Center for
Global Health

Scholar

Languages: English (native), Swahili (novice)

BIO STATEMENT

My goal is to develop a USA/Africa Radiation Oncology Core (ROC) dedicated to Research Education/training in Radiation oncology in Africa and providing desperately needed quality assurance tools for patient safety and research collaborations for cancer control. The establishment of such an ROC will significantly increase research/education capacity and ensure radiation/patient safety. International collaboration is necessary for such a Core to build research/education capacity and address an ongoing silent crises which is undoubtedly causing significant loss of life and disability in Africa. A successful launch of this Core program will provide a hub for Radiation Oncology research/education in east Africa.

Recent Global health projects

 I am working to establish a Center of Excellence in medical physics education/research in East Africa by developing a MSc degree program in medical physics at MUHAS, partnering with Ocean Road Cancer Institute to test automated planning tools for radiation therapy and develop information and communication technology (ICT) to provide imaging and radiation oncology quality assurance services. With pilot funds from Penn Global GEF, we were able to offer a course on quality assurance in radiation therapy. 

Global Health Catalyst Summit (UPenn) May 4-6 2023 (Co-Director)
Finalist Penn Global GEF grant 2024 (PI) - Global Medical Physics Program in Ghana

Selected publications

Elizabeth Olatunji, William Swanson, Saloni Patel, Samuel Olaolu Adeneye, Funmilayo Aina-Tofolari, Stephen Avery, et al., “Challenges and Opportunities for
Implementing Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Africa: Lessons from the HypoAfrica Clinical Trial,” ecancer 17:1508 2023 DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2023.1508

Kenton O, Dachi J, Metz J, Avery S.Developing solutions to critical Radiation Oncology challenges in Tanzania. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 93(5): 961-962, December 2015.

Ngwa W, Ngoma T, Zietman A, Mayr N, Elzawawy A, Winningham TA, Balogun O, Enwerem-Bromson N, Ntizimira C, Olopade OI, Oluwole D, Odedina F, Williams M, Flanigan J, Asana L, Ngwa K, Avery S, Pollard JM, Roland T, Funwi-gabga N, Mbarika V, Hardenbergh P, Winkfield K, Pipman Y, Stefan C, Ngoma M, Mohammed S, Katz M, Erno S, Moni J, Fitzgerald T, Tonlaar N, Efstathiou J, Gierga D, Ayo C, Knaul F, Gospodarowicz M, Makrigiorgos GM, Nguyen PL. Closing the Cancer Divide through Ubuntu: Information and Communication Technology powered models for global radiation oncology. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics 94(3): 440-449, March 2016.

Last Updated: 06 March 2024