Frank Lisso

Founded in 2002, FAME’s mission is to advance patient-centered care in the Northern Highlands of Tanzania. Serving one of the most under-resourced areas in the country, FAME operates a state-of-the-art hospital, outpatient clinic and laboratory, with more than 25,000 patient visits per year. With comprehensive primary health care and specialty programs in maternal and child health and general surgery, FAME fills a critical gap in the Karatu District, an area with an estimated population of 250,000.    FAME’s vision is to build healthier rural communities, where individuals from all walks of life have access to quality medical care and our frontline healthcare workers are equipped with the resources they need to serve their patients well. In order to build local capacity, FAME provides on-campus continuing education and a competitive scholarship program that allows select medical staff to further their education at medical institutions within Tanzania and abroad. FAME also has a thriving volunteer program, partnering with specialist doctors from medical communities and global health programs in the US and Europe. The program fosters an exchange of knowledge and a sharing of expertise between international specialist doctors and nurses and our Tanzanian medical team. With a culture of life-long learning, FAME continually strives to better understand the needs and challenges of our community and to serve as a model of high-quality care in our region.   FAME currently employs 170 local staff, including 14 doctors, 55 nurses, 13 laboratory staff and two X-ray technicians. Our 501(c) 3 organization in the US has one full-time staff member, our Director of Global Partnerships.