Programs in Building Community
SASH Scholars
Meet the first four cohorts of Stanford African Scholars in Global Health (SASH) — mid-career physicians in senior leadership positions from African countries. They will spend six weeks at Stanford in 2025, gaining a skill set needed to improve health outcomes in their respective countries. This inaugural program is led by CIGH in partnership with the Stanford Center for Medical Education, and funded by an independent educational grant from Pfizer. Learn more about SASH here.
Cohort One (January-February 2025)
Yewande Babalola
Nigeria
Yewande Babalola
Nigeria
Name: Yewande Babalola, MBBS, FWACS, FMCOph, FLVPEI (Retina & Vitreous)
Title and Institution: Senior Lecturer / Vitreoretinal Surgeon, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan/University College Hospital, Nigeria
Project: Preventing debilitating blindness by screening for ocular manifestations of tuberculosis and the ocular side effects of anti-tuberculous therapy in patients with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis
Skills sought: Gain clinical and diagnostic skills, learn about recent innovations in investigative modalities and the definitive management of ocular tuberculosis and other uveitic entities and gain relevant research techniques.
Quote: I look forward to acquiring in-depth knowledge about tuberculosis, uveitis, and ophthalmic research from my mentor, Dr. Quan Dong Nguyen, Professor of Ophthalmology. I am enthusiastic about interactions with Stanford faculty and staff and exchanging ideas on clinical practice and research in our different climes. I am excited to meet and connect with other SASH scholars.
Mentor: Quan Dong Nguyen, MD, MSc
Ombeva Malande
Kenya
Ombeva Malande
Kenya
Name: Ombeva Malande, MBChB, MMed, MPhil, PhD
Title and Institution: Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, Moi University/Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Kenya
Project: Improving the antimicrobial stewardship program at MTRH
Skills sought: Learn how to effectively establish and run a stewardship program
Quote/Project goal: Dr. Malande looks forward to learning how to run an infectious disease consult service; how to implement an effective stewardship program, and gaining skills to improve the quality and capacity of the hospital lab.
Mentor: Cybele Renault, MD, DTM&H, FIDSA
Esohe Ogboghodo
Nigeria
Esohe Ogboghodo
Nigeria
Name: Esohe Ogboghodo, MBBS, MPH, FMCPH, FWACP, DIPC
Title and Institution: Associate Professor/Consultant Public Health Physician and Infection Control Specialist, University of Benin/University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
Project: Strengthening surveillance systems for healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in maternal and neonatal intensive care units.
Skills sought: To develop advanced competencies in biodesign, design thinking, data analysis, and patient communication and counselling, which are essential for the effective implementation and management of comprehensive surveillance systems for healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance.
Quote: I am particularly keen to engage with the distinguished faculty at Stanford, drawing on their expertise in infection control and surveillance. I am eager to learn about cutting-edge technologies and methodologies that can be applied to enhance infection prevention practices at my institution. I am also excited to meet fellow SASH scholars, whose diverse backgrounds and perspectives will enrich my understanding and facilitate valuable collaborations. This experience will broaden my knowledge base and equip me with practical skills essential for leading effective clinical improvement initiatives, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes in Nigeria.
Mentor: Jorge Luis Salinas, MD
Kimutai Sylvester
Kenya
Kimutai Sylvester
Kenya
Name: Kimutai Sylvester, MBChB, FCS (ECSA) General Surgery
Title and Institution: Consultant General Surgeon and Chief of Surgery, Tenwek Hospital, Bomet, Kenya
Project: Incorporating a new learning and assessment platform into the Tenwek Hospital’s College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa (COSECSA) training program to improve education quality, clinical decision-making, and surgical outcomes across the region.
Skills sought: Enhance surgical education skills by using innovative tools like the virtual ENTRUST Learning and Assessment Platform to improve training and integrate these advancements into the COSECSA curriculum for better surgeon preparation and decision-making.
Quote: I’m excited to work with virtual patient simulation tools like ENTRUST and learn from Stanford’s experts in surgical education. This opportunity will help me bring innovative teaching methods to our COSECSA programs and collaborate with Stanford’s team on surgical education, simulation, and oncology for further professional development.
