SPEAKER PROFILES:

Dr Omar Abdihamid

Omar Abdihamid is a Clinical Oncologist at Garissa Cancer Center.

He holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Oncology from Central South University, China.

His main areas of interest are esophageal cancers, head and neck cancers, lung cancer, genitourinary cancers and breast cancers. He is passionate about cancer care equity in low and middle-income countries and advocates for culturally based cancer care.

Dr. Omar has a keen interest in cancer research and has published multiple publications in international peer-reviewed journals. He is also an a scientific writer, editor and a reviewer for several cancer journals.

He is the recipient of the “2021 Journal of Clinical Oncology, ASCO Global Oncology Trainee Journal Reviewer Mentoring Program” and winner of “Africa ASCO VOICES 2022”- for highlighting state of cancer care in Kenya.

He is a member of:

• Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology (KESHO)
• African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC)
• European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO)
• American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO

Finally, Dr. Omar is a resident faculty member and tumour board panelist at the International Cancer Institute in Eldoret, Kenya.

Dr Harish Nagaraj

Harish Nagaraj is a Consultant Radiologist and Nuclear Medicine specialist, who is currently the HOD of Nuclear Medicine, at The Integrated Molecular Imaging Centre, Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH).

Dr Harish did his M.MED in Diagnostic Radiology from the University of Nairobi followed by a one-year fellowship in Nuclear Medicine and PET CT from India. Additionally, He has a master’s in Oncologic imaging from the University of Pisa, Italy.

He is an honorary lecturer at Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Medicine, University of Nairobi and an active member of various Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Oncological societies. He has attended several national and international conferences as an invited speaker. His key area of interest is theranostics.

Dr Enoch Makori

Enoch Makori is a Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon & Head of Unit Cardiothoracic and Vascular Department at Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH)

Kennedy Okinda

Kennedy Okinda is a Registered Oncology Nutrition Specialist and Research Officer working at Mwai Kibaki Hospital KNH Annex currently heading Research, Training and Programs unit at the hospital. He has over 8 years’ experience in clinical nutrition, dietetics and research.

Kennedy graduated from Kabarak University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics. He holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition Oncology from Nutrition and Dietetics Academy, Post Graduate Pediatric Nutrition from Boston University School of Medicine and Diploma in Community Nutrition from Kenya Medical Training College. He is currently pursing Policy Development & Advocacy in Global Health course from University of Washington and undertaking Certified Data Scientist Course at AFRICDSA.

Kennedy is a member of Technical Working Group (TWG) on Cancer Monitoring, Evaluation and Research (MER) where his technical contribution was key in the development of National Cancer Control Strategy 2023-2028. He lectures Nutrition Oncology at Nutrition and Dietetics academy and serve as a member of Health Sciences nutrition and dietetics Industry Advisory Board (IAB) for the Meru National Polytechnic.

His research interest span in non-communicable diseases with a focus in Nutrition and cancer. He has been a co-investigator in high impact research studies focusing on Tobacco related morbidity, mortality and the economic cost of treatment of tobacco related illness. He is currently conducting a study on effect of Cancer- Related Cachexia and Associated Changes in Nutritional Status among Adults with Esophageal Cancer.

He is a member of the Nutrition Association of Kenya (NAK), ESPEN, ESMO and KESHO.

Dr Angela Waweru (Moderator)

Angela Waweru studied Medicine at the University of Sheffield. She completed her internship and core medical training at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals before joining the same NHS Trust for her training in Clinical Oncology, where she completed her training in 2015. She then spent just under one year working as a Locum Consultant in Clinical Oncology after which she relocated to Kenya. She currently works as a Radiation Oncologist at AKUH, N where she is the Vice Chair of the Haematology Oncology department and Section Head of Radiation.

Her main interests include the appropriate implementation of new radiotherapy technologies in the clinic and re-irradiation. Dr. Waweru is also keen on promoting radiotherapy governance; she has been instrumental in forming radiotherapy safety committees, peer review meetings and service development projects.

She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists [Clinical Oncology Faculty] FRCR, Member of the Royal College of Physicians, MRCP. She is also a member of European Society of Radiation Oncology, ESTRO and Kenya Society of Haematology and Oncology, KESHO.