Jeff Bleijerveld is the director of the UB Church's global mission and says Salia was required to stay in Sierra Leone as part of his obligations in exchange for his training. But, he remained for another two years.

He was described as a quiet, effective operating-room leader.

According to the Associated Press, a colleague and fellow missionary, Richard Toupin of Auburn, Indiana said in a phone interview that Salia may be one of the best-trained surgeons in Sierra Leone.

Colleagues say Salia had been slated to work in Burkina Faso, unaffected by the Ebola outbreak, but those plans fell through.