Resilient Care in Resource-Limited Settings: A Conversation with Dr. Sheku Dennis Massaquoi
In this feature, we speak with Dr. Sheku Dennis Massaquoi, a general surgeon and Lieutenant Colonel at the Defence Medical Services of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, about navigating acute resource shortages and employing virtual learning to transform patient care.
Surgical professionals around the world use SURGhub to improve patient outcomes. In this series we highlight their stories.
Based at the 34 Military Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone,
Dr. Massaquoi manages a heavy surgical workload alongside his roles in the public health sector.
Since 2013, he has balanced hands-on surgery with leadership roles in national accreditation and the establishment of Sierra Leone’s inaugural social health insurance scheme.
This drive for systemic progress is mirrored in his own pursuit of expertise; “as a Lieutenant Colonel and practising surgeon, my day starts with prayer followed by a 90-minute SURGhub session”.
“The person who originally inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare was my late uncle”
He recently completed a 22-month COSECSA membership course in General Surgery and serves as a technical lead for anaesthesia and surgery capability assessments.
His path to mastering these advanced skills—ranging from war surgery to AI in healthcare—has been facilitated through the SURGhub platform, which remains a vital resource for his ongoing professional development.
For Dr. Massaquoi, the spark for his medical career was ignited close to home. Reflecting on his formative years, he notes that the person who originally inspired him to pursue a career in healthcare was his late uncle, Dr. Alhaji Fayama Tarawallie, who served as an orthopaedic stomatologist.
This initial inspiration was later strengthened during a medical survival course and a cardiothoracic surgery attachment in Egypt in 2017, which solidified his dedication to the surgical field.
Dr. Massaquoi currently works at 34 Military Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Originally a military health facility, it operates as a 600-bed multipurpose complex open to the general public.
“Fewer than 10 general surgeons for over 8 million people”
The reality of surgical care in Sierra Leone presents immense challenges, including infrastructural deficiencies and a heavy reliance on task-sharing with associate clinicians to bridge gaps in rural access.
Highlighting the sheer scale of this crisis, Dr. Massaquoi points out that the country’s healthcare system currently operates with fewer than 10 general surgeons for over 8 million people. Despite these staggering statistics, he remains driven by the tangible relief he can provide, drawing motivation from the smiles, happiness, and satisfaction he sees on his patients' faces following a successful procedure.
“This training I received directly impacted the care I provided”
Balancing a demanding clinical schedule with a rigorous commitment to continuous education, Dr. Massaquoi allocates the early hours of his morning to SURGhub, often reviewing specific case management areas before performing complex procedures.
This dedication proved vital when treating a 55-year-old female patient from a neighbouring country with a fungating, offensive metastatic left breast cancer who was unfit for general anaesthesia.
Following a successful palliative debulking mastectomy performed under a combined pecs and serratus anterior plane block, he noted that "this training I received directly impacted the care I provided," restoring not only her health but her dignity and connection with her relatives.
“My hope is a resilient surgical system driven by innovation and SURGhub”
Dr. Massaquoi’s vision extends beyond the operating theatre to the very architecture of healthcare delivery. He advocates for a shift toward "colleges without walls" and virtual learning models that can train and retain skilled surgeons in even the most remote regions.
He explains that “my hope is a resilient surgical system driven by innovation and SURGhub use by all healthcare providers.”
To build this future, he advises the next generation to master their surgical foundations before navigating the broader global surgery ecosystem. He encourages young practitioners to remain compassionate, creative, and curious as they implement the critical skills they acquire along the way.
Sheku's Top Course
Fundamentals of War Surgery
Topic: The critical foundations of care for all critically ill patients.
Description: This course has been specifically designed for early career surgeons in any specialty that may be confronted with dealing with weapon-wounded patients in a conflict scenario. This course is also suitable for more experienced surgeons who have no or very limited experience of managing weapon-wounded patients.
"Knowing that SURGhub is here to leverage the existing gaps between surgical practice, education, innovation, research, and leadership keeps me motivated."
- Dr. Sheku Dennis Massaquoi
About this Story
This profile is part of our Impact Stories series, highlighting how SURGhub learners are applying global surgical standards to local challenges. Our mission is to ensure that high-quality surgical education is a bridge—not a barrier—to saving lives worldwide.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or standpoint of SURGhub or its partner organisations.
About SURGhub
The United Nations Global Surgery Learning Hub (SURGhub) is the premier training platform in global surgical care. A joint initiative of the Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), supported by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and implemented in association with the Johnson & Johnson Foundation, SURGhub provides seamless access to quality-assured online courses for frontline surgical care workers in resource-limited settings worldwide. With tens of thousands of learners across over 200 countries and territories, SURGhub is transforming access to lifesaving surgical education.
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