FAME Africa

FAME Africa Advancing patient-centered care in rural Africa. Patient names are changed, explicit consent granted. Dr. Artress is an American physician. Kilimanjaro.

The Foundation for African Medicine & Education is a non-profit corporation registered in the United States. It was created to improve the quality of medical care in East Africa. FAME endeavors to help bridge the gap between a critically under-resourced healthcare system and first-world medicine. FAME is currently focused on improving the quality and accessibility of medical care in Tanzania and making a difference in the day-to-day lives of the Tanzanian people. He has traveled extensively and participated in medical relief projects around the globe. His wife, Susan, is trained in counseling and educational psychology and has worked for many years in school-based mental health and prevention. Frank and Susan have lived and worked in Tanzania since 2003and currently reside in Karatu, Tanzania. They coordinate and oversee the day-to-day operations of all FAME projects. Certain places on the planet can capture a person's heart and alter the direction of one's life. For us, Tanzania is such a place. At the start of the new millenium we found ourselves at a crossroads and began to experience a shift in how we wanted to spend the second half of our lives. For years, we had talked about climbing Mt. Finally in July of 2002, we began our ascent of the highest peak in Africa. At the time, we could not have known Frank would nearly die atop that mountain, nor how those critical moments would shape the rest of our lives. The perseverance, generosity, and resourcefulness of our guide and his crew awakened us to the resilience of the human spirit - that place inside each of us where grace and strength reside. After several months back in the U.S., we decided to return to Tanzania, this time to contribute back to a people whose voice is rarely heard in the rest of the world, a people who have few opportunities to share their wisdom, their strength, and their dreams with the rest of us. From this place, the Foundation for African Medicine and Education was born. Board of Directors

Frank Artress, Co-Founder & President
Susan Gustafson, Co-Founder & Vice-President
Jeanne Artress, Secretary/Treasurer
Graham Pierce, Director
Jack Paddon, Director
Nancy Paddon, Director

We were so glad to welcome our longtime partners Every Mother Counts to FAME today 💛For more than 10 years, they’ve been...
03/24/2026

We were so glad to welcome our longtime partners Every Mother Counts to FAME today 💛

For more than 10 years, they’ve been part of the journey, helping us grow and strengthen care for mothers and babies across our community.

Since opening our Maternity Center in 2019, we’ve seen a 90% increase in deliveries and support more than 1,400 women annually through prenatal care. Our prenatal program now sees over 900 high-risk clinic visits each year, reflecting FAME’s growing role as the referral center for complex maternal health cases across the district.

This is what partnership looks like. We’re proud of what we’ve built together and even more excited for what’s ahead!

03/21/2026
03/17/2026

Here is Nurse Barb Dehn member of FAME U.S. Board who also has been volunteering at FAME Hospital for the past 10 years!

She just shared a powerful video message about the incredible skin grafting services FAME offers to kids who have suffered from fire accidents 🙏

Watch the video today to learn more about FAME's surgery program and how much it has grown.

https://fameafrica.org/

Footling: A Tale of Courage and Expertise for the TwinsAt FAME Hospital, our medical teams often care for high-risk preg...
03/12/2026

Footling: A Tale of Courage and Expertise for the Twins

At FAME Hospital, our medical teams often care for high-risk pregnancies that require precise attention and care. "Footling and bleeding, if not managed properly, can lead to the loss of the baby, the mother, or both," said Nurse Nditoya (right) , recalling the critical condition of Easter, who arrived at FAME pregnant with twins.

A footling presentation is a type of breech position in which one or both babies are positioned feet-first rather than head-first. This is considered a high-risk delivery and requires close monitoring. In many cases, a cesarean section (c-section) is the safest option.

When Easter’s condition suddenly deteriorated at home, her mother-in-law, Emily (left), acted quickly and rushed her to FAME to protect both Easter and the unborn babies. After a thorough examination, the medical team determined that an emergency c-section was necessary.

The twins were delivered safely and immediately admitted to FAME’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where they received oxygen therapy. This rapid response reflects the hospital’s ability to manage complications such as respiratory distress and birth asphyxia.

Thanks to the expertise and dedication of FAME’s doctors and nurses, the twins are now thriving. "They survived because of the care we received here at FAME," Emily said with relief. "Today, we're going home, happy to return to our family."

FAME is a leader in managing complex deliveries, including breech presentations, placenta previa and umbilical cord prolapse. With skilled staff, essential equipment and compassionate care, FAME remains a lifeline for mothers, newborns and families across the region. Every safe delivery at FAME is a reminder of what’s possible when families have access to high-quality maternal and newborn care.

03/10/2026
🎉 Happy International Women's Day! Today, we join people around the world to celebrate the incredible women who make a d...
03/08/2026

🎉 Happy International Women's Day!

