Dr.Kennedy.James is from Navabu Village Suau Coast, Alotau District, Milne Bay Province. He completed his medical training and obtained Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine and Bachelor’s Degree in Surgery (M.B.B.S) in 2006 and graduated in 2007 from University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). His initial internship (residency) was at Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) from 2007 to 2008, then worked as a medical officer at Kerema General Hospital in 2009. He transferred to Alotau Provincial Hospital in 2010.and worked as an emergency doctor from 2010 to 2011. Then, joined Surgery as a service registrar from 2012 to 2013. From 2014 to 2016, he became a trainee in Master’s Degree in General Surgery (M.MED). He graduated in M.MED in 2017 from UPNG and returned to Alotau Provincial Hospital (MBPHA) and worked as the general surgeon from 2017 to 2020. He furthered his studies on specialist paediatric surgery at UPNG from 2020 to 2023. As part of his training in paediatric surgery, he went to Komfo Anokye University Teaching Hospital in Ghana for 6 months and trained in paediatric surgery which no one in the pacific had gone through. Currently, he is a specialist paediatric surgeon who operates many complex congenital anomalies which are managed by his leadership and management at Alotau Provincial Hospital. He received paediatric patients throughout the country including patients from Kimber Provincial Hospital, Kiunga District Hospital and Mendi Hospital.

Dr.James operating a child with his supervisor at Komfo Anokye University Teaching Hospital in Ghana in 2023.

Jenifer Female, 7 years old, with Hirschsprung’s Disease (HD) referred from Mendi who had specialist surgery in November 2024. She recovered well and will return home

Julius male, 4 years old with complex hypospadias from Kimbe General Hospital referred to Alotau to have his specialist surgery and returned in October 2024

HEAD & NECK SURGERY

Congenital nasal dermoid cyst surgery

4 months old infant with congenital dermoid cyst

Post-surgery of the dermoid cyst

Congenital alveolar tumour

A 1 month neonate with alveolar tumour

The neonate 2 days after surgery

Early Cleft Lip and Palate surgery

Alma female 6 months with left complete cleft lip and palate

Alma after cleft lip repair at 6 months

Neglected Cleft lip and palate surgery

Samson male 12 years old with neglected complete left cleft lip and palate. Socially neglected in his village and never attended school

Samson 4 months after surgery of left cleft lip & palate. He now attended school and accepted in the community

Family with neglected cleft lips/ palates surgery

Yoru male 12 years old with mother with neglected bilateral cleft lips/ palates

Yoru and his mother 2 months after surgery

Benign tonsilar hypertrophy (BTH) surgery

Josiah male 10 years old with BTH and had bilateral tonsillectomy

Post- tonsillectomy and he recovered well

Congenital Thyroglossal cyst surgery

Minie, female 4 years old with congenital thyroglossal cyst

Minie after her surgery (SIS-Trunk) and recovered very well

Air way obstruction in neonate

A neonate with rapidly-growing neck mass causing airway obstruction so a life-saving emergency tracheostomy was done. The neonate then had tumour resection done.

Post-tracheostomy stable baby and post tumour resection

Congenital Cystic Hygroma surgery

Joyce, female 14 years old with congenital cystic hygroma. She had resection done and recovered very well

Parotid surgery for parotid masses

Steven, Male 13 years old with parotid mass and had superficial parotidectomy

PLATSTICS & RECONSTRUCTION

Congenital Tallipes Equina Varus (TEV) Management (PONSETI MANAGEMENT)

4 months old child with TEV undergoing Tenotomy and casting as part of Ponseti management

Typical Neglected Congenital TEV going through Ponseti management

Henry is 3 years old with bilateral neglected TEV walking with dorsum of the feet

Henry had Feet First Surgery (FFS) which is a complex 6 staged operative procedure followed by casting, bracing and regular physiotherapy

Henry after 6 months from surgery and Ponseti management. He is walking normally and able to go to school with shoes

Atypical Neglected Congenital TEV going through Ponseti Management

Jemaimah female 10 years old with Sacral agenesis and Atypical Neglected bilateral TEV

Jemaimah undergoing FFS and serial castings and physiotherapy

Jemaimah 3 years after her surgery and ongoing physiotherapy with near normal function of the feet.