Current Fellows
Olivia Bahemuka, MSN, DNPUSAOlivia Bahemuka received her Doctor of Nursing (DNP) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and has been employed at UAB Hospital in the capacity of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for Hematology-Oncology & Bone Marrow Transplant. She has expertise in nursing practice and nursing education, including staff development and patient education. She has also been involved in nursing leadership, administration, preceptor development and nursing mentorship programs in the inpatient setting at various hospitals. As a CNS she has managed, trained and developed nurses at the bedside in evidence-based practice and process improvement projects. While at the North Carolina Area Health Education Center Program, she worked to develop a regional curriculum for continuing nursing education and was also involved in grant management and community program development. She has led numerous interdisciplinary medical teams to work on a voluntary basis in Uganda for over 15 years, starting from her nursing school days. She has held positions on the North Carolina Nurses Association, Central Alabama Chapter Oncology Nurses Association (CACONS) and has served one term as board member on the Uganda North American Association (UNAA) national board. She is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Society, Transcultural Nursing Society, American Nurses Association, and the Healthcare Educators of Alabama (HEAL). Alexander Billioux, MD, DPhilUSAAlex is a physician with an interest and experience in public health and human rights work. He has worked in India, Haiti, Guatemala, and South Africa, and his research has ranged from studying HIV-related stigma amongst rural and urban Indian men to TB surveillance through post-mortem case finding in South Africa. He completed medical school and the Osler Internal Medicine Residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Prior to his medical training, he conducted his doctoral research on tumor growth factors and chaperone proteins at the University of Oxford, through the Marshall Scholarship. Through the Afya Bora Fellowship, Alex hopes to gain experience in working with ministries of health and donors to scale up and evaluate effective public health projects. Richard Cherutich, BSN, MPHKenyaRichard Cherutich currently serves as a Nursing Officer working at Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital (KNH), where he coordinates research and mentors junior research colleagues. He holds a Master’s in Public Health from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from Aga Khan University – Kenya campus. In addition, he has undertaken training and short courses in Principles of HIV research at the University of Nairobi, Clinical Management of HIV from the Department of Global Health at the University of Washington, and Fundamentals of Project Management from the organization Project Management for Development Organizations. Since 2009, Richard has been involved in array of tasks, including analysis and written reports concerning voluntary testing and counseling and clinical audits and policy changes at KNH. He also has taken part in orientating and mentoring the newly posted staff, coordinating and facilitating continuous education and professional development among the staff in seminars/workshops, and writing standard operating procedures and research protocols. Richard’s main interests are in HIV/AIDS, disease control, epidemiology and the use of computer technologies in health care and research. Kristen Hosey, DNPUSADr. Hosey is a Fellow with the Afya Bora Consortium in global health leadership. She received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Community Health Nursing at the University of Washington in 2013, and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007 from UNC Charlotte. She is an experienced nurse educator, and has demonstrated leadership in policy and advocacy through her appointment as the Secretary of the University of Washington Graduate Student Senate and as the Vice President of the University Bookstore Board of Trustees. Dr. Hosey is currently working in Kenya with I-TECH on the development and implementation of a gender-based violence information system. Joshua Garrison, MD, MPHTanzaniaDr. Joshua is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologyist with a background in Public Health, serving with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Tanzania. He was educated at three different universities in Tanzania, including the Hubert Kairuki Memorial University (MD), International Medical and Technological University (MPH) and Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MMed-OB/GYN). He serves in a Ministry of Health attachment post at Machame Hospital in the Kilimanjaro Region of Northern Tanzania were he is a Program Manager for the HIV/AIDS control program and a Clinician in the OB/GYN Ward. Dr. Joshua is also a full time lecturer at Machame Clinical Officers’ Training College.
