Alexandre Chan, Associate Professor and Deputy Head (Clinical), National University of Singapore, Singapore
Alex Chan is a Deputy Head (Clinical) and a tenured Associate Professor at the Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore (NUS) and Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore. He is also co-appointed as a Specialist Pharmacist at National Cancer Centre Singapore, and he serves as the program director for the national PGY-2 Hematology/Oncology residency program. A board-certified specialist in Pharmacotherapy and Oncology Pharmacy, Alex has authored several textbook chapters for Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach and Ambulatory Care Self-Assessment Program (ACSAP). As a clinician scientist, Alex has published over 150 full-length peer-reviewed manuscripts in a wide array of cancer supportive care and survivorship topics. He provides research supervision to PharmD students, PhD students and fellows, and his research program has attracted over USD $3 million of competitive funding support from numerous agencies and pharmaceutical companies. Alex is currently serving as the President for International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP). He was also a recipient of the Steven M. Grunberg Memorial Award from Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) in 2015.
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Dr. Alfred Karagu Maina, MBChB, MSc
Dr. Alfred Karagu is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Cancer Institute of Kenya, a statutory body established under the Cancer Prevention and Control Act of 2012 to serve as the coordinating and regulatory agency for cancer prevention and control. He is a public health specialist with a background in clinical care, health services management, monitoring and evaluation, training and public health research. He holds a Bachelors degree in Medicine and Surgery and a Master of Science in Health Systems Management and is a graduate of the Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programme. He has a vast experience in program management in both the infectious and non-communicable disease prevention spheres having worked in various departments across the national and county government levels. He is currently involved in establishing structures for the National Cancer Institute with a focus on enhancing access to treatment, improvement in quality and treatment outcomes and enhanced cancer data management. He is passionate about strengthening health systems to respond to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in general and cancer in particular.
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Amsalu Degu Defersha, Clinical Pharmacy lecturer, School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, United States International University-Africa.
Amsalu Degu Defersha is a Pharmacy graduate having pursued Bachelor of Pharmacy at Jimma University (September 2006- June 2010), Master of Science Degree in Pharmacology at Addis Ababa University (September 2012- December 2014) and Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy at University of Nairobi (September 2015- December 2017). He has been working as tutorial fellow from September 2010 to September 2012 and Lecturer of Pharmacology from September 2014 to August 2015 at Ambo University. From September 2015- December, 2017, he has gotten scholarship award from European Union funded project (AFIMEGQ) to pursue his Master of Pharmacy in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Nairobi. After completion of his study in Kenya, he has been working as Lecturer of Clinical Pharmacy at University of Gondar from January 2018-August 31, 2018. Currently, he is working as lecturer of Clinical Pharmacy in the School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at United States International University-Africa. He has special interest in cancer therapeutics and published 10 articles in reputable journals.
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Dr. Andrew Odhiambo, MBChB, MMed, MRCP(UK)(Medical Oncology), FCS (ECSA), Consultant Medical Oncologist & Lecturer University of Nairobi (UON)
Dr. Andrew is a Lecturer and Consultant Medical Oncologist. He is the current deputy program director for the Medical Oncology Fellowship program at UON. He is actively involved in clinical practice, teaching and cancer research at the UON and Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Dr. Andrew holds a Master’s degree in Internal Medicine from UON. He has attended a preceptorship training in Haemato-oncology at the University of Maryland Marleen & Stewart Greenbaum Cancer Centre in the United States of America. He later did his Fellowship in Medical Oncology in the United Kingdom and was certified by the Federation of Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom as well as the Association of Cancer Physicians and the European Society for Medical Oncology. He is also a Fellow of the East, Central & Southern Africa College of Physicians. Dr. Andrew is the current Secretary of Kenya Society of Haematology & Oncology (KESHO). He previously served as the KESHO treasurer and is the current Head of Clinical Services & the Lead Oncologist at the Nairobi Radiotherapy & Cancer Centre.
Dr Andrew has participated in several multi-centre phase II and III clinical trials during his training in the United Kingdom. He has presented at several symposia, workshops and conferences both locally and internationally. He has several publications in peer reviewed international journals and has supervised a number of post graduate dissertations to completion. Dr Andrew is a member of ASCO, ESMO, AORTIC, KAP and ECSACOP. Dr. Andrew also serves as a member of the Ministry of Health Technical Working Group for the prevention, screening and early detection of cancers in Kenya. In keeping with the global agenda, Dr Andrew serves as an expert panel member for the ASCO Advanced Colorectal cancer resource stratified treatment guidelines, Astra Zeneca Lung Cancer Advisory Board for Africa and the American Cancer Society Hodgkins Lymphoma treatment guidelines.
