This mission was carried out with the background understanding that, worldwide, at least 2 billion people live with vision impairment, and nearly half of those cases could have seen a different outcome had care been available at an earlier stage. Sheba Global Ophthalmology (SGO), with Prof. Ido Didi Fabian at the helm, exists precisely to work toward closing that gap; the knowledge of innovative procedures this initiative seeks to impart is part of what has made Sheba Newsweek’s #7 Best World Hospital.
Precision Under Pressure
Over six days, the Sheba team saw over 40 patients and carried out roughly 20 intricate procedures spanning oculoplastic and orbital surgery, cases that included severe periocular trauma, congenital orbital tumors and anomalies, congenital ptosis, blepharophimosis syndrome (BPES), adult neurogenic ptosis, traumatic lacrimal drainage system injuries, eyelid reconstruction, congenital eyelid ectropion, and other challenging reconstructive cases difficult to treat in the region.Â
Prof. Ben Simon has served as Chief Medical Officer for the Rwanda Mission since 2018, and patients from earlier SGO missions to Kigali were also followed up on, giving the team a chance to check on their healing, catch complications early, and step in with revision surgery where it was needed.
What set the week apart wasn’t just the surgical volume; it was how tightly training was woven into every procedure. CHUK residents scrubbed in alongside the visiting surgeons, gaining direct exposure to techniques rarely available to them otherwise, with two anesthesiologists and two nurse anesthetists rounding out the surgical team. A standalone morning session gave residents further grounding in current approaches to oculoplastic and orbital trauma care.
Sowing the Seeds of Sustainable Care
SGO’s involvement in Rwanda extends far beyond the operating room. CHUK’s ophthalmology residents have access to Zoom-based teaching sessions year-round, so the partnership between eye specialists at Sheba and their Rwandan friends and colleagues continues developing in the months between in-person visits.
This year’s trip also gave the delegation a firsthand look at how the surrounding eye care landscape is evolving. A stop at Kibungo Hospital showed off newly built surgical facilities taking shape outside the capital, while a visit to the Heron Foundation’s new center, offering ear exams, hearing aids, and ophthalmic screenings, pointed to a broader push toward accessible care reaching beyond Kigali itself.
The striving for excellence that has led to recognition by Newsweek as #7 among the World’s Best Hospitals is not limited to Israel’s borders. Looking toward SGO’s future endeavors in Kigali, Prof. Ben Simon reflected on what continues to drive the partnership: “Our mission extends beyond surgery. By combining patient care with education and long-term collaboration, we hope to build sustainable local expertise that will continue to benefit patients in Rwanda for many years to come.”
More Posts
A Choice at 18, a Son at 44: How Sheba Restored Kassandra’s Fertility After 23 Years
At 18, before cancer treatment that could affect her fertility, Kassandra had portions of her ovarian tissue frozen, without knowing if medical science would ever advance enough to make parenthood possible for her. More than 23 years later, Prof. Dror Meirow, Director of the Fertility Preservation Center for Cancer Patients at Sheba Medical Center, and his team performed the transplant that eventually led to the birth of Kassandra’s son.
From Pilots to Clinical Practice: The Implementation of AI at Sheba
Sheba Medical Center is expanding the use of artificial intelligence across its departments, with AI systems already in active use in everyday clinical care. Sheba has also begun deploying a platform that gives clinicians access to medical literature and protocols at the point of care, while physicians remain responsible for medical decisions.
PinkStar & Mount Sinai Partnership to Advance Breast MRI Technology
A medical imaging startup first incubated within Sheba’s innovation ecosystem, PinkStar has entered an agreement with Mount Sinai Health System set to advance breast MRI protocols and support early cancer detection. The partnership marks PinkStar’s first collaboration with a U.S. academic medical institution.