Thandi Katlholo, MPHBotswanaThandi Katlholo is a Program Officer for the Botswana National TB Program (BNTP) in the Ministry of Health, where she was charged with coordination of social marketing and communication plans to support the Program’s Strategic Plan. Among her achievements was the development and dissemination of the first BNTP Communication Strategy, 2013-2017, which she managed. Thandi has more than 7 years experience in public health practice in behavioral change communication with the United Kingdom National Health Service within the Public Health development service and Ministry of Health, Botswana. She also volunteered with George House Trust, UK, an HIV/AIDS support NGO, from 2006 to 2010. Thandi obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2004 and her Master of Science in Public Health and Society from Salford University in 2007 as well as a Certificate in Community Health Training from Blackburn College (2010). Thandi’s interests include program development; behavioral change communication programs and public health policy development. Cordelia Katureebe-MboijanaUgandaCordelia Katureebe-Mboijana is a Paediatrician with 12 years of experience in HIV/AIDS care with expertise in the areas of PMTCT, early infant diagnosis, pediatric and Adolescent HIV care and ART. She has engaged in program planning, implementation, and monitoring for PMTCT and Peadiatric HIV programs. She received her MBChB from Mbarara University of Science and Technology and Masters of Medicine (Pediatrics and Child Health) from Makerere University in Uganda. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Trials from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is currently working as a Senior Technical Advisor for EMTCT and Peadiatric HIV with the SUSTAIN project, a USAID funded project supporting 16 public hospitals in Uganda in comprehensive HIV care and treatment. Here, she provides strategic technical guidance for strengthening hospital health systems for the successful implementation of EMTCT and Peadiatric HIV services in line with the National standards as well as leading quality improvement initiatives and operations research. She also carries with her experience in training, mentoring and developing of clinical protocols and has served as a national trainer and member of the National EID sub-committee Caroline Kosgei, MBChB, MMedKenyaDr. Kosgei is a paediatrician practicing at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She graduated from Moi University, Eldoret, in 2004 with an MBChB and subsequently completed a yearlong internship at Kenyatta National Hospital. She then began working with the Academic Model for the Prevention and Treatment of HIV (AMPATH) at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for 3 years. Thereafter, she pursued her Master of Medicine (MMed) degree in Pediatrics and Child Health. Her main interests currently are in paediatric HIV. Benedicta Masanja, MD, MPHTanzaniaBenedicta Masanja is the Technical Director at Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS), an indigenous Tanzanian NGO which supports the Government of Tanzania, through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in delivering comprehensive quality HIV and AIDS prevention, care and treatment services currently in Pwani and Mtwara regions. She provides technical guidance and oversees clinical HIV and AIDS care, including adult and paediatric HIV care and treatment, pharmacy and laboratory systems, reproductive and child health, namely PMTCT and Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV. Additionally, she supervises cervical cancer screening, adherence and psychosocial support, and tuberculosis/HIV and monitoring and evaluation. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2001 from the University of Dar es Salaam and qualified as a specialist in Internal Medicine (MMed) during 2008 at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS). Benedicta also holds a Masters in Public Health Methodology from Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) in Belgium. She has over 10 years experience within the health sector in Tanzania and has worked in various capacities in rural and urban settings to promote health through clinical and public health work. She initially managed the first PMTCT Plus program in Mbeya, one of the first regions in Tanzania to implement a PMTCT program. Before joining THPS, Benedicta served as Senior Technical Officer for Quality Improvement of Clinical Services with Family Health International (now FHI360), where one of her primary efforts was a Quality Improvement program to strengthen the continuum of care for HIV/AIDS patients. Mary Inziana Matilu, MBChB, MMed, MTMKenyaMary Inziani Matilu is a research officer at the Kenya Medical Research institute (KEMRI), and working towards her specialist registration as a pediatrician at Mbagathi District Hospital. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery and a master’s degree in Medicine, Pediatrics and Child health from the University of Nairobi. She also holds a master’s degree in Tropical Medicine from Nagasaki University, Japan. She has eleven years of experience in clinical medicine. Mary is an early career scientist at the Centre for Virus Research at KEMRI. Her interests are in infectious diseases, especially pediatric HIV and arbovirus research. Currently, she is practices clinical medicine in the Department of Pediatrics at Mbagathi District Hospital where she trains and mentors junior doctors, clinical officers, nurses and nutritionists. She is a co-PI on a proposal seeking to determine factors that hinder adherence to treatment for children with clubfoot, a study that will be funded with seed money by the Micro-Research group. Mary is also involved in developing a protocol for a study that will assess innate immune functions in children with moderate acute malnutrition during nutritional recovery. Through participation in the Afya Bora Fellowship, she hopes to form networks and collaborations, as she establishes her research and mentoring career.
