Baystate Health Gastroenterologist Delivers First-ever ERCP Training in Ghana

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Health announced that gastroenterologist Dr. Kais Zakharia recently completed a landmark medical mission to Ghana, where he delivered the first-ever training in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) ever offered in the country.

ERCP is a minimally invasive procedure used to diagnose and treat complex biliary diseases. Prior to this training, patients in Ghana with these conditions faced no alternative but invasive surgery, which is a far riskier path. By equipping local gastroenterologists with this advanced technique, Zakharia’s mission created an immediate and lasting impact on patient care across the region.

“Seeing it all come together in real time — patients receiving effective, minimally invasive care, and local doctors gaining skills that would stay with them long after the visit ended — was the most meaningful part of the experience,” he said.

This was not Zakharia’s first visit to Ghana. In 2024, he traveled to the country to train local physicians in general gastrointestinal procedures, laying the groundwork for this more advanced, focused mission. His connection to Ghana stems from a long-standing collaboration with his mentor, Professor Lewis Roberts from the Mayo Clinic, a physician originally from Ghana, who extended the invitation for both visits.