Ghana’s first female cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Penelope Adinku, specializes in pediatric heart surgery.Adinku graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology’s medical program and went on to complete a three-year general surgery membership program with the West African College of Surgeons.
She began working at the National Cardiothoracic Center at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra in April 2022.
In an interview, she told CTSnet.”In my final year of medical school, I realized I wanted to be a surgeon. During my rotation in the Department of Surgery, I observed patients with a variety of diseases being treated by surgeons. During my pediatric housemanship rotation, I encountered youngsters with congenital heart problems and felt compelled to treat them. This moved me closer to cardiothoracic surgery.”
In May 2022, the trailblazer successfully repaired the heart of a 6-year-old child through surgery, as reported by The African Dream.Dr. Lawrence Agyemang Serebour, chief of the National Cardiothoracic Center, oversaw the daring physician during her first procedure, according to the publication.
Adinku was also chosen the 2022 Best Candidate in Cardiothoracic Surgery in West Africa. Dr. Penelope Adinku, Ghana’s first female cardiothoracic surgeon and staff member of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, has been named the 2022 Best Candidate in Cardiothoracic Surgery in West Africa. The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital congratulated her on social media.
She stated to CTSnet, “Becoming the first female cardiac surgeon in Ghana has definitely created awareness that this is a field women can aspire to be a part of.” Following this success, I met several female doctors who exhibited an interest in cardiac surgery. However, much more focused work is required to significantly boost the numbers. We need additional mentorship initiatives to introduce more women to the field.”
She also indicated that she wanted to see the female-to-male ratio in this field increase to at least one-to-one.
Dr. Adinku joins a long list of Ghanaian women who have excelled in their respective fields, including the late Constance Ama Emefa Edjeani-Afenu, the country’s first female major general and brigadier general.