Mentor: Cara Liebert , MD, FACS
Nahom Teshager
Ethiopia
Nahom Teshager
Ethiopia
Name: Nahom Teshager, MD (Specialty Certificate in Pediatrics and Child Health), MSc Fellow (Clinical Epidemiology)
Title and Institution: Associate professor of Pediatrics and Child Health, Pediatrics/Child Health Specialist, MSc Fellow in Clinical Epidemiology, University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
Project: Bridging the gap in expertise in neonatal care through capacity-building training, continuous mentorship, and telehealth to reduce neonatal mortality at the University of Gondar and referring facilities, Northwest Ethiopia.
Skills sought: Learn about innovative quality improvement models, project design, and management, especially efficient time and resource management skills, in order to maximize project success.
Quote/Project goal: Dr. Teshager looks forward to meeting with quality improvement experts at Stanford and observing Stanford Neonatology’s TeleNeo program, adding, “I am confident that I can gain the skills required to run my proposed project back home, which aims to reduce neonatal mortality by 15% within 12 months.”
Mentor: Rishi Mediratta, MD
Cohort Two (April-May 2025)
Temesgen Abicho
Ethiopia
Temesgen Abicho
Ethiopia
Name: Temesgen Abicho, MD, Specialty Degree in Emergency and Critical Care, MPH, IHI Fellow, PhD Student in Health Quality
Title and Institution: Emergency & Critical Care/Public Health Specialist, Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences/Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
Project: Addressing emerging antimicrobial resistance at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Tertiary Academic Hospital Emergency Medicine Department via a concerted antimicrobial stewardship quality improvement program
Skills sought: Gain knowledge and skills in antimicrobial stewardship and quality improvement techniques to implement them.
Quote/Program Goal: Dr. Abicho looks forward to seeing how different clinical departments function and how quality improvement works are implemented at Stanford Medicine.
Mentor: Brian Travis Rice, MD
Joycelyn Dame
Ghana
Joycelyn Dame
Ghana
Name: Joycelyn Assimeng Dame, MBChB, FGCP, Certificate in Pediatric Infectious Diseases-SA, MPhil- UCT (Infectious Diseases)
Title and Institution:Senior Lecturer and Pediatric ID Specialist, University of Ghana Medical School, Ghana/Korle Bu Teaching Hospital
Project: Implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program at the pediatric medical and surgical wards at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (the University of Ghana Medical School’s affiliate hospital), with monthly educational teaching sessions and a weekly all-day handshake stewardship strategy.
Skills sought: Enhance capacity to train in antimicrobial resistance and stewardship, expand network of potential infectious disease and epidemiology mentors, develop skills in project management, and establish and maintain a database.
Quote: I look forward to receiving excellent mentoring and further training to become competent in initiating and sustaining an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Ghana’s Premier Teaching Hospital.
Mentor: Hayden Schwenk, MD
Neema Kayange
Tanzania
Neema Kayange
Tanzania
Name: Neema Kayange, MD, MMed, MSc
Title and Institution: Pediatrician and Clinical Epidemiologist, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Tanzania
Project: Reducing long hospital stays and high mortality associated with hospital-based infections by developing an antibiogram to understand and address antibiotic resistance
Skills sought: Gain knowledge and skills in developing an antibiogram, strategies for the management of nosocomial (hospital-based) infections, and skills for combating antimicrobial resistance.
Quote/Program Goal: Dr. Kayange looks forward to exchanging knowledge and skills with the Stanford community and collaborating on infectious disease and quality improvement projects.
Mentor: Peter Meaney, MD, MPH
Mary Kubo
Kenya
Mary Kubo
Kenya
Name: Mary Kubo, MBCHB, MMed (Internal Medicine), Fellowship in Clinical Nephrology
Title and Institution: Internist and Clinical Nephrologist, University of Nairobi/Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya
Project: Increasing uptake of pneumococcal vaccination among patients with chronic kidney disease in a limited resource setting
Skills sought: Gain implementation science skills to successfully spearhead a vaccination uptake project among patients with chronic kidney disease, as well as enhance nephrology subspecialty skills.
