Dr. Santatriniaina Ratovonarivo
General Surgery Resident
Hopitaly Vaovao Mahafaly Mandritsara (HVMM)
Madagascar
At PAACS, every story begins and ends with Jesus. That is especially true for Dr. Ratovonarivo, a second-year surgical resident at the PAACS program at Hopitaly Vaovao Mahafaly Mandritsara (HVMM) in Madagascar. His journey to becoming a surgeon started not in a classroom or operating room, but in a hospital bed, sick and uncertain about his future. In 2017, while facing a serious illness, he cried out to Jesus in desperation: “Lord, if you heal me, I will be faithful to you for the rest of my life.” God answered that prayer, and from that moment forward, Dr. Ratovonarivo committed his life to following Christ.
He had grown up in a Christian family where prayer was a daily habit, but that moment of healing marked a turning point. Faith was no longer routine, but it became personal and real. A verse that has guided him ever since is from Matthew 21:22: “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” It has carried him through challenges and has been a steady reminder that nothing is impossible with God.
Even as a child, Dr. Ratovonarivo dreamed of becoming a doctor. Helping people heal brought him joy and a deep sense of purpose. But as he grew older and began to understand the depth of medical need in Madagascar, that dream took on greater urgency. The country faces an overwhelming shortage of surgeons, with fewer than one surgeon for every 100,000 people. It became clear to him that God was calling him to do more, not only to heal bodies but to bring hope and love to those in pain.
While working at a Lutheran hospital in 2022, a conversation with an attending physician opened the door to PAACS. What captured his heart was the unique mission of PAACS, which is to train African surgeons in surgical excellence while discipling them to walk closely with Christ. In a country where such opportunities are rare, he knew this was where he was meant to be.
Since joining the PAACS residency program at HVMM, Dr. Ratovonarivo has not only grown in surgical skill but has deepened in his faith. The rhythm of prayer, studying Scripture, and preaching within the hospital community has shaped him spiritually. He describes the experience as a spiritual apprenticeship, one that strengthens his faith and equips him to serve patients with the love of Jesus. It has given him boldness to share the Word of God and to serve with compassion and humility.
One patient’s story has stayed with him. A woman came to the hospital after living with a tumor for sixteen years. Following her surgery, while still groggy from anesthesia, she began calling out the name of the Lord in the recovery room. That moment moved Dr. Ratovonarivo deeply. He believes she had spent all those years trusting God with her suffering, and at last her prayers had been answered. It was a powerful reminder that God is present not only in our healing, but also in our waiting.
Throughout his training, he has seen God’s hand at work in the joy of a patient’s recovery, in the comfort of shared grief, and in the daily challenges that strengthen his faith. Whether in victory or sorrow, he has learned to rely on Christ for the courage to keep going. Looking to the future, Dr. Ratovonarivo dreams of expanding the PAACS program throughout Madagascar so that more people can access the surgical care they desperately need. But even more than that, he wants hearts to be reached with the gospel. His desire is simple but powerful; to help heal his people, not just physically, but by sharing the love of Christ with every patient he meets.