Dr Andrew was awarded the prestigious Business Daily Africa Top 40 under 40 men in the year 2017. He is passionate about cancer education and awareness especially through digital platforms and social media. He has over 30 appearances in mainstream local TV and print media promoting cancer awareness. He was awarded best practitioner for the year 2015 and Mama Eddah Honorary award 2017 by the Eddah’s Hope Cancer Foundation for these efforts.
Dr. Andrew’s key areas of sub-specialization and interest include Lymphoma, Chronic Leukaemias, Myeloma, Breast Cancer, Gastro-intestinal cancers, Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Cancers, Sarcoma, Cancer or Unknown Primary, as well as newer treatments i.e. Immunotherapy & Targeted therapy for Lung, Bladder and Skin cancers, etc. During his free time, Dr Andrew enjoys cooking, travelling and amateur photography. For his full profile, please visit www.drandrewodhiambo.com
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Atalay Mulu (BPharm, RPh, MPharm)
Atalay is lecturer and Clinical Pharmacist at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, School of Pharmacy, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia and also currently working as Oncology/Hematology Clinical Pharmacy Service Case Team Coordinator.
The focus of his research is oncology/hematology and he has published in reputable journals e.g. he is the primary author of “Prevalence and determinants of non-adherence to Imatinib in the first 3-months treatment among newly diagnosed Ethiopian’s with chronic myeloid leukemia”; published at PLoS ONE; 2019: 14(3):e0213557 and co-author of a research entitled, “Validation of the Amharic Version of the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory and Assessment of Symptoms in Ethiopian Cancer Patients”. Published at Journal of Pain and Symptom Management; 2016:51(5):947-53
Atalay is a member of the committee that developed “Guideline for anticancer drugs supply chain management, admixture, use and disposal" and Oncology hematology treatment guideline in the hospital.
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Catharina Elizabeth Van Der Merwe BA, R.Ph(SA)
Oncology Pharmacist Consultant and Trainer: Aids Malignancy Consortium (AMC), Wits Health Consortium and Aids Clinical Trail Group (ACTG), The Oncology Pharmacy
Carien van der Merwe completed her Communications degree at North-West University, Potchefstroom and her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy at University of the Witwatersrand.
She gained Paediatric Oncology training at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital and practised in Paediatric Oncology Pharmacy at Donald Gordon Mediclinic Hospital Pharmacy. She then gained Adult Oncology experience being the Responsible Pharmacists at then Prof Ruff and Partners Practice at Donald Gordon Oncology Centre. She completed ESOP Beginners and Intermediate Master Class in Oncology Pharmacy in Germany (2013) and Advanced Master Class in France (2015). Qualified as trainer under ESOP mandate, Hamburg 2015 and qualified to issue Certificate of “Clean Working” under ESOP mandate, Croatia, 2016.
She has been involved with chemotherapy pharmacy training in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. She is a strong advocate for higher standards within the work flow of the oncology pharmacy units in South Africa to ensure handling chemotherapy safely in line with international standards. She is currently on various international task teams, updating and amending the current international standards of practice.
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David Wata, BPharm, MPharm, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)
David Wata is a team lead, oncology pharmacy at KNH and an honorary lecturer at the university of Nairobi, School of Pharmacy. He is an oncology pharmacist at KNH. He holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a master’s degree in clinical pharmacy from the University of Nairobi. He also has a certificate of radiopharmacy training from the University of Goce Delcev in Stip, Macedonia and a certificate of research pharmacy methods from the West Virginia University. He has been instrumental in development and growth of the oncology pharmacy and the practice in KNH. He has supervised masters of pharmacy student’s research dissertations at the University of Nairobi.
He has received research grants from KNH and also from Research Triangle International. He is member of ISOPP and has presented abstracts at the ISOPP symposia. He has also served at the palliative care unit at KNH and has been the lead in the oral morphine solution collaborative project which is collaboration between the Ministry of health, Kenya hospices and palliative care association and KNH. He has vast experience in clinical oncology pharmacy practice and has mentored many pharmacists on the same.
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DR. EUNICE GATHITU
A Pharmacist by profession with an Msc in Health Systems Management. She has over 15 years of experience in the public health sector. She is a Program Officer in the National Cancer Control Program in the Ministry of Health in Kenya and is the focal person for Palliative Care.
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Prof. Fredrick Chite, MD, Academic Model Providing Access to HealthCare (AMPATH) Oncology, Kenya
- Director of Clinical care, Education & Training and Research for AMPATH Oncology Institute in Kenya. A collaborative partnership between Moi University, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital and a consortium of North American Universities led by Indiana University
- He is a Medical Oncologist and Hematologist and Faculty, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Indiana University, Indianapolis and visiting Faculty, Moi University School of Medicine.
