About MedEdAfrica

Background

Africa carries a high burden of disease while facing persistent health workforce shortages, maldistribution, and constraints in training capacity. Medical and health sciences education systems are adapting in the context of growing complexity, including climate risks, demographic shifts, emerging and re-emerging epidemics, and rising non-communicable diseases. These pressures require education models that are responsive, competency-based, equitable, and aligned to health system needs.

Purpose

MedEdAfrica strengthens African ownership and collaboration to advance health professions education at scale. The conference creates a shared space for leaders, educators, regulators, students, and partners to align priorities, share innovations, and accelerate implementation of reforms that improve workforce readiness and health outcomes.

Meet The Team

International Steering Committee

Abebe Bekele, MD, PhD, FCS

Dean, University of Global Health Equity

Secretary General at COMS-A; Co-Chair ISC

Assegid Samuel

Human Resources For Health Development and Improvement Lead Executive Officer, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia

Co-Chair ISC

Prof. Lionel Green-Thompson

Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town

COMS-A President

Kara Louise Neil

Director of COMS-A

ISC Member

Prof Yvonne Dei-Adomakoh

Dean, University of Ghana Medical School

COMS-A Vice President

Dr. Elsie Kiguli-Malwadde

Deputy Executive Director, African Centre for Global Health and Social Transformation (ACHEST)

ISC Member

Zohray M. Talib

Executive Vice Dean for Education California University of Science and Medicine

ISC Member

Behaylu Yibe Woldemskel

Coordinator Of School Of Medicine, College Of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University

ISC Member

Claudine Mimi Sugira

Lead, Academic Partnerships & The Paul Farmer Collaborative, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)

ISC Member

Amal Saleh, MD

Associate Professor, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University

ISC Member

Dr. Muluken Tesfaye

Chief Executive Director, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College

ISC Member

Solomon Worku Beza

Consultant, Ministry of HealthEthiopia

ISC Member

Rashidah Nambaziira

Program Lead, Consortium of Medical Schools–Africa (COMS-A)

ISC Member

Roselyne Niyigena

Academic Partnership Coordinator, University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)

ISC Member

Dr. Victor Mithi

Program Lead, Consortium of Medical Schools–Africa (COMS-A)

ISC Member

Prof. Siméon Pierre CHOUKEM

Chair, Education and Curriculum Committee, Consortium of Medical Schools-Africa (COMS-A)

ISC Member

Rihanna Nursema

President, Ethiopian Medical Students’ Association, Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa

ISC Member

Dr. Merertu Temesgen

Academic and Research Provost, Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical college

ISC Member

Henok Tadele, MD, Paed, Paed Cardio

Dean, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University

ISC Member

Dr. Aschalew Worku

Senior Advisor to the Minister of Health, Ethiopia

ISC Member

Rachel murekatete

Administrative Assistant, Consortium of Medical Schools–Africa (COMS-A)

ISC Member

2026 Scientific Committee

Dr. Amal Saleh Nour

Associate Professor of Radiology, Neuroradiologist, Addis Ababa University

Scientific Committee Co-Chair

Dr. Barnabas Alayande

Chair, Centre for Equity in Global Surgery, University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda

Scientific Committee Co-Chair

Dr. Didier Kamatari

Vice Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Burundi

Scientific Committee Member

Thomas Thesen, PhD, FRSB

Associate Professor, Medical College, East Africa, Aga Khan University, Kenya & Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, USA

Scientific Committee Member

Dr. Merertu Temesgen

Academic and Research Provost,Yekatit 12 Hospital Medical College, Ethiopia

Scientific Committee Member

Dr. Yusuf Ahmed Ali

Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Burao

Scientific Committee Member

Dr. Chivaugn Gordon

Head of Undergraduate Obstetrics & Gynaecology Education, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Scientific Committee Member

Dr. Dorothy Kamya

Associate Dean of Postgraduate Medical Education, Aga Khan University, Kenya

Scientific Committee Member

Prof. Simone Titus

Associate Professor, Department of Health Professions Education, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Scientific Committee Member

Prof. Adeola Fowotade

Provost, Benjamin Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences, Babcock ,University Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Scientific Committee Member

Dr. David Mulenga

Dean, School of Medicine, Copperbelt University Michael Chilufya Sata School of Medicine, Zambia

Scientific Committee Member

Prof. Bamba Gaye

CEO of the Alliance for Medical Research in Africa (AMedRA)

Scientific Committee Member

2026 Student Committee

Chairs

Rihanna Nursema

Mr. Sayuran Pillay

Members

Name	Medical school	Country
Fikir Belete	Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa	Ethiopia
Dennis Jlaty Blay Jr	A.M. Dogliotti School of Medicine, University of Liberia	Liberia
Eric Murithi Mutua	Egerton University	Kenya
Stacey Akinyi	Kenya Methodist University	Kenya
Elicana Nduhuura	University of Global Health Equity	Rwanda
Methode Yusufu Abdoulkarim	University of Rwanda	Rwanda
Danika Govender	University of Cape Town	South Africa
Charm Mavimbela	University of Botswana	Botswana
Abdourraouf Yougouda	University of Bamenda	Cameroon
Chafor Nkemetia Anslem	University of Bamenda	Cameroon
Teresa Sindique	Higher Institute of Science and Tecnology of Mozambique (ISCTEM)	Mozambique
Biruktawit Kindu	debretabor university	Ethiopia
Joseph Sundano Samwinga	The University of Zambia	Zambia
Chibale Chinungwe	The University of Zambia	Zambia
Dabuo Jacob Ngmenlanaa	University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale.	Ghana
Karim Arif Karim	Kamuzu University of Health Sciences	Malawi
Namakau Chipoya	Copperbelt University School of Medicine	Zambia
Benithe Himbazwa	University of Global Health Equity	Rwanda
David Medad Nichanor Odhiambo	Busitema University	Uganda
Odile Iragena	University of Global Health Equity (UGHE)	Rwanda
Oladipo Favour Anuoluwapo	University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State.	Nigeria
Osisiye Iyela	University of Medical Sciences Ondo, Ondo State.	Nigeria
Ebine Favour Oluwadamilola	University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State.	Nigeria
Aina OLUWAJOBA Oladele	University of Medical Scienc vuv es, Ondo, Ondo State.	Nigeria
Kaddy Merveille INEZA	University of Burundi	Burundi
OLUDOJU OLAMIDE OSAODUWA	University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Ondo State.	Nigeria
ZAINAB OSAMA ELNOUR ELSHARIF	University of Al-Butana	Sudan
Aguigwe Godwin Obinna	University of Abuja Nigeria.	Nigeria
Rudo Masendeke	Kamuzu University of Health Sciences	Malawi
Faith Agan	Aga Khan University, Nairobi.	Kenya
Olajumoke Akinyemi	University of the Gambia	The Gambia
Isatou John	University of the Gambia	The Gambia
Haddy Cham	University of the Gambia	The Gambia
Grace Chika Muga	University of Nairobi	Kenya
Oumie Faal	University of the Gambia	The Gambia
Abdi Kevin NGENDAKURIYO	University of Burundi	Burundi

About MedEdAfrica

Background

Purpose

Meet The Team

International Steering Committee

2026 Scientific Committee

2026 Student Committee

Chairs

Members

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