What VOOM Foundation does

VOOM Foundation is a US-based 501(c)-style humanitarian medical nonprofit founded in 2004 by Dr. Vincent Ohaju, a Nigerian-born trauma surgeon. The foundation's core function is to deliver free open-heart cardiac surgery, cardiac screening, and continuing medical education to underserved populations in Nigeria, primarily through short-duration medical mission trips staged out of partner hospitals. Headquartered in College Station, Texas, VOOM operates a volunteer-driven clinical model: US-based and diaspora surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and biomedical engineers travel to Nigeria to perform surgeries alongside local counterparts, while in-kind medical supplies (consumables, disposables, and equipment) are shipped ahead of each mission. Since 2011 the foundation has logged 90,000+ training hours and in a single recent year (2025) recorded 17,000+ training hours, ~700 health-fair patients, 1,000+ cardiac screenings, and approximately 45 cardiac surgeries.

The foundation's product surface spans three layers: (1) clinical service delivery — open-heart surgery, screening, and perioperative care delivered free of charge to Nigerian patients; (2) medical education — hands-on training of Nigerian surgeons, perfusionists, and nurses through mission trips and, since 2024, a virtual training channel launched in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center; and (3) infrastructure — the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital, opened in 2022 as a permanent in-country surgical and training facility developed jointly with the Sir Emeka Okwuosa Foundation. The clinical network spans five Nigerian partner hospitals including Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, with three additional teaching-hospital MOUs signed in May 2024 expanding the in-country footprint. International clinical-education partnerships with the Cardiovascular Education Foundation and the Canadian Cardiovascular Computed Tomography Foundation were added in October 2025.

VOOM's revenue model is donation-dependent rather than fee-based. Patients receive services at no cost. Funding is sourced from individual donors via the tiered Caduceus Society program (giving levels of $1,000-$20,000), the HERO Campaign (sponsorship of roughly $3,000 per patient surgery), fundraising events, an international chapter launched in Sweden in 2018, and in-kind donations of medical supplies and equipment from US hospitals and manufacturers. There is no disclosed pricing for services and no commercial customer base; instead, the foundation's "customer" set is dual-sided — Nigerian patients as recipients and a distributed donor base as the revenue source. Go-to-market is mission-driven brand marketing, event fundraising, and ambassador networks rather than sales pipelines.

Name

VOOM Foundation

Legal name

Vincent Obioma Ohaju Memorial Foundation

Website

http://voomfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

VOOM Foundation is a US-based nonprofit humanitarian medical organization that delivers free cardiac surgery, clinical training, and screening services in Nigeria through partnerships with local teaching hospitals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Medical Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Health & Medical Volunteering Programs (EDAIAGAC)

Keywords

• Humanitarian medical missions
• Cardiac surgery services
• Medical volunteer programs
• Healthcare training programs
• Charitable healthcare delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

College Station

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: VOOM Foundation relies entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. Revenue comes through direct cash donations, fundraising events, ambassador program fundraising, and corporate sponsorships. The organization provides free medical services and does not charge patients.
2. Giving Programs (Caduceus Society, Heart for Nigeria Society, HERO Campaign): Annual giving programs where donors contribute at various tiers. Caduceus Society targets medical professionals with Bronze ($1,000), Silver ($3,000-$5,000), Gold ($5,000-$10,000), Platinum ($10,000), and Diamond ($20,000) levels. HERO Campaign provides $3,000 patient scholarships.
3. Medical Supplies and Equipment Support: In-kind donations from medical equipment and supply companies including surgical instruments, ventilators, anesthesia machines, heart valves, and medications. These donations support surgical missions and reduce operational costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

VOOM Foundation provides free open-heart surgeries, interventional cardiology procedures, vascular surgery, and healthcare professional training at partner hospitals in Nigeria. The organization runs biannual medical missions with volunteer surgical teams and supplements direct patient care with health fairs, medical supply donations, and a multi-tier healthcare advancement education program. All services are delivered at no cost to patients.