- Principal Investigator on various research projects including Lymphoma, Breast and Cervical Cancer, Kaposi Sarcoma, Curriculum Development in Oncology, Multiple Myeloma, Lung Cancer, Innovative training methodologies, Esophageal Cancer and Prostate Cancer among others.
- He is also the founder of Sickle cell and Hemophilia Programs at AMPATH
- He has developed a Point-Of-Care delivery system for Oncology in Kenya which includes screening for Breast and Cervical Cancer
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Harbans Dhillon, ISOPP Past President, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Harbans Dhillon graduated from the Victorian College of Pharmacy, Melbourne in 1978. She started working as a pharmacist at the University Malaya Medical Centre in April 1979. Since 1989, she has been the head of Manufacturing Unit of the Pharmacy Department, specialising in aseptic and cytotoxic reconstitution. She was appointed as Chief Pharmacist on April 1, 2015 till September 4, 2015, after which she was promoted to the post of Deputy Director (Professional) of University Malaya Medical Centre on September 5, 2015 till February 1, 2017 before retiring from the government service.
Harbans was the President of PENSMA (Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society of Malaysia) from 1998 to 2010. She is also the past president of PENSA (Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Society of Asia) from 2007to 2009. Currently she is a member and an advisor to both PENSA and PENSMA.
Harbans is the past President of ISOPP (International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners) and was on the executive committee in 2007 for a term of 3 years. She was also the President of Asia4safehandling Organisation which promotes the safe handling of cytotoxic drugs in Asia from 2009 to 2010 and is still a board member.
She received the 2006 APOPC Award for Outstanding Oncology Pharmacy Practice awarded by the organising committee of the 1st Asia Pacific Oncology Pharmacy Congress (APOPC) in Bangkok.
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Irene Weru, Deputy Chief Pharmacist, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya
AROPS2019 Symposium Chair
Irene Weru graduated from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Pharmacy in 2001 and a Master of Clinical Pharmacy in 2009 majoring in Paediatrics and Oncology. She has worked at Kenyatta National Hospital since 2003 and is currently a Deputy Chief Pharmacist. Irene has sixteen years’ experience in oncology pharmacy. She has been a member of technical working groups at the Ministry of Health and National Cancer Control Program in Kenya. Irene is a member of the ChemoSafe regional technical working Group under the African Cancer Coalition and is a lead trainer for ChemoSafe in Kenya.
Irene is also an honorary lecturer at University of Nairobi, School of Pharmacy and provides research and clinical practice supervision to Bpharm and Mpharm students. She has experience working in multidisciplinary teams not only in oncology but also as secretary to the medicines and therapeutics committee at her hospital.
Irene is a member of HOPAK and has been an ISOPP member since 2010 where she has participated in various task forces and committees.
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JESSIE N. GITHANGA, MBChB, MMed (Pathology), FCPath-ECSA
Jessie Githanga is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Pathology, University of Nairobi, Kenya and has an adjunct position as Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), USA. Her training background is in general pathology, haematology, blood transfusion and cytogentics. From 2004 to 2011 she served as the Chair of the Department of Human Pathology, University of Nairobi. She provides clinical services in haematopathology, blood transfusion and paediatric oncology at the Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest public hospital in Kenya. She is active in research and is or has been a Principal Investigator in clinical trials in sickle cell disease and paediatric oncology. Prof Githanga has published papers in peer reviewed journals and book chapters and is a member of several professional associations, including Kenya Association of Clinical Pathologists and Association of Pathologists of East Central and Southern Africa. She is a founder trustee of Kenya Childhood Cancer Trust, a Board Member of Kenya Network of Cancer Organizations (KENCO) and member of Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA). In August 2015 CEO Global awarded her the Most Influential Women in Africa Regional Award (Kenya and East Africa) and the Lifetime Achievement Regional (Continental) Award for Education and Training.
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Mrs. Judith Otele, Senior Assistant Manager: Claims management at National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Mrs. Judith Otele is a Registered Nurse, MPHE, MBA in Strategic Management and Human Resource Management.
She is passionate about patient navigation and enabling access to quality affordable oncology care services. She has over 10 years’ experience in healthcare financing; Benefit package development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
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LARRY SISEI – CRNI®, BSN
Larry Is a Certified Infusion Therapy Specialist currently working as a Clinical Resource Consultant for Becton Dickinson, Medical Division, where he is driving matters HealthCare Worker Safety and Infection Prevention in the Medication preparation and delivery processes. He is a graduate of University of Nairobi, member of Nursing Council of Kenya, Infusion Nurses Society and Association of Vascular Access.