Quote: I look forward to working with my Stanford mentors, Dr. Shuchi Anand and Dr. Maha Mohamed, who are outstanding leaders in the field of nephrology. As a lecturer, I am also enthusiastic about learning innovative methods of delivering medical education content — including immersive and simulation-based learning. Finally, I look forward to a bidirectional exchange of ideas and forging long-term research collaborations that will amplify shared solutions linking the global North and South.
Mentors: Shuchi Anand, MD, and Maha Mohamed, MD, FACP, FAST
Alemayehu Toni
Ethiopia
Alemayehu Toni
Ethiopia
Name: Alemayehu Toni, MD (Pediatrics), DTM&H
Title and Institution: Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
Project: Establishing a novel approach to revitalize immunization services and increase uptake among under-immunized children
Skills sought: Gain the knowledge and skills needed to effectively lead clinical improvement and research projects that improve health outcomes in low-resource settings.
Quote: I look forward to learning from Stanford’s esteemed global health experts on how to develop and implement successful quality improvement and research projects. Additionally, I aim to strengthen my existing collaborations, make new connections, and build further partnerships. I am also eager to share my experience as a clinician, researcher, and educator in Ethiopia with the Stanford community.
Mentor: Rishi Mediratta, MD
Cohort 3 (June - August 2025)
Junior Mudji E'kitiak
DRC
Junior Mudji E'kitiak
DRC
Name: Junior Mudji E’kitiak, MD, Family Medicine and Primary Health Care
Title and Institution: Family Physician and Primary Health Care Specialist, Vanga Hospital/Protestante University in Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Project: Implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program at Vanga Hospital
Skill sought: Develop skills to analyze antibiotic prescribing practices in a hospital system and develop and implement an antimicrobial stewardship program. This program will include following a correct diagnostic process for febrile illness in the pediatric department, along with adherence to appropriate treatment guidelines for priority areas such as surgical site infections, infected wounds, and urogenital tract infections. Develop skills and obtain tools to gain the buy-in and compliance of clinicians and nurses at Vanga Hospital with the antimicrobial stewardship program and guidelines they will be implementing.
Quote: I would like to receive support from SASH in my journey to become one of Africa’s leaders in the fight against antimicrobial resistance and patient safety.
Mentor: Marisa Holubar, MD, MS
Olana Gichile
Rwanda
Olana Gichile
Rwanda
Title and Institution: General Practitioner, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Rwanda
Project: Addressing the critical gap in antimicrobial stewardship and the lack of a comprehensive curriculum on antimicrobial resistance at UGHE
Skill sought: I aim to acquire in-depth knowledge and skills in curriculum design, antimicrobial resistance protocols, and the development of effective stewardship programs to curb antimicrobial resistance sustainably.
Quote: I am eagerly looking forward to the opportunity to learn from Stanford’s renowned antimicrobial stewardship program and innovative medical education curriculum. The prospect of collaborating and working with the Stanford community and the SASH team is particularly exciting. I also look forward to applying the knowledge and skills gained through the SASH Program to create lasting health outcomes at my institution.
Mentors: Lars Osterberg, MD, MPH & Brooke Cotter, MD
Adolfine Hokororo
Tanzania
Adolfine Hokororo
Tanzania
Name: Adolfine Hokororo, MD, M.Med, MSc
Title and Institution: Pediatrician, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences/Bugando Medical Centre
Project: To strengthen antimicrobial diagnostic and stewardship to combat antimicrobial resistance
Skill sought: Identification of available diagnostic algorithms that can improve patient care and promote antimicrobial stewardship and also improve clinical research skills
Quote: I am expecting to gain knowledge on best approaches to managing critically ill children. I will take advantage of the availability of resources and expertise at Stanford to get exposed to diagnostic stewardship as a tool to foster antimicrobial stewardship and combat antimicrobial resistance.
