Dr. Carolyn Baindu Moore: A Liberian Story Worth Celebrating

𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘯 𝘙𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘛𝘰 𝘈𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘤 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘈 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘛𝘰 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘐𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢

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𝗕𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗸 𝗠. 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗲

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There are Liberians doing extraordinary things around the world whose stories many of us simply do not know. One of them is my cousin, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗹𝘆𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿𝗲, daughter of Janet Moore-Dalmeida and Alphonsus Dalmeida.

Carolyn is a 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱-𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆. Her journey has taken her through some of the most demanding levels of medical and surgical training in the United States.

She earned her medical degree from the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘁𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲, completed her general surgery residency at 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲, and continued into highly specialized training at 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 and the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿. Today, she practices with Penn Highlands Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery in Pennsylvania.

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲

One achievement in Carolyn’s journey deserves special recognition. In 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟴, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆.

Robotic surgery is one of the major advances in modern minimally invasive medicine. The surgeon remains fully in control while using highly sophisticated instruments that can allow certain complex procedures to be performed through much smaller incisions than traditional open surgery. For appropriate patients, that can mean smaller wounds, less postoperative pain and faster recovery.

For Carolyn, however, robotic surgery was only one part of a much larger professional journey.
She later completed advanced fellowship training in thoracic surgery at 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻’𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻, one of Harvard Medical School’s major teaching hospitals, where she also served as a 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆. She then completed additional fellowship training in 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗞𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿.

Cardiothoracic and thoracic surgeons work in some of the most delicate areas of the human body, treating complex conditions involving the 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁, 𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗴𝘂𝘀, 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁. Carolyn’s current practice focuses on thoracic surgery and includes complex procedures such as lung resections, chest-wall surgery and other specialized operations.
Her accomplishments have also earned her another important professional distinction.
Carolyn was 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗻𝘀 — 𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗦. For those who may not be familiar with the designation, Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons is awarded to surgeons who meet rigorous professional standards involving surgical training, competence, ethical practice and commitment to high-quality patient care.
It is recognition that carries considerable weight within the surgical profession.

𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗢𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱

As Carolyn’s medical career developed, one question continued to follow her:
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆?
That question eventually led her to establish the 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 & 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘂𝗺 — 𝗟𝗚𝗛𝗦𝗖, an organization designed to bring together healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, institutions, members of the Liberian diaspora and international partners around the goal of strengthening healthcare in Liberia.

What I particularly admire about Carolyn’s vision is that it goes beyond bringing doctors into Liberia for a few days, treating patients and returning home. Those missions have value and can save lives, but Carolyn is looking at the longer-term question: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳?

Her approach emphasizes training Liberian healthcare professionals, strengthening diagnostic services, improving surgical systems, sharing medical knowledge and developing long-term institutional partnerships.
Liberia needs doctors and equipment, but a functioning surgical system also needs trained nurses, anesthesia professionals, laboratories, diagnostic services, biomedical technicians, reliable equipment and continuing professional education.

That is the larger challenge LGHSC is attempting to address.
𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
And this is not simply an idea on paper.

In 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, Liberia’s Ministry of Health entered into a formal partnership with the Liberia Global Health & Surgery Consortium focused on strengthening surgical and diagnostic care, training, technical assistance and health-system capacity.

The work has also begun attracting support from established medical institutions. Through Duke University’s REMEDY program, medical and surgical supplies and protective equipment have been donated to LGHSC for use in Liberia.

The Consortium is also preparing for expanded activities in Liberia, including clinical training, surgical missions and partnerships involving Liberian healthcare institutions and professionals.

That shows that Carolyn is doing more than talking about change. She is helping build the relationships, resources and infrastructure needed to make that change possible.
𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲

There is something especially meaningful about a Liberian professional reaching this level in her field and then asking how that knowledge and opportunity can benefit Liberia.
Carolyn could have concentrated entirely on her medical career in the United States. Instead, she is using the experience, professional relationships and knowledge she has acquired to help create something larger.

Her achievement at Morehouse demonstrated what she could accomplish individually. Her surgical career demonstrates what years of training and discipline can produce. But the 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 & 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘂𝗺 represents something different: an effort to multiply the impact of that success.

If Liberian doctors and nurses receive additional training, if hospitals improve their diagnostic capabilities, if surgical teams obtain needed equipment, and if international medical institutions establish lasting partnerships with their Liberian counterparts, Carolyn’s impact can eventually reach patients she may never personally meet.

That, to me, is where her story becomes even more powerful.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝘀 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

The Liberia Global Health & Surgery Consortium is actively seeking support for efforts designed to strengthen surgical and diagnostic care in Liberia.
Its priorities include providing surgical instruments, improving diagnostic laboratory capacity and supporting advanced clinical training for healthcare professionals.

Support does not have to come only from physicians or large donors. Hospitals and healthcare institutions can develop partnerships. Medical professionals can contribute expertise. Companies can assist with equipment and technical support. Organizations can help with grants, and members of the Liberian diaspora can connect LGHSC with institutions and individuals who may be able to help.

Those interested in learning more, volunteering, partnering or contributing can reach the 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 & 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘂𝗺 through its official website:
𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗹𝗶𝗯𝗴𝗵𝘀𝗰.𝗼𝗿𝗴

The organization also lists its Liberia office at 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿, 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗼 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗮, and can be contacted at: 𝗟𝗴𝗵𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗰@𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Financial contributions can be made through the official donation links provided on the LGHSC website.

𝗔 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴

This is one of the reasons I believe we need to do a better job of telling the stories of Liberians who are accomplishing extraordinary things around the world.

Dr. Carolyn Baindu Moore became the 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆. She continued through advanced thoracic and cardiothoracic training, became a 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗻𝘀, and built a career treating patients with complex surgical conditions.

Now she is using what she has learned, and the professional network she has developed, to help strengthen surgical and diagnostic care in Liberia.

There are young Liberians who need to see people like Carolyn and understand what is possible. There are Liberian professionals around the world who may learn about what she is building and decide that they, too, have something they can contribute. And there are many of us who may never enter an operating room but can still support those working to make Liberia stronger.

𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

She has already made history in her profession, and she is now working to ensure that some of what she has achieved reaches back home.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴.

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