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Lisa Holle, Associate Clinical Professor, University of Connecticut, Storrs, USA
Lisa Holle completed her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy and post-baccalaureate Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She completed a specialized oncology residency at UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, is a board-certified oncology pharmacist, a fellow of Hematology and Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA), and a current Treasurer of the ISOPP Secretariat. Lisa is Associate Clinical Professor at the UConn School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine. Her practice site is at the UConn Health Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she works in a team-based ambulatory care clinic, conducts pharmacy practice and supportive care–related research, and teaches healthcare professionals.
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Meg Gibbs, Director of Health Economics for Emerging and Growth Markets, Novartis Oncology
Meg Gibbs is the Director of Health Economics and Outcomes Research for Emerging and Growth Markets at Novartis Oncology. As a health economist, Ms. Gibbs has worked on developing value-based health economic and outcomes-based assessments in numerous countries and across payer archetypes.
Ms. Gibbs brings a wealth of experience in working with both industry and governments to develop evidence-based, health economic strategies and build health technology assessment capabilities. Prior to joining Novartis, she founded a health economics consultancy in Asia. Before moving to Asia, she worked for IMS in Australia where she was responsible for conducting economic evaluations for the Pharmaceutical Benefits and Medical Services Advisory Committees.
Ms Gibbs has also worked for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services where she worked on US Medicaid initiatives and the Massachusetts Legislature's Committee on Health Care where she specialized in the area of health care financing.
Ms Gibbs graduated from the London School of Economics with a Bachelor’s in Government and later obtained a Master’s in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from LSE and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
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Dr. Njoki Njiraini, Clinical Radiation Oncologist, Cancer Treatment Centre, Kenyatta National Hospital
Dr. Njiraini received her undergraduate training at the University of Nairobi and holds a Master of Medicine in radiation oncology from the university of Cape Town, South Africa. She is a Fellow of the College of Radiation Oncologists (FCRO) and Harvard POETIC Fellow 2018.
Her areas of interest are Breast and Colorectal Oncology, Paediatric Oncology and Neuro-oncology.
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Pinky Manyau (BPharm, MSc Clin Pharm, MSc Clin Epi)
Pinky is a lecturer in the University of Pharmacy Clinical Pharmacy division. She obtained her BPharm (Hons) degree from Rhodes University in 2009, and subsequently completed an MSc in Clinical Pharmacology and MSc Clinical Epidemiology with the University of Zimbabwe. Currently, her research interests include optimization of HIV-related non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma pharmacotherapeutics and identification of pharmacoeconomically sound interventions for this patient population. As a result of this work, she was awarded a joint University at Buffalo/ University of Zimbabwe HIV Research and Training Program (RT) pre-doctoral fellowship.
Pinky is also involved with the haematology unit at Parirenyatwa Hospital, where she is setting up ward based registries which capture clinical data and improves patient follow-up. Her other activities at the hospital include training and setting up of systems for central mixing of chemotherapy.
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Dr Sitna Ali Mwanzi, Consultant Medical Oncologist, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi.
Dr Sitna Ali Mwanzi is a consultant medical oncologist working at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She is the current Chair of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) which is a professional organization whose aim is to reduce the cancer burden and mortality in Kenya through education, research and advocacy initiatives. She attained her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Nairobi and Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine from the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. She undertook a fellowship in Medical Oncology at Barts Health NHS Trust in the United Kingdom attaining a Specialist Certificate in Medical Oncology from the Royal College of Physicians and Association of Cancer Physicians in the United Kingdom. She also has a Master of Science in Advanced Oncology from Ulm University in Germany. She has recently been recognized as a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh (FRCP). Her research interests include breast cancer, prostate cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia and cervical cancer. She is passionate about increasing health care worker and general public awareness about cancer, role of screening, early diagnosis and treatment of cancer. She works closely with the National Cancer Control Program in implementation of the National Cancer Control Strategy. She has also been involved in the development of national guidelines for Kenya and harmonization of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Mr. Tinashe Zigomo, Market Access Manager for Sub-Sahara Africa at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Oncology business unit.
Mr. Tinashe Zigomo is a Pharmacist by training and obtained postgraduate degrees, a MSc (Med) in Pharmaceutical Affairs from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa in 2014 and an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) under the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 2016. He is also a member of the South African chapter of ISPOR which is the leading professional society for health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) globally.
As a Market Access Manager he has obtained a wealth of experience and insights working with various stakeholders to address challenges and opportunities in the healthcare system with the ultimate goal of co-creating solutions to expand access to Novartis’ oncology medicines in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. His key market experience includes South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Namibia, Botswana, and
Mauritius.
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