PAACS Resident Profile
Dr. Matekeya Hicks Green
Orthopaedic Surgery Resident
Tenwek Hospital
Kenya
As a fifth-year Orthopaedic resident at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, Dr. Matekeya Hicks Green was first exposed to the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS) during his medical school electives at Tenwek. This marked a pivotal moment in his career. Here, he encountered a unique approach to healthcare, where residents and attending physicians from PAACS combined surgical proficiency with compassionate, prayerful attention to their patients. Bringing faith and surgical expertise together struck a chord with him. He recognized that PAACS offered a nurturing environment where he could excel in surgical training. The emphasis on integrating spiritual care into the curriculum, team devotions, and a supportive community aligned perfectly with his aspirations.
One of Dr. Matekeya’s first memories of PAACS occurred during an orthopaedic clinic as a medical student. He received a patient with a leg deformity who had traveled extensively across the country seeking intervention but to no avail. He listened compassionately to her story and shared her situation with a PAACS surgeon. Before proceeding with the evaluation, the PAACS surgeon shared the gospel and spoke of grace, love, and the sovereignty of God. The patient admitted to having never experienced this before in any previous consultations. In the midst of her difficulties, both Dr. Matekeya and the PAACS surgeon prayed for her, and she accepted Jesus as her Savior. While initially they had no answers for her pain, God provided the solution in a divine way and the patient went on to have a successful surgery. The PAACS surgeon took a step of faith, and the patient trusted that God would use him to heal her.
This encounter changed more than just the patient's life; it deeply impacted Dr. Matekeya. He knew that this was the type of surgeon he wanted to become. Witnessing her long and fruitless journey for care prompted him to reflect on his own approach to medicine. He recognized the significance of humility with an eternal perspective to fulfill the Great Commission. Dr. Matekeya aspires to excel in his surgical skills to allow him to reach the greatest number of people in need. Yet, he wants to remain humble and grounded, recognizing the importance of reaching patients in their time of need, listening to their stories, and sharing the love of Christ. He remains inspired by the mission of PAACS and envisions a future of medical missions, leveraging his skills and faith to heal bodies and win souls for Jesus in underserved communities.
