a renewed sense of hope— a testament to the profound impact of compassionate, faith-driven care.
Dr. Njuguna continues to see his medical practice as an opportunity to choose hope through Christ, and he remains hopeful that his patients will find spiritual renewal through their encounters. His story is a powerful reminder of how PAACS is training skilled surgeons and related specialists who view medicine as a ministry of hope and healing.
