Louis Tshisuaka Kanda

Dr. Louis Tshisuaka Kanda, a resident of the Washington, DC area for over forty years, died on July 3, 2026. Dr. Kanda was an extraordinary man-a good human being and a citizen of the world. He was not only a devoted son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather - but also a gifted surgeon, educator, humanitarian, mentor, and friend. He was laser-focused and ever striving for excellence in his work and in any endeavor he undertook, including leisure activities. At the same time, he held a broad view of the world and was not self-absorbed. Professionally, Dr. Kanda was a cardiac and thoracic surgeon in private practice in Washington, DC for over three decades. He performed life-saving surgeries on numerous patients. His humanitarian work took him to several continents, where he delivered cardiac surgical care in developing countries on a voluntary basis for over twenty years. He held a strong commitment to building capacity in developing countries, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa. He believed in the innate value of, and potential in, all persons. He had a generous, caring, and forgiving spirit and did not hold grudges.

Dr. Kanda was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in 1944 to Samuel Tshisuaka Kanda and his wife, Rebecca Kabisa. He came to the USA as an exchange student. He was fluent in English, French, Lingala and Tshiluba. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, CA and a Doctor of Medicine degree from the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. He completed a residency in General Surgery at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC. As a chief surgery resident, Dr. Kanda was inspired and encouraged by Dr. Jorge Garcia, the founder of cardiac surgery at the Washington Hospital Center, to train at his alma mater, the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Louis followed Dr. Garcia’s advice and completed a training fellowship in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He also specialized in Mitral valve reconstructive surgery and sought additional training from the internationally renown father of mitral valve reconstruction, Dr. Alain Carpentier in France. Dr. Kanda was board certified in General Surgery and in Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgery.

Dr. Kanda’s surgical career at the Medstar Washington Hospital Center spanned more than three decades. There, he served as attending cardiac surgeon, senior attending cardiac surgeon, vice-chairman of the Department of Surgery and Director of Mitral Surgery. He was also chairman of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Howard University Hospital (1994-1995.) He was a member of the Board of Directors of Medlantic Health Group and the Board of Directors of the MedStar Heart Institute. He was an emeritus clinical Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at George Washington University. He was an active member of many professional and civic organizations. He received several honors and awards, including the State of Maryland Governor’s

Citation for outstanding contributions to healthcare; the Dr. Walter Booker Sr. Innovation Award from the Association of Black

Cardiologists; an award from the National Association of Jamaican and Supportive Organizations in recognition of outstanding medical contributions to Jamaica; and the Ernest A. Gould Award for Excellence in Surgery from the Washington Hospital Center.

As part of his humanitarian work, Dr. Kanda performed cardiac surgery on a voluntary basis in Jamaica, the Philippines, China, and Ethiopia. He served as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation. With his wife Mimi, a retired pediatrician, he played a seminal role in the development of the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital (BMMH) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. He was a member of the Board of the American Liaison Bureau of the Congo Protestant University (UPC), now known as Education Congo.

Dr. Kanda is survived by Mireille “Mimi”, his loving wife of 56 years; his cherished grandson Horatio; seven sisters, Elizabeth Mbombu, Jackie Tshisuaka, Esther Ngoya, Louise Ngondu, Madeleine Kaja, Rebecca Kabisa, and Liliane Tshisuaka; three brothers, Adelard Tshisuaka Kanda, Taty Tshisuaka Kanda, and Coco Tshisuaka Kanda; a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.

An avid golfer, Dr. Kanda’s also enjoyed international travel and spectator sports. He leaves the many people whose lives he touched a rich legacy. We feel honored and blessed to have known him, saddened by his departure, blessed by the love and cherished memories of times we shared and inspired by the example of how he lived his life.