BFIRST fellow update: Dr Kemi Ayoade

Kemi was a BFIRST fellow in February 2020, and then completed further microsurgery training at Wythenshawe Hospital, training under Mr Adam Reid and Mr Jason Wong in 2023-4. Since then BFIRST has sponsored a microsurgery fellowship in Ganga, the Canniesburn flap course, the London Hand and Wrist course, and the BAPRAS conference for the past two years.

Kemi at the BAPRAS 2024 congress

Kemi returned to Lagos, Nigeria in January 2025, where she works at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Lagos. Her vision is to establishing the hospital’s first consistent microsurgical reconstructive service. The foundations of this vision involved forming a Multidisciplinary Team, sourcing microsurgical instruments through donations, and building morale, promoting teamwork, and developing a learning culture.

 

Kemi’s Team                                           Kemi Ayoade checking microsurgical sets

Kemi performed her first free flap in Lagos within 8 weeks of returning home. To date she has completed 5 free flaps (4 anterolateral thigh, 1 latissimus dorsi). Four of these have been successful, with one flap experiencing a partial loss. Kemi has also performed one brachial artery repair (post traumatic laceration) and multiple lower limb pedicled flaps.

ALT for exposed bone

  

Exposed bone cement spacer, flap design, flap in situ

First Bilateral ALT Free Flaps

Pre-op, post op and ambulating.

In April 2025, Kemi organised a local microsurgery course, where she trained six residents.

  

Kemi teaching at the local microsurgery course, resident learners, close-up of the microsurgery skills practice. We are very proud of Kemi’s achievements, and look forward to seeing and supporting her future endeavours!

Ethiopian BFIRST Ganga fellows

BFIRST have sponsored six doctors from Ethiopia to each attend a two-month observership and microsurgical training in Ganga, India.

Dr Nagasa Wirtu Shanko

Dr Dagmawi Geremew Zinaw

Dr Adamtachew Geta Tamir

Dr Tigist Zewude Siyoum

Dr Adera Tenagne Ambelu

Dr Zerihun Yirgu Beyene

Message from the Ethiopian BFIRST Ganga Fellows:

“Forwarding our deepest gratitude to the entire BFIRST team, and our mentor Dr Abraham, and all staff at Ganga Hospital for making this fellowship possible for us. We believe we have gained an invaluable experience from this stay, specifically in aspects of microsurgery and hand surgery. We hope that we will be able to put into action what we learned from this center wherever we will be practicing in our community. It is our heartfelt wish that we can collaborate in further endeavors at our centers regarding the field of Plastic and reconstructive surgery in the future.”

We hope that supporting the Ethiopian BFIRST Ganga Fellows will facilitate the availability of sustainable microsurgery in Ethiopia and the training of resident doctors in Microsurgery. We look forward to hearing more from the Ethiopian BFIRST Ganga Fellows about how they are using the skills and knowledge learnt during this observership.