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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