Today, we join people around the world to celebrate the incredible women who make a difference in our lives and communities!

At FAME, we're proud to have an amazing team of women who are the backbone of our organization. Did you know that almost half of our workforce are women? 👩‍⚕️ From our skilled doctors and nurses to our dedicated housekeeping and security teams, lab technicians, and administrative staff, women are leading the way in delivering patient-centered care every day.

Thank you to all women at FAME for your continued contributions. Your hard work and dedication are truly tremendous. 🙏🏿 💕



Thank you to our partner 🤝
03/02/2026

Thank you to our partner 🤝

FAME U.S. Board in Tanzania!We're absolutely thrilled to once again host the incredible FAME U.S. Board here on our FAME...
02/27/2026

FAME U.S. Board in Tanzania!

We're absolutely thrilled to once again host the incredible FAME U.S. Board here on our FAME Hospital campus in Tanzania! This tradition takes place every three years and it is always an honor to welcome them back.

They bring invaluable insight and energy to our community.
Their visit this time around has been packed with some seriously important work. We are meticulously reviewing our strategic plan, celebrating the incredible successes of the team and planning for the future of FAME. Their guidance and expertise are truly instrumental as we chart our course forward.

We're so grateful for their continued dedication to FAME’s work. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow and achieve even greater things toward patient-centered care.

FAME Spotlight ✨This year we are bringing you closer than ever before to the incredible impact happening on the ground i...
02/24/2026

FAME Spotlight ✨

This year we are bringing you closer than ever before to the incredible impact happening on the ground in Northern Tanzania!

We've launched our exclusive quarterly Spotlight webinar series, where you get to hear directly from our dedicated team: the doctors, nurses and the administrative staff making a real difference in the lives of the patients we serve in Tanzania. Plus, it's your chance to ask them questions live! 🩺👩‍⚕️🌍

Each quarter, you help us choose the presentation topic! We love collaborating with you to highlight what matters most. 🗳️💡

Our first ever series webinar was a resounding success! Focusing on Maternal Health and Pediatrics, our team shared their stories and experiences with over 50 passionate individuals. They did a dive deep into crucial strategies and took the time to tell heartwarming patient stories. We covered comprehensive prenatal, delivery and postnatal care, exploring vital areas such as:
👶 Reproductive Child Health
🤰 Prenatal Program & High-Risk Clinic
🏥 Maternity Center & NICU
💉 Newborn Care & Under 5 Vaccination

If you're passionate about global health and want to see real-world change, you definitely don't want to miss our next one.

➡️ Scheduled for April, click the link below to register today:
https://secure.qgiv.com/for/foundationforafricanmedicineeducation/event/spotlightonfamewebinar/

➡️ Click the link below to watch our inaugural Spotlight session from earlier this month:
https://youtu.be/W4w9fbuHzEo

02/21/2026

🎉 Happy International Mother Language Day! 🗣️🌍

At FAME, we're all about making sure everyone gets the care they need, no matter what language they speak.

Our awesome Social Welfare Department provides translation services for patients who only speak their tribal languages. This way, we ensure patient-centered care is accessible to absolutely everyone, breaking down language barriers! 💙

We believe communication is key to trust and healing. By offering these services, we're not just translating words; we're fostering understanding, dignity and a sense of belonging for all our patients. It is a crucial part of our commitment to provide inclusive and compassionate healthcare for all.

02/17/2026

📢🌍 BIG NEWS, FAME FAMILY! 🌍📢
THE FAME TEAM IS COMING TO THE U.S.!

This May, FAME founders Dr. Frank and Susan are heading to the U.S. and we could not be more excited!

They’ll be traveling across the country, reconnecting with long-time supporters, meeting new friends to FAME and sharing all about our vital work in rural Northern Tanzania.

💛 Want to be part of the tour? You can host Dr. Frank and Susan for a small gathering or event in your home, workplace or community!

This is a special chance to bring friends, neighbors or colleagues together to learn more about FAME’s mission and the incredible impact happening every day because of supporters like you.

📩 Interested in hosting? Reach out to our U.S. team at rose@fameafrica.org so we can arrange a visit.

We can’t wait to see you, share incredible, life-saving stories and celebrate all that’s possible together.

✨ See you in May!

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️ Today we celebrate love expressed through compassion and care. This type of love is a healing ...
02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Today we celebrate love expressed through compassion and care. This type of love is a healing love that we share every day through patient-centered care here at FAME.

We are deeply grateful to our donors, volunteers, partners, employees and all who support this mission; your kindness and commitment make hope and healing possible for so many families.

May your day be filled with joy, gratitude and love that continues to transform lives.

Address

4553 Crimsonwood Drive
Redding, CA
96001

Website

https://fameafrica.org/journal

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