Product overview

VOOM Foundation is a humanitarian medical organization offering a portfolio of healthcare programs focused on providing open-heart surgery and medical training in Nigeria. The core offerings include Medical Missions (open-heart surgery programs for adults and children), the Ann Bluejack Healthcare Advancement Education Program (training for Nigerian healthcare professionals), Patient Open-Heart Scholarships (covering surgery costs for indigent patients), Health Fairs (rural outreach with screenings and medications), and Medical Supplies Distribution. Supporting programs include the Caduceus Society (physician giving program), Heart for Nigeria Society (professional advocacy network), and VOOM Ambassadors (student fundraising organizations). Together, these programs work toward the goal of building sustainable healthcare capacity in Nigeria's underserved communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medical Missions Biannual international medical volunteer teams that perform open-heart surgeries, vascular surgeries, and interventional cardiology procedures at partner hospitals in Nigeria. Missions typically last two weeks and include adult and pediatric cardiac surgery programs. Targeted at indigent Nigerian patients with no access to cardiac care.
• Ann Bluejack Healthcare Advancement Education Program Medical training and education program providing personalized, in-country training to Nigerian healthcare professionals. Includes workshops, bedside training, and virtual education sessions in collaboration with University of Maryland Medical Center. Over 90,000 hours of training delivered since 2011.
• Patient Open-Heart Scholarship Program Life-saving heart surgery scholarships covering costs associated with procedures including hospitalization, diagnostics, and post-operative care for children and adults in Nigeria who cannot afford critical care.
• Health Fairs Rural outreach events providing adult and pediatric patients with access to well-checks, free screenings for diabetes and hypertension, eye examinations with glasses distribution, and free medications including antibiotics, pain relievers, and treatments for diabetes, malaria, and parasites.
• Medical Supplies and Equipment Distribution Provision of donated medical supplies, equipment, and medications at no charge to partner hospitals and patients, removing financial burdens from patients requiring surgical care. Equipment shipped in 40-foot containers from US to Nigeria.
• Medical Volunteer Recruitment Recruitment and coordination of medical professionals including pediatric and adult cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, interventional cardiology specialists, cardiac and ICU nurses, perfusionists, CRNAs, intensivists, anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists, biomedical engineers, ophthalmologists, internists, and family medicine physicians for medical missions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 38.8% of all open-heart surgeries in Nigeria performed by VOOM Foundation in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 2013 as VOOM's first partnership. UNTH is Nigeria's Cardiothoracic Centre of Excellence that pioneered the only open-heart program in the country in 1974. VOOM provides education and training during open-heart medical missions at this location.
• Lagos State University Teaching HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2018. VOOM provides education and training during open-heart medical missions. Located in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city.
• University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established to deliver education and training to cardiac medical teams. VOOM sent containers of equipment and supplies to support the cardiac program launch. New program launched in 2021.
• Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital (DIOMH)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpened in 2022 as a state-of-the-art hospital in Oraifite, Nigeria. VOOM Foundation serves as the medical partner, providing medical expertise to all aspects of healthcare. The facility includes a Cath Lab, blood bank, and electronic record system. VOOM conducts pediatric and adult open-heart missions here. In 2025, 38.8% of Nigeria's cardiac surgeries took place here.
• First Cardiology Consultants (FCC) LagoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVOOM Sweden conducted missions at FCC Lagos in January 2025, performing 4 adult and 5 pediatric open-heart surgeries and providing 1,320 hours of training to staff.
• Healthy Heart Foundation/NigeriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in 2021 with a goal to support indigent care. Collaborated with VOOM to provide free open-heart surgery to patients like Hammed Afolabi.
• Sir Emeka Okwuosa FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered in 2019 to build the Dame Irene Okwuosa Memorial Hospital. VOOM agreed to deliver the medical program with intent to train and educate local staff and install standards based on quality.
