Dr. Rangoonwala Returns to Oncology Team in Eldoret
The memory of a young Kenyan patient with newly diagnosed lymphoma who was in intractable pain stays with Dr. Hussain I. Rangoonwala.
Dr. Hussain Rangooonwala
“Fortunately, we were able to start him on an intravenous morphine drip which alleviated his pain,” recalls Dr. Rangoonwala of the 2022 encounter while he was a palliative care fellow at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH). “With better supportive care and pain control we were able to identify what his goals of care were. This transformation in care did not happen overnight and was built through years of education and clinical partnership between the palliative medicine team at Indiana University and MTRH. This speaks volumes of AMPATH’s characteristic of leading with care which attracted me the most to continue working within the partnership.”
Now Dr. Rangoonwala is back in Eldoret as the AMPATH Consortium’s oncology in-country lead, where he works with Kenyan colleagues to guide the next phase of cancer care, research and training in western Kenya.
Dr. Pat Loehrer and Dr. Rangoonwala
Dr. Rangoonwala is an assistant professor of clinical medicine in the division of hematology and oncology at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center and the William C. Jr. and Kim L. Lansford Scholar in Global Health. He completed fellowships in hematology and oncology and hospice and palliative medicine at IU after finishing his internal medicine residency at Creighton University School of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University in India.
His new role builds on several years of involvement with the AMPATH oncology program. As a global oncology fellow, Dr. Rangoonwala spent six months at MTRH working in clinical care, research and education under the mentorship of AMPATH and IU oncology leaders. He helped develop a multidisciplinary esophageal cancer program and worked on standardized treatment protocols adapted for sub-Saharan Africa. “A fascinating aspect of practicing medicine through the AMPATH partnership in Kenya is the ability to impact and influence national guidelines by the work we do at MTRH.”
Dr. Adrian Gardner, executive director of the AMPATH Consortium of universities around the world, welcomed Rangoonwala’s appointment and emphasized the importance of strong leadership within the AMPATH oncology partnership.
“Dr. Rangoonwala brings a strong commitment to global oncology and a deep understanding of the AMPATH partnership. His experience in clinical care, education and implementation research will help strengthen oncology services in western Kenya while building sustainable local capacity for the future,” said Dr. Gardner.
In addition to supervising trainees from Moi University School of Medicine and visiting AMPATH Consortium institutions, Dr. Rangoonwala has research aspirations as well.
“I plan to conduct implementation science research delving into the role of a patient navigation system in breast cancer care and standardizing system wide adoption of subcutaneous bortezomib administration at MTRH for patients with multiple myeloma,” he explained. “I am also very keen on assisting with the initiation of the medical oncology fellowship at MTRH, the first of its kind in western Kenya.”