Prof. Robert Opoka

Prof. Robert Opoka is the founding Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education and a Professor of Paediatrics & Child Health and consultant Paediatrician at Aga Khan University since Feb 2023. Prior to this role, he was Associate Professor at Makerere University and an adjunct faculty at Indiana University and University of Minnesota in the USA.

Prof. Opoka earned his Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery from Makerere University, Uganda. He also Masters degrees in Medicine in Paediatrics & Child Health, Epidemiology and Health Professions Education as well as a PhD in Health Sciences.

With over a decade of experience in medical education, Prof. Opoka has contributed significantly to the development of student centred Learning and clinical assessment methods in medical education. He is spearheading the implementation of a new contemporary and modern undergraduate medical curriculum at Aga Khan Medical University in Nairobi. The undergraduate medical program in AKU began in September 2023, with a goal to bring high quality world class medical education in the East African region. The inaugural class is now preparing to start year 3 of a 6 year program.

Prof Opoka is also an active clinical researcher and an expert in childhool malaria, sickle cell anemia and guideline development and implementation. He has over 235 publications in peer reviewed journals.