• Columbia MedicalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership began in November 2022 to begin open-heart programs for children. Led vascular surgery mission in 2024.
• University of Maryland Medical CentercoreTechnology or IntegrationIn 2024, VOOM launched its first series of online courses with University of Maryland Medical Center, marking the introduction of virtual training for healthcare professionals across Nigeria.
• HeartGift FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides financial backing for families of pediatric patients receiving surgery. Collaboration enables VOOM's cost-free pediatric surgeries.
• Cardiovascular Education FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership formed in October 2025. Dr. Rezoana Rima and her team from Bangladesh performed 18 diagnostic catheterization and 8 interventional cardiology procedures as part of this collaboration.
• CCCF (Children's Cardiac Cure Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership formed in October 2025. Dr. Rezoana Rima and her team from Bangladesh performed procedures as part of this collaboration.
• VOOM SwedencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational team that expanded VOOM's global outreach. January 2025 mission at FCC Lagos performed 9 open-heart surgeries and provided 1,320 hours of training.
• AbbottminorOthersProvides in-kind medical supplies and equipment to support VOOM's surgical missions in Nigeria.
• Direct ReliefminorOthersProvided 17-pallet shipment worth approximately $2.5 million in protective gear, IV fluids, rehydration supplies, antibiotics, and diagnostics for Ebola response and medical missions.
• MedtronicminorOthersProvides in-kind medical supplies and equipment to support VOOM's surgical missions.
• Edwards LifesciencesminorOthersProvides in-kind heart valves and related equipment for cardiac surgeries.
• AmericaresminorOthersProvides medical supplies and medications for VOOM's humanitarian medical missions.
• EthiconminorOthersProvides surgical supplies and equipment for missions.
• ArtivionminorOthersProvides in-kind medical supplies and equipment.
• Mayo ClinicminorOthersProvides medical supplies and equipment for surgical missions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Chain of Hope: UK-based charity that provides cardiac treatment to children in developing countries and trains local medical professionals. Comparable in combining surgery delivery with capacity building in low-resource settings.
• International Children's Heart Foundation: Organizes volunteer medical teams to perform pediatric cardiac surgery in low- and middle-income countries. Operates a similar mission-based model with visiting surgical teams and trains local staff, making it a strong operational comparable.
• Heart Care International: Nonprofit that sends volunteer cardiac surgery teams to developing countries to perform operations and train local medical staff. Directly comparable in surgical mission focus and volunteer-driven delivery.
• Novick Cardiac Alliance: Provides pediatric cardiac care and surgery in developing countries through volunteer teams, with a strong focus on training local surgeons. Directly comparable in mission, delivery model, and patient population.
• CardioStart International: Volunteer nonprofit providing cardiac surgery, cardiology education, and equipment donation to underserved regions. Closely matches VOOM in combining open-heart missions with training and supply-chain support.
• HeartGift Foundation: A nonprofit that provides free pediatric heart surgery to children from countries without access to cardiac care. HeartGift is actually a VOOM partner (provides financial backing for VOOM's pediatric patients) and is the most direct peer in scope and mission.

Broad incumbents

• Partners In Health: Major global health nonprofit that builds long-term healthcare capacity in resource-poor settings. Though broader in disease focus, PIH's model of pairing direct care delivery with training and infrastructure investment mirrors VOOM's sustainability approach.
• Project HOPE: Global health and humanitarian organization delivering medical training, equipment, and health services worldwide. Comparable in its pairing of medical training with equipment donation to hospitals in underserved countries.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders): Largest global medical humanitarian organization with permanent field operations across multiple African countries including Nigeria. While much broader in scope than VOOM, MSF is the benchmark humanitarian medical nonprofit that VOOM's donor base compares against.
• International Medical Corps: Global humanitarian organization delivering emergency medical response and training across multiple countries, including active programs in Nigeria. Comparable in training-heavy, capacity-building approach to low-resource healthcare systems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VOOM-Foundation-527848877273035
• Instagraminstagram.com/voomambassadors
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/15617116
• Xx.com/voomfdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VOOM Foundation