SPEAKER PROFILES:

Prof Nazik Hammad

Nazik Hammad is a Professor at the Division of Medical Oncology, Queen’s University, Kingston Health Science Center, Ontario, Canada. She is the Chair of the Education and Training Committee of the African Organization in Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). Prof. Hammad is a visiting professor at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She is the co-chair of the Network for Advancing Black Learners (Medical Students and Residents) in Ontario. She is the former Director of Global Health, Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University. She is an executive member of the Global Oncology Program at Queen’s University. She treats GI, breast and brain tumours.

Prof. Hammad has a keen interest in medical education, in particular health professions education in low and –middle-income countries (LMIC) and cancer workforce development.  She has a Master degree in Medical Education in the Health Professions (MEHP) from Johns Hopkins University. She teaches regularly at the Clinical Oncology Training Program in Khartoum, Sudan and as a visiting professor at the Medical Oncology Fellowship Training Program, University of Nairobi, Kenya. Her areas of expertise include training program development and evaluation, accreditation, curriculum development, mentoring and innovations in education. Her work on education has been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. She is a recipient of several grants in education including the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada International Development, Aid and Collaboration Grant in 2020 for Faculty Development among African Oncologists.  Her other areas of interest include value in cancer care. Together with colleagues in African she led the first Choosing Wisely Africa that was recently published in the Journal of Global Oncology.

Prof Fredrick Chite Asirwa

Fredrick Chite Asirwa M.D. is the CEO of International Cancer Institute, an organization whose main purpose is to expand Education, Clinical Care and Training opportunities in cancer control and research across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through multi-sectoral collaborations and partnerships with relevant organizations both governmental and NGOs.

He is a Medical Oncologist & Hematologist, PD/PI of several access to personalized cancer care and research initiatives including Blueprint Program, Shining Tower Program, Clinical Trials Program-all geared towards enhancing early detection, promoting primary HPV screening, providing SOC diagnostics, therapeutics cancer research. He has developed several training programs including SSA Oncology Preceptorship training, Digital Pathology Program, Telemedicine Program, Oncology training for Physician assistants (Clinical Officers), development of Oncology Nursing training program in Kenya, Medical Oncology Fellowship Program and assisted in the development of gynecologic oncology program. . He also conducts Clinical Trials in SSA.

He was previously (2011-2019), the Director of Academic Model Providing Access to Health Care (AMPATH Oncology & Hematology Consortium) in Kenya. In this role he developed infrastructure for telemedicine at AMPATH, created a robust hematology & oncology outreach program in rural Kenya and participated in the development of the Kenya National Cancer Control policies, strategic plans and guidelines by the National MOH. As PI to various clinical and research programs he established Multiple Myeloma program, Lymphoma Program, functional tumor registry, Breast Cancer screening & treatment program, Hemophilia and Sickle cell diagnostics, treatment & research, EMR for Oncology care and screening, a multinational Lung Cancer Control Program, MLCCP (Kenya, South Africa, Lesotho, Tanzania, and Eswatini). He also teaches at various Universities in SSA and participates in Scientific Review Committees (SRC) of various Oncology Clinical Trial Centers in SSA.

He has also been an active ASCO member through ASCO’s Multidisciplinary Cancer Management Course (MCMC), International Affairs Committee (IAC), Education Council, ASCO‘s Academic Global Oncology Task Force and as a Peer reviewer to ASCO Journals. He is currently a member of ASCO-ESMO Global Oncology Curriculum committee and was recently elected by ASCO membership to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) as the designated International Oncologist for 2022-2026.

He has been recognized for his work to increase access to cancer control for the underserved through various awards including the United States’ National Cancer Institute’s Pearline Global Cancer Research Humanitarian Award, 2020; The Children’s Place International‘s 2018 Hero Award for his pioneering work in treating children and adults with cancers in Kenya. He is the current Interim President of the College of Oncology of East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA-CO) and a senate member for ECSA Health Community. He is also a distinguished Faculty speaker in both local, regional and International professional conferences and events including ASCO, AORTIC, KESHO, Africa Cancer ECHO, APCA amongst others.

He did his Undergraduate training (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) in Kenya and Post-graduate/specialty training (Internal Medicine Residency & Heme/Onc Fellowship) in the United States.

Dr Solomon Matiko Riro

Matiko Riro is a Medical Doctor and a Health Economist, currently supporting a number Sub-Saharan African countries in health financing reforms towards achieving UHC. He has been involved in several advisory and research initiatives focusing on optimizing health outcomes, specifically on cost-effectiveness and budget impact of healthcare interventions in low- and middle-income countries.

Moderator: Dr Mohammed Ezzi 

Mohammed Ezzi is a Lecturer and Consultant Medical Oncologist in the Department of Clinical Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Nairobi in Nairobi, Kenya. He is also the Treasurer for the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) and also the Chair for the Educational subcommittee in the same Society.

He did his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Nairobi and subsequently did a two-year fellowship in Medical Oncology at the same university. He is currently a fellow at the College of the European School of Oncology and pursuing a Certificate in Competence in Breast Cancer by the European School of Oncology.

His academic focus is in medical education and is passionate about teaching across the spectrum of medical learners with an interest in enhancing oncologic knowledge among non-oncologist. He has presented at several symposia, workshops and conferences both locally and internationally. He has several publications in peer reviewed international journals. Dr. Mohammed Ezzi is a member of KESHO, ASCO, ESMO, AORTIC and KAP. His key areas of interest include breast cancer, malignant hematology and clinical pharmacology.