Orgoi Sergelen facts for kids

Sergelen Orgoi is a famous surgeon from Mongolia. She is known for making liver transplants and a type of surgery called laparoscopic surgery more affordable in her country. She is a top doctor and leads the Surgery Department at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. She is also a special member of the American College of Surgeons.

Her Education Journey

Sergelen Orgoi studied at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. She earned many degrees there. These include a Bachelor of Medicine in 1982. She also got a Master's degree in 1983. Later, she earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) in 1997. In 2002, she received her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). She also traveled to countries like South Korea, Switzerland, the USA, and Finland. There, she did special training called medical fellowships.

Her Career as a Surgeon

Sergelen taught surgery at the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences. She taught there from 1982 to 2002. In 2002, she became the Head of the Surgery Department. She still holds this important position today.

Making Liver Transplants Affordable

Liver cancer is a big problem in Mongolia. It is also very expensive to treat. In 2011, Sergelen and her team made history. They performed the first successful liver transplant in Mongolia. This happened at the First Central Hospital of Mongolia. Before this, her team practiced for three years. They did test surgeries on 26 pigs.

Since that first surgery, her team has done 47 liver transplants. Sergelen wanted to make these life-saving surgeries cheaper. Now, a liver transplant costs about MNT 10-15 million. This is around US$3,000 to US$5,000. She suggested that the government help pay for these surgeries. Now, the state budget covers 75 percent of all liver transplants in Mongolia. This makes them much more accessible for people.

Special Awards and Recognition

In 2017, Sergelen received a big honor. The American College of Surgeons gave her an Honorary Fellowship award. They honored her for her dedication to helping people in Mongolia.

The American College of Surgeons praised her work. They said she was a true pioneer in modern surgery. She showed that surgery could reach all communities. This was true even with challenges like difficult land and money problems. She proved that surgery does not have to be too expensive. Her projects are great examples for other countries. These are countries with lower or middle incomes. Professor Sergelen is a very important leader in modern surgery.