Patrick Mburugu, MBChB, MMedKenyaPatrick M. Mburugu is a consultant paediatrician at Garissa Provincial General Hospital in the Northeast Province of Kenya, where he has served since 2011. He earned his Paediatrics and Child Health specialty from the University of Nairobi (MMed), where he currently serves as adjunct faculty in the College of Health Sciences. He participates in a variety of activities, including clinical work, teaching, research and mentorship. Dr. Mburugu has special interest in program development and implementation, health innovations and research. He hopes to participate in program development and facilitate innovations that will improve health outcomes and shape health policy throughout the region. Alfred Meremo, MD, MMedTanzaniaAlfred Meremo is a lecturer in the Internal Medicine Department at School of Medicine at University of Dodoma (UDOM) in Tanzania. In his current position, he is involved in teaching, supervising elective studies and offering bedside teaching to medical students, as well as conducting research. He also heads the UDOM Haemodialysis Unit and conducts ward rounds and manages specialty clinics at the UDOM Medical Center. He earned his medical degree (MD) from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in 2008. He acquired his Internal Medicine specialty (MMed) from the Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences in 2012 and is fully registered as specialist physician with the Medical Council of Tanganyika. Her research interests include infectious diseases, especially HIV and STDs, and Global Health research ethics.Her research interests include infectious diseases, especially HIV and STDs, and Global Health research ethics.Her research interests include infectious diseases, especially HIV and STDs, and Global Health research ethics.His research interests include Nephrology and Infectious Diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria. Samson Mugane MBChB, MMedKenyaDr. Mugane is a Paediatrician working with the Kenyan Ministry of Health. He is currently stationed in Mwingi District Hospital, where he has been working for nearly three years. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Mugane has much experience in hospital administration and leadership. He served as Medical Superintendent of the hospital for a period of one and half years from October 2011 to May 2013. During his tenure, he was credited with forging strong partnerships with NGOs and other partner organizations working in the health sector. These collaborations have led to improved service delivery in the facility and recognition of the hospital as a Centre of Excellence in HIV/AIDS Care by the International Center for Aids Care Program (ICAP). Prior to his work at Mwingi District Hospital, he served as Medical Officer in-charge of a hospital and later as District Medical Officer for 3 years, where he was responsible for overseeing health services in Tigania West District. His interests lie in project management and clinical and operational research. Tom Ngabiranom, BSN, MSNUgandaTom Ngbairano is a lecturer in the Department of Nursing at the Makerere University College of Health Sciences. Tom has also worked at Program for Accessible Health, Communication and Education (PACE) in the Women’s Health Program. At PACE, he coordinated a Reproductive Health Program in 13 districts of central Uganda, which trained Health Workers in long-term methods of family planning. Through this program, family planning services were availed to thousands of women, especially those in semi-urban and rural areas. Tom is a specialist in adult health Nursing and has had additional trainings in Public Health Leadership, Health Systems Research, and Family Planning. Tom is interested in conducting research to determine the psychosocial adaptation and coping abilities in persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and how these abilities can be enhanced to improve the quality of life of PLWHA. He is also interested in developing tools for use in health sciences research and teaching. Ramadhani Noor, MD, MPHTanzaniaDr. Ramadhani Abdallah Noor is a physician with a background in Public Health. Noor is currently working as a Research Associate with the Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH), a partner organization to Management Development for Health (MDH) in Tanzania. In this position, he manages a clinical trial unit for the Harvard School of Public Health’s (HSPH) collaborative trials, focusing mostly on Malaria prevention. He studied Public Health at HSPH and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. He is internationally certified by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP, USA), demonstrating