Mentor: Peter Meaney, MD
Ornella Masimbi
Rwanda
Ornella Masimbi
Rwanda
Name: Ornella Masimbi, MBChB & MGHD
Title and Institution: Lecturer – Simulation and Skills Track & General Practitioner, University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda
Project: Advancing Maternal and Neonatal Care in Rural Rwanda through Mobile Simulation Carts: A Scalable Approach to In-Situ Training
Skill sought: Through the SASH program, I aim to gain expertise in the design and delivery of obstetric and neonatal simulation training programs, real-time clinical application, and quality improvement frameworks for simulation-based education and health professional training, enabling me to implement evidence-based, in-situ mobile simulation training for clinicians in rural Rwandan district hospitals.
Quote: I am most looking forward to learning from simulation experts and other health professional educators at Stanford’s Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE). Engaging with Stanford faculty and peers in simulation training, standardized patient programs, and quality improvement project design will be invaluable. Additionally, I am eager to collaborate with this team to refine cost-effective and scalable simulation training models that will contribute to improving maternal and neonatal healthcare outcomes in Rwanda.
Mentor: Nicole Yamada, MD & Lou Halamek, MD
Tamara Phiri
Malawi
Tamara Phiri
Malawi
Name: Tamara Phiri, MBBS, FCP (SA), MMED (Internal Medicine), FCP (ECSA), FRCP
Title and Institution: Internal Medicine Specialist, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences/Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital
Project: Through the SASH program, I will be exploring the challenges and addressing gaps in implementing good antimicrobial practices at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi.
Skills Sought: I will improve my skills in developing and implementing effective antimicrobial stewardship and prescribing practices, as well as research, that has impact on bedside practice in Malawi.
Quote: I look forward to networking and learning from other exceptional African global health scholars. I also looking forward to my time at Stanford where I can observe and learn from infectious diseases experts already doing work on antimicrobial resistance. I also look forward to contributing at Stanford through teaching and sharing my practical experience from my career in Malawi.
Mentor: Mindy Marie Sampson, MD
Courage Uhunmwangho
Nigeria
Courage Uhunmwangho
Nigeria
Name: Courage Uhunmwangho, MBBS, MSc, FWACP
Title and Institution: Senior Lecturer/ Consultant Rheumatologist, University of Jos/Jos University Teaching Hospital
Project: To significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
Skills Sought: To learn how the Stanford Rheumatology system of patient care and research in rheumatic disease epidemiology, clinical decision making and the impact of social vulnerabilities on diverse populations can be deployed in Nigeria — especially learning from Stanford’s fast-track inflammatory arthritis and integrative rheumatology clinics.
Quote: I’m excited about the prospect of meeting Stanford faculty and staff and to see for myself how rheumatology works in such a world-class center. I also look forward to sharing unique experiences of practicing rheumatology in a resource-limited setting, networking with global experts, and getting the mentorship needed to grow in this field.
Mentor: Titilola Falasinnu, MHS, PHD
Catherine Segbefia
Ghana
Catherine Segbefia
Ghana
Name: Catherine Segbefia, MBChB, FWACP, FGCP
Title and Institution: Associate Professor of Paediatrics, University of Ghana Medical School
Project: Building local faculty and staff capacity in simulation-based medical education to help alleviate the challenges of traditional clinical teaching, such as limited space, high student-to-faculty ratios, inconsistent experiential learning opportunities, and patient safety concerns.
Skill sought: Competence in simulation-based instruction and program establishment, leveraging expertise at Stanford’s Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE).
Quote: I am excited to visit a world-renowned institution and build lasting connections with Stanford experts and fellow SASH Scholars. I look forward to acquiring knowledge and skills that will lead to tangible improvements in pediatric medical education and healthcare in Ghana.
Mentor: Nicole Yamada, MD & Lou Halamek, MD
Cohort 4 (September - October 2025)
Jalemba Aluvaala
Kenya
Jalemba Aluvaala
Kenya
Name: Jalemba Aluvaala, M.B.Ch.B, MMed, MSc, DPhil
Title and Institution: Pediatrics and Child Health Consultant, University of Nairobi/ Kenyatta National Hospital
Project: Addressing barriers to limited routine central vascular access to prevent central line associated blood stream infections
Skills Sought: Point-of-care ultrasound-guided neonatal vascular access knowledge and skills and how to develop vascular bundle of care systems and guidelines to prevent central line-associated blood stream infection
Looks forward to: 1) Learning in a new and different environment (2) Sharing clinical experiences and research (3) Fostering individual and institutional partnership and collaboration
Mentor: Gary Darmstadt, MD, MS
Yvonne Nartey
Ghana
Yvonne Nartey
Ghana
Name: Yvonne Nartey, MBChB, PhD
Title and Institution: Physician Specialist, Internal Medicine, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital
Project: Interventions which reduce the rate of mother-to-child and early horizontal transmission of the Hepatitis B virus to reduce the burden of liver failure and liver cancer in Ghana.
