Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Ali Muhammed Varsame discussed his medical training in Türkiye and his ongoing contributions to advancing healthcare in Somalia during an exclusive interview at the Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital in Mogadishu. Dr. Varsame completed his specialization in thoracic surgery in Türkiye, where he gained hands-on experience in complex surgical procedures, including lung resections, chest trauma management, and minimally invasive thoracic techniques. He highlighted how exposure to modern surgical protocols, advanced medical equipment, and multidisciplinary teamwork in Türkiye prepared him to meet Somalia’s growing healthcare needs.
Since returning to Somalia, Dr. Varsame has been performing complex thoracic surgeries that were previously unavailable in the country, reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for life-saving treatment. He also trains younger Somali doctors and medical staff, sharing his expertise in patient care, perioperative management, and the use of advanced surgical technologies.
The Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital serves as one of Somalia’s largest and most advanced medical institutions, offering a wide range of specialized services including cardiovascular, thoracic, neurosurgery, and intensive care. Through integrated training programs with Turkish healthcare professionals, Somali doctors like Dr. Varsame have become pioneers of modern medicine, introducing new surgical techniques, improving hospital protocols, and strengthening the overall healthcare infrastructure.
Dr. Varsame emphasized that the collaboration between Türkiye and Somalia is transforming the country’s medical landscape, enabling local doctors to provide world-class care, building sustainable healthcare capacity, and inspiring a new generation of Somali medical professionals to pursue advanced specialties.
