Lankenau-led team making return mission to Ghana

Last year’s mission to Ghana was groundbreaking. This year, a larger team is returning with plans to establish a lasting legacy.

A 54-member team primarily from Lankenau Medical Center, part of Main Line Health, is headed to Ghana starting October 2 to provide free medical and surgical care to patients in need.

The missions are the vision of Dr. Obed Agyei, a researcher at Lankenau Institute for Medical Research and former Lankenau Medical Center hematology-oncology fellow. Inspired to care for people in his native Ghana, he developed the initiative with Dr. Lawrence Livornese, Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Main Line Health, and Dr. Ned Carp, the Lankenau Campus Chief of Surgery, who lead the team.

Following the success of the inaugural two-week mission in March 2025, participation has increased by more than 50%. To accommodate the larger team, volunteers will travel in two groups, each serving for one week during the October 2–17 mission.

Follow Dr. Agyei on LinkedIn as he live-blogs about this inspiring journey

The team will treat approximately 2,000 nonsurgical cases and 110 to 150 surgical patients. Services will include general and infectious disease care, as well as procedures for breast masses, hernias, gynecologic conditions, gallbladder disease, thyroid conditions, colon polyps and cancerous masses.

“This year is bigger, more intense and more impactful as far as the legacy we’re trying to leave in Abesewa, the village in Ghana where we’re headed,” Dr. Agyei said. “Many of the patients we serve have waited years for care and travel as long as 12 hours to reach us. It is heartwarming to see volunteers sacrifice their time to provide care at no cost. I believe we now have the foundation to do this on a yearly basis.”

Through grassroots fundraising among friends, family members and patients, the team has so far raised approximately $40,000 for medical supplies. Volunteers are paying their own travel expenses.

New this year, Dr. Livornese said, the team will operate a walk-in urgent care unit supported by two Ghanaian partners. Volunteers will also provide care in a facility being used as a hospital for the first time.

“I found the first mission to be physically challenging and emotionally stressful, but spiritually transformative,” Dr. Livornese said. “I’m really thrilled that others who shared that experience are willing to come back and do it again, with new people joining as well. It’s remarkable that people will donate their time and talent to this work.”

Dr. Livornese also thanked Lisa Cavallaro, Kathryn Lattanzio and Briana Tangney, who are not traveling but have volunteered their time to help plan and carry out the mission. They will serve as the team’s U.S.-based support throughout the trip.