Skills Sought: I hope to learn how to develop training and educational resources on viral hepatitis for healthcare workers and patients, and to develop and maintain a registry for Hepatitis B positive patients, including pregnant women, in my hospital.
Quote: I am looking forward to learning from my SASH mentor Dr. Samuel So and the broader viral hepatitis and liver cancer program at Stanford. Additionally, I am looking forward to hearing about experiences of other SASH scholars and the Stanford team on their various areas of interest. Finally, I am looking forward to sharing the experiences of my practice in Ghana.
Mentor: Samuel So, MD
Marie Claire Ndayisaba
Rwanda
Marie Claire Ndayisaba
Rwanda
Name: Marie Claire Ndayisaba, MMED (Anatomic Pathology)
Title and Institution: Pathologist, University Teaching Hospital of Kigali (CHUK), Rwanda
Project: Improving knowledge and skills to perform ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (US-FNA) to optimize cytodiagnosis in clinical practice at CHUK
Skills sought: How to perform ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration for superficial lesions, as well as implementation of a quality improvement project.
Quote: Dr. Ndayisaba looks forward to implementing a US-FNA procedure at her hospital, through which she aims to increase the accuracy of diagnoses while also reducing the need for diagnostic surgery. “I also look forward to establishing a strong collaborative network between my institution and Stanford to allow continuous professional development for improved health outcomes,” she says.
Mentor: Alarice Cheng-Yi Lowe, MD
Advera Ngaiza
Tanzania
Advera Ngaiza
Tanzania
Name: Advera Ngaiza, MD, MMed
Title and Institution: Pathologist, Anatomic Pathology, Muhimbili National Hospital
Project: Quality improvement in immunohistochemistry staining
Skills Sought: I would like to learn about skills in performing immunohistochemistry, validation of immunohistochemistry assays, and developing standard operating procedures for immunohistochemistry testing
Quote: My presence at Stanford during phase 1 of the project will help me to learn, practice, and share experience on making correct diagnosis for round cell tumors (RCTs) with Stanford experts. My mentors will help me learn to diagnose RCTs particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma where the majority of cases are diagnosed as B cell lymphoma or T cell lymphoma according to the World Health Organization system classification.
Mentor: Sebastian Fernandez-Pol, MD, PhD
Adeyemi Okunowo
Nigeria
Adeyemi Okunowo
Nigeria
Name: Adeyemi Okunowo, MBBS, MPH, FMCOG, FWACS
Title and Institution: Associate Professor/Consultant Obstetrician & Gynecologist, College of Medicine, University of Lagos/Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
Project: I seek to improve & modernize the gynecologic oncology practice in my institution in line with contemporary best practices in surgical and non-surgical cancer treatment modalities.
Skills Sought: I seek to gain knowledge and skills in performing sentinel lymph node mapping and biopsy to evaluate nodal disease, performing optimal debulking surgery to optimize the debulking surgery rates, treating preinvasive diseases, using minimally invasive surgical techniques to evaluate and treat gynecologic cancers and the effective use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the management of gynecologic cancers.
Quote: I look forward to the immense and exciting learning opportunities during the SASH program to gain useful insights, knowledge, and skills that would significantly improve the care of women with gynecologic cancers in my institution and country. I hope to build a mutually beneficial and enduring research and clinical partnership and collaboration with my mentor, Dr. Babak Litkouhi, the Stanford team, and other SASH Scholars that would advance science and clinical practice in my country. Furthermore, I anticipate fruitful interactions and the exchange of diverse ideas and experiences in a relaxed but inspiring and fun-filled atmosphere.
Mentor: Babak Litkouhi, MD