Nick Were

Dr. Nick Were is a dynamic orthopedic resident at the University of Nairobi and a visionary health tech entrepreneur committed to transforming healthcare access in Kenya and beyond. Blending his medical expertise with a deep passion for innovation, Dr. Were is the founder of Prothea Kenya, a groundbreaking initiative that leverages 3D printing technology to produce affordable, lightweight, and comfortable prosthetics for amputees. In a country where traditional prosthetics can cost up to one million shillings and are often out of reach for the average citizen, Dr. Were’s work is nothing short of revolutionary — serving nearly 500 patients in just two years and donating over 300 prosthetics to those most in need. Beyond prosthetics, his mission is holistic: restoring confidence, dignity, and opportunity. He’s the force behind Kenya’s first-ever “Mr. and Ms. Amputee Kenya” fashion show, a powerful platform to showcase strength and raise awareness. He is also piloting an initiative to pair amputees with electric bikes, giving them a path to economic independence. His work extends further into the future of medicine with the use of VR for psychiatric therapy, 3D-printed training mannequins, and smart glasses that provide real-time remote surgical guidance to rural doctors. Whether he's fitting a prosthetic for a patient flown in from Burundi or demonstrating next-gen VR fitness tech, Dr. Were exemplifies the potential of merging medicine with innovation to address real-world challenges. His work is a testament to the power of purpose-driven problem-solving in low- and middle-income countries.