his ability to be actively involved in clinical trial sites, development, coordination, and leading international research consortia. He has worked as a coordinator and manager of various integrated projects focusing on health research; Noor has acquired capacity and capabilities to manage tightly regulated multi-centered international trials in Africa, in conformity with applicable international standards. Previously, he served as a research associate with the Departments of Nutrition and, later, Global Health & Population at the Harvard School of Public Health. He has experience in Nutrition, Vaccinology, Malaria, TB and HIV-related research. Rose Sianga, BEd, MSNBotswanaRose Motlalepula Sianga is a Head of Department for the General Nursing Programme at Kanye SDA College of Nursing in Botswana. She is also a registered nurse & midwife and is one of the few Child health nurses in the country. Ms. Sianga obtained her Bachelor of Nursing education from the University of Botswana in 1992 and her Master of Nursing (Child Health) from The Flinders University of South Australia, in 1998. She has a total of 29 years of experience in nursing, including 21 years as a Nurse-Educator. Ms. Sianga has been involved in both classroom and clinical teaching and has taught courses such as Parent and Child health Nursing, Child Health Nursing, Leadership and Management, Family Assessment, and Research. She has also served in various functional committees of the college, including the Institutional Research Review Board, the Research and Publication Committee, and the Examinations Committee. For the past 6 years she has served as a board member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Botswana, and she has also been involved in the Workplace Violence Prevention Project, which is run by the Nurses Association of Botswana, as one of the District Team Leaders. She is very interested in strengthening her skills in research and policy development. Onalenna Seitio-Kgokgwe, BSN, MPH, PhDBotswanaOnalenna is currently based at the Botswana Ministry of Health headquarters, where she supports the development and implementation of the Health Leadership and Management Development Program (HLMDP). HLMDP is a CDC funded program designed to strengthen leadership capacity at various levels of the health system in order to improve health outcomes at a system level. Prior to this assignment, she functioned in various capacitities in the public health sector including lecturer, head of the department for the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, and Deputy Prinicipal at the Institue of Health Sciences-Gaborone, where she was overseeing curriculum implementation for 8 mutlidisciplinary health training programs. Onalenna is a graduate of the University of Botswana (BSn), Johns Hopkins University, USA (MSn), University of Limpopo, South Africa (MPH), and University of Otago, New Zealand (PhD). Her primary research interest lies in the area of health sector reforms and health system performance. Dan Kaggwa Senjovu, MBChB, MScUgandaDan Senjovu is a senior medical doctor at the Infectious Diseases Institute where he is responsible for steering institutional development and the coordination of trainings. He has more than 5 years of training in malaria and HIV, and he is also a project manager for a health system strengthening project that is purposed to improve the capacity of mid-level health practitioners to properly manage TB and HIV. He previously served as the medical superintendent of a district hospital and a health coordinator in refugee settlement. He is an international trainer and has been involved in policy formulation on integrating the use malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests in the routine service delivery. He is interested in system strengthening research and entrepreneurship. Hilda Tibenderana, MBChB, MPHUgandaHilda Tibenderana earned her MBChB from Mbarara University in 2001 and her MPH from Melbourne University, Australia, in 2008. She is currently working as a Senior Program officer with Research Triangle Institute International (RTI). RTIs activities are aimed at increasing access to and utilization of comprehensive HIV care and treatment services among Ugandan military personnel and their families. She supports the planning, budgeting, implementation and evaluation of a number of program activities at RTI. She is also involved in capacity building, health system strengthening and quality improvement initiatives. Hilda has also been involved in HIV/AIDS research activities and has presented her findings at both local and international fora. |
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