Historic Step: SPHMMC Prepares for Ethiopia’s First Liver Transplant
A delegation from St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), led by the institution’s Provost, Dr. Sisay Sirgu, has returned from a five-week intensive training and observation program at California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC), Sutter Health – San Francisco. The program marks a major milestone in Ethiopia’s efforts to establish its first liver transplant service.
The initiative was coordinated by Dr. Kidist Kidane Yimam, a U.S.-based transplant hepatologist of Ethiopian origin and a key figure in the development of liver transplantation in Ethiopia. The SPHMMC team received comprehensive training, covering clinical, technical, and administrative aspects of liver transplant care.
During the visit, team members observed several liver transplant procedures and received hands-on training and daily mentorship from leading transplant surgeons and hepatologists. They also rotated through intensive care units (ICUs) and operating rooms, participated in tumor board discussions, and attended liver transplant candidate selection meetings.
“This has been a transformative experience. We’ve gained essential knowledge, not only in clinical care but also in building the systems around liver transplantation,” said Dr. Wuletaw Chane, Medical Service Vice Provost of SPHMMC, associate professor of surgery, and consultant general and Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary surgeon.
The team also received focused training in interventional radiology (IR) and anesthesia, engaging in one-on-one sessions with senior specialists. These sessions introduced the team to advanced IR techniques and perioperative care protocols. Additionally, they held strategic discussions with leadership from the West Coast organ donor network to understand organ allocation and policy systems vital to establishing a similar model in Ethiopia.
To support SPHMMC’s transplant program, CPMC donated essential supplies, including vascular ultrasound Dopplers and various GI and IR consumables. Together, both institutions also developed a detailed list of required equipment and consumables needed for liver transplant surgery, ICU support, and radiologic procedures.
The partnership between SPHMMC and CPMC is set to continue, with return visits planned for September 2025, February 2026, and June 2026. These collaborative missions aim to lay the groundwork for performing Ethiopia’s first liver transplant within that period.
SPHMMC extends its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Kidist K. Yimam for her leadership, and to the entire CPMC team for their generosity, expertise, and commitment to global health partnership. This collaboration represents a critical step in building advanced surgical capacity and expanding life-saving treatment access in Ethiopia.
(By: Neway Tsegaye)

KOICA Donates Smart Diagnostic Devices to SPHMMC
St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) has received a generous donation of advanced medical equipment from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The donation includes the BULO M 500 spirometer — a portable, smart diagnostic device for lung function monitoring — along with two additional medical devices that will support the hospital’s ongoing efforts to improve patient care and expand diagnostic services.
The equipment was officially handed over by Ms. Ah-Young Jo, Acting Country Director of KOICA Ethiopia Office, to Dr. Sisay Sirgu, Provost of SPHMMC, during a brief ceremony held at the College.
Manufactured in South Korea, the BULO M 500 is a cutting-edge spirometry device designed for real-time, mobile-based lung function monitoring. Unlike traditional equipment, it operates using mobile phones or tablets and can be used wherever a network connection is available.
The system also allows patients to monitor their lung health by accessing their personal health data through a secure mobile platform. Its single-use, disposable mouthpieces ensure high levels of infection prevention and control, reducing the risk of cross-contamination and disease transmission.
While receiving the donation, Dr. Sisay Sirgu expressed SPHMMC’s sincere appreciation to KOICA for its ongoing support and partnership.“This donation aligns with our institutional goals to integrate technology and innovation into patient care. We are deeply grateful to KOICA for strengthening our diagnostic capacity and supporting our efforts to deliver quality healthcare,” he noted.
SPHMMC acknowledges KOICA as a valued and long-standing partner in health system strengthening and looks forward to continued collaboration in areas such as capacity building, technology transfer, and quality improvement.