Steve, Nisco-Cardio-Thoracic Surgeon

HHNW had 2 surgeons this year. Neil Worrall and Steve Nisco. Neil, a 4 year veteran with HHNW spent only a week with us. Steve was here the entire 2 weeks. Steve, a native of the Boston area, trained in general surgery in Boston and went to Stanford for his cardio-thoracic training. He moved to Spokane after finishing and has been there for the last 15 years. He is married to Lynn Kohlmeier, MD and they have a son (20 and a daughter (18). Steve has wanted to be a doctor since he was in junior high school. He loves the challenging nature of cardio-thoracic surgery and because of the nature of the work, he has to understand a tremendous amount of physiology of the body to manage the patient correctly. He has operated on everything within the chest, enjoying the challenge of diverse pathology and disease. He also enjoys taking care of cancer patients. Steve is an awesome leader and teacher. He understands the nature of working as a team. He welcomed Rwandan fellows, medical students and HHNW volunteers and nurses into the OR to watch surgeries. He feels it is important for everyone on the team to understand the surgeries performed here in order to strengthen the understanding of the mission. This is Steve's 2nd trip to Rwanda. He says "It is a an opportunity to work with a fabulous team who cares about patients first and themselves second. The people of Rwanda are very grateful, which makes for a rewarding environment. "It reminds me of why I became a doctor". He finds the Rwandan people tactile by nature and as he is half Italian, he relates to them. "The Rwandans are genteel and trusting." He loves the way they dress: colorfully, neatly and professionally. Steve loves to garden and take care of his yard in his off time. He designed his landscaping and has a beautiful collection of iris. He also enjoys cooking for friends. He says he has a limited repertoire of dishes he likes to make, as his time is limited but would much rather cook at home than go to a restaurant.