Dr Penelope Adinku: First Ghanaian female heart surgeon

For Dr Penelope Adinku, becoming Ghana’s first female cardiothoracic surgeon was never part of her childhood plans. As a young girl, she was more interested in books and once dreamed of becoming an author of children’s books.

Reserved, bookish and competitive, she loved reading Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, The Famous Five and The Babysitters Club. She also enjoyed dancing, while church gradually became an important part of her life.

Medicine became an option through her family. Her father, Mr Ambrose Tettey, is a pharmacist and her mother is a teacher. Her immediate older sister entered medical school before her, and watching her journey, together with the encouragement of her parents, eventually influenced Dr Adinku to pursue medicine.

Her earliest memories of hospitals were, interestingly, linked to recovery. Whenever she was admitted as a child, her parents knew she was improving when she would tell her father, “Daddy, I can spell…”

She eventually discovered her passion for surgery during her final year of medical school. While rotating through the Department of Surgery, she watched surgeons treat patients and realised that she wanted to become one.

Her interest in cardiothoracic surgery grew during her housemanship in paediatrics, where she encountered children with congenital heart disease. She developed a desire to help such children, drawing her towards the highly specialised field.

The decision was not without resistance. Some health professionals discouraged her because of the demanding nature of cardiothoracic surgery. Her family, however, encouraged her to continue. “They had more faith in me than I had in myself at the time,” she recalls.

What attracted her most was the challenge and the opportunity to intervene when vital organs such as the heart and lungs are compromised. For her, it was the privilege of using her God-given ability to give someone a chance at a healthier and longer life.

Her journey was shaped by navigating a specialty that has traditionally been male-dominated.  She learnt to focus on her work, build trust and let her results speak for themselves.

During her clinical fellowship in Egypt, encouraging consultants gave her opportunities to participate in major cases. The experience strengthened her confidence and helped her realise that she could thrive in the specialty.

She successfully completed her Fellowship training with the West African College of Surgeons and was adjudged the best candidate in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the 2022 Fellowship Examinations, becoming the first Ghanaian female cardiothoracic surgeon.

For Dr Adinku, the achievement is more than a title. She hopes her story will inspire young Ghanaian girls and women to pursue careers that may appear unconventional.

“If a young girl sees my story and thinks she can pursue her own dream too,’ then that is deeply meaningful to me,” she says.

Her work extends beyond surgery. She is involved in research, medical education, mentorship and professional leadership. She is a member of the Ghanaian Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons and serves as its Treasurer.

Her achievements have earned her the IAP Young Physician Leader Award, the Young Star Award and the Valerie Rusch Mentored Career Development Award from the American Association for Thoracic Surgery.

For her, standing before a patient whose life depends on surgery brings a profound sense of responsibility. She remains focused and humble, recognising that behind every patient is a family hoping for a safe outcome. Her faith helps her trust God with what remains beyond her control.

When an operation does not have the desired outcome, she acknowledges the disappointment, reflects on what happened and discusses difficult cases with senior colleagues and her team. She then moves forward, committed to giving the next patient the same level of care.

Balancing such a demanding career with family life has not always been easy. Dr Adinku credits her supportive family and friends for helping her through the journey. Outside the hospital, she makes time for family, faith, church and activities that keep her grounded.

She is particularly grateful to her husband, Rev. Ernest Adinku; her parents, Mr and Mrs Ambrose Tettey; her sisters Gertrude, Grace-Imelda and Audrey-Jacqueline and their families; her mentors, close friends, the Wesley Girls High School Sisterhood, past and present directors of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, and colleagues who have supported her.

She urged young girls to believe in themselves, work hard, learn, ask questions and keep improving.

“There will be people who doubt you, and there may also be times when you doubt yourself,” she says. “Don’t disqualify yourself before you have even had the chance to try. You may be capable of far more than you currently believe.”

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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