Meet Our Team

Our Founders

Dr. Archie Heddings, MD

Dr. Archie Heddings is the Associate Professor in Orthopedic Surgery at KUMC and the Fellowship Director for their International Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship. Beginning his career as a U.S. Army Ranger, he served in two combat tours with the 1st Ranger Battalion. After a serious motor vehicle accident led to his medical discharge, Dr. Heddings pursued a medical degree. Now, as an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, he specializes in fracture treatment and complications, driving positive change in trauma care across Africa through his fellowship program.

Dr. Solomon Goshu Mengistu, MD

Dr. Solomon Goshu Mengistu is an assistant professor of Orthopedic Surgery and research coordinator at Saint Paul’s Millennium Medical College in Ethiopia. Practicing at AaBET Trauma and Burn Hospital in Addis Ababa, he specializes in orthopedic trauma surgery and plays a role in training future surgeons. As an alumni of the International Trauma Fellowship Program at KUMC, Dr. Mengistu is Ethiopia's first foot and ankle surgeon and is a one of the founders of the International Orthopedic Trauma Collaborative.

Dr. Abiy Worku Haile, MD

Dr. Abiy Worku Haile is an associate professor of Orthopedic Surgery at Saint Paul’s Millennium Medical College in Addis Aba, Ethiopia. His medical practice is at AaBET Trauma and Burn Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he practices orthopedic trauma surgery as well as trains future surgeons. He is one of the first graduates of the International Trauma Fellowship Program at KUMC. Dr. Abiy’s interests within orthopedic care include pelvic and acetabular fractures as well as hip and knee replacements. Dr. Abiy exhibits a passion to provide high-quality care for all his patients, including those back home in Ethiopia.

Our Board

Frank Zilm

Dr. Frank Zilm is an expert in healthcare architecture, holding undergraduate degrees in Liberal Arts and Architecture from the University of Kansas and a Doctorate in Architecture from the University of Michigan. After returning to Kansas City in 1976, he established a firm leading over 300 healthcare planning projects globally, including work for M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and The Cleveland Clinic. He has lectured at Harvard, Cambridge, and Cornell. Dr. Zilm co-founded the KU Institute for Health and Wellness Design in 2009 and taught there for 15 years. He has served as President of the American Institute of Architects Academy on Architecture for Health and the Academy on Architecture for Health Foundation. His accolades include the KU School of Architecture and Design Distinguished Alumni award (1993), the American College of Healthcare Architects lifetime achievement award (2014), and the Russ Coile lifetime achievement award from the Center for Health Design (2021).

Kimberly Connelly

Kimberly Connelly has led the Office of International Programs as the Director and Senior International Officer at the University of Kansas Medical Center since 2013, managing both the inbound and outbound arms of international educational and global health exchange. Her mission is to connect people through educational, cultural, and global health experiences. As Senator Fulbright said, “Educational Exchange can turn nations into people, contributing as no other form of communication can to the humanizing of international relations.” Her passions include leading cultural conversations and interactive training. Kimberly is engaged in longitudinal research to measure the impact of international educational experiences and aims to drive more research illustrating their concrete benefits. She holds a Master of Arts in TESOL from the School for International Training and undergraduate degrees in Mass Communication and Political Science from Regis University.

Dr. Terrence Epie

Lauri Spiresweet

Matthew Jacobson

Matthew Jacobson is a Professor of Film and Media Studies at the University of Kansas. He earned his M.F.A. in Film and Video Production from the University of Southern California. Before joining academia, he worked in the Los Angeles film and video industry, collaborating with notable directors and actors. Since 1999, Matt has been a faculty member at KU, where he teaches various film production courses, including Experimental Film, Music Video Production, and Cinematography. As a Director of Photography, Matt has had the distinction of taking three feature films to the Sundance Film Festival. He continues to actively work in the industry, ensuring his teaching remains current with the latest in digital production and post-production techniques.

Dr. Abebe Abebe, MD

Dr. Abebe is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Department of Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. He completed his undergraduate medical education at Jimma University School of Medicine in Jimma, Ethiopia, and worked as a general practitioner until he emigrated to the United States. He then completed his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Kansas and subsequently joined the Internal Medicine faculty. Dr. Abebe is also a core faculty member in the Internal Medicine residency program and serves as an Assistant Society Director at the KU School of Medicine. At the state level, he is a member of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. His latest appointment, as of July 1, 2024, is Vice Chair of Undergraduate Medical Education in the Department of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Adam Goodyear, MD

Dr. Adam Goodyear is an Orthopedic Surgeon with a focus on hip and knee replacement and revision, as well as the non-operative management of arthritic conditions. He earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston, followed by an Orthopedic Surgery residency at the University of Kansas Hospital. Dr. Goodyear further specialized with a fellowship in adult reconstruction at the University of Colorado Hospital and Denver Health. His practice is dedicated to providing relief to patients suffering from arthritis, offering both surgical and non-surgical treatment options.

Jordan Brooke

Executive Directors

Medical Students & Interns

Committed to creating sustainable orthopedic trauma care systems in underserved regions across the world

Initiatives

About IOTC

Contact

©The International Orthopedic Trauma Collaborative, Inc. (IOTC) is currently in the process of applying for tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code by filing IRS Form 1023. Although IOTC is operating as a nonprofit tax-exempt organization, IOTC has not yet received recognition of its tax-exempt status from the IRS. If approved, the IRS will retroactively recognize IOTC’s tax-exempt status to the date of IOTC’s formation, and donations made during this period may become tax-deductible. Please consult with your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of your contributions.

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