SPEAKER PROFILES: 

Anne Mwirigi MBChB, