Q&A with Dr. Tuyisabe

 

 

RIIO: Dr. Tuyisabe, welcome! What initially drew you to ophthalmology?

 

Dr. Tuyisabe: I grew up in a rural village where eye care was almost non-existent. When I was a teenager, I lost a close friend who was my age, who died after falling into a hole simply because he couldn't see. That loss was a defining moment for me. It forced me to ask: Was this tragedy unavoidable, or could it have been prevented?

 

Later, I accompanied my grandfather for an eye exam. The team explained that while he was at high risk of blindness, surgery could save his sight. I was fascinated. Is it truly possible to operate on the eye and restore vision? That curiosity followed me through medical school. During my rotations, I observed my first cataract surgery. It was intense and stressful, but the next morning, when the patches came off and the patient cried tears of joy because they could see again—that was it. I knew then that ophthalmology was my calling. I committed myself to this field so that no one would lose their sight, or their life, simply because care wasn't available.

 

RIIO: You were the first Rwandan to lead the Kabgayi Eye Unit as Medical Director, transforming it into a National Centre of Excellence. What was your driving philosophy in that role?

 

Dr. Tuyisabe: My approach was guided by a simple belief: excellence in eye care should be a standard, not an exception, and it must be locally led. Being the first Rwandan in that role wasn't just a personal milestone; it was a chance to show that our national institutions can reach world-class standards through home-grown leadership.

 

I focused on three simple things:

 

Putting the Patient First: I wanted to ensure that every protocol and every piece of equipment resulted in a more dignified experience and a better outcome for the patient, no matter who they were or where they came from.

 

Investing in People : I believe that long-term success isn't about one person; it’s about the team. We focused on mentorship and empowering every staff member—from nurses to surgeons—to take pride in the quality of care we provided.

 

Building a Strong Foundation: We moved away from relying on individual heroics and toward a reliable system. We used data to see where we could improve and created clear ways to hold ourselves accountable for the care we delivered.

 

Kabgayi’s transformation wasn't the work of one person—it was a motivated team moving toward a shared purpose. By balancing clinical skill with financial discipline and a culture of collaboration, we evolved from a busy hospital into a true center for innovation. I’ve always believed that real change doesn’t come from "extraordinary" people, but from building solid systems that consistently produce extraordinary results.

 

RIIO: Kabgayi has become a key training site, and RIIO often sends trainees there for simulation. How will that experience help our students here?

 

Dr. Tuyisabe: My time there proved that a great surgeon isn't born—they are trained through a structured journey. We saw that simulation is most powerful when it’s a standard part of the curriculum, supervised by faculty who know how to give constructive feedback.

 

At Kabgayi, we built a culture of safety. To ensure that trainees proved their competence in the before ever stepping into the operating room we introduced several simulation lab courses. I look forward to bringing that same focus on safety and "simulation-first" learning to RIIO, helping to scale the high-quality education you are already known for.

 

RIIO: What excites you most about joining the RIIO faculty?

 

Dr. Tuyisabe: The opportunity to be part of a platform that connects the entire region. RIIO is unique because it perfectly integrates surgery, education, and research. I am especially motivated by the chance to mentor the next generation of ophthalmologists in an environment that matches international standards with local heart. Joining such a forward-thinking, multidisciplinary team is both professionally fulfilling and deeply inspiring.

 

RIIO: Finally, what message would you like to share with our aspiring ophthalmologists?

 

Dr. Tuyisabe: Never lose sight of why you started. This is a field where your precision and your compassion directly change lives. Commit yourself to being the best, stay humble, and remember that you never stop learning. If you lead with integrity and work as a team, you won’t just restore vision—you will build the future of eye care for our entire region.