Pioneering Change in Burundi: One Surgeon’s Mission to Bring Hope Home 

Through its partnership with COSECSA, Operation Smile is building surgical capacity to expand access to safe, effective care across the region. By supporting specialized training and mentorship, collaborations like these equip local surgeons with the skills and experience needed to transform more lives within their own communities. 

Beyond his clinical work at the University Teaching Hospital of Kamenge and Kira Hospital Swiss Clinic, Clovis Paulin Baramburiye, M.D., FCS (ECSA) also serves as senior lecturer and chair of human anatomy at the University of Burundi, shaping the next generation of surgeons. 

Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up?  

I grew up in Bujumbura, Burundi. I’m the firstborn of four boys and have been very curious about everything since a young age. I wanted to be a doctor since the age of 6 and never changed my mind.

What inspired you to pursue a career in plastic and reconstructive surgery, and what was the situation like for patients in Burundi before you completed your training? 

My path to plastic surgery was not straight, as I first trained in general surgery for four years. During my early days of general surgery residency, I realized how great the burden for reconstructive surgery was in my country, as there was no plastic surgeon at all. We did some cases, but the outcomes were often not good. I started wishing to pursue a career in plastic surgery and later got an opportunity to specialize in it.

How did you become involved with Operation Smile?  

The first time I heard about Operation Smile was through a surgical camp for cleft lip and palate patients at QUECH Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi, in November 2021. I was then a general surgery trainee doing a one-month rotation in the plastic surgery department there and got involved in the camp.

In 2022, I started my plastic surgery training in Kigali, Rwanda, where Operation Smile is well established. I became involved in the various activities they organized, including surgical camps and workshops.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during your training and preparation to become the first plastic surgeon in your country?  

It was not a straight line — far from it. The first challenge was finding a training opportunity, as there was no program in Burundi. That meant I had to train abroad, which required financial means. In 2022, I received a scholarship that allowed me to go abroad for training, but it was the strict minimum, especially with a family to care for.

I am thankful that I was able to complete my training and return home to become the first plastic surgeon to practice in Burundi. It’s a special experience, but also a challenging one, because despite all the people I can help, I’m still limited by a lack of resources. I am currently still the only plastic surgeon in the country, but two more will come by the end of 2026 and another the following year. That is great, because I am anticipating the big impact we will have together.

Now that you are practicing in Burundi, what has changed for patients who need reconstructive surgery? 

There is no longer a need to wait for visiting teams. When we operate on patients during [programs], they can now receive proper follow-up care, which is a game-changer for achieving good outcomes.

Despite the lack of resources and equipment, what keeps you motivated to continue your work and build the foundation for future surgeons? 

I’m a very optimistic person and believe that as long as I give my best with what’s available today, things will get better and working conditions will improve one day. I know there will be a payback for the work and sacrifices being made to help the underserved.

What is your hope for the future of reconstructive surgery in Burundi, and how do you envision the next generation of surgeons continuing the work you’ve started? 

I hope we become many, strengthen and diversify our expertise, and spread it across all corners of our country. I also hope that our work will be recognized and valued as it should be.

Looking Ahead

Through collaboration, training and shared commitment, surgeons like Baramburiye are changing what’s possible for patients in Burundi. Each surgery performed, each skill passed on, brings the country closer to a future where safe, high-quality reconstructive care is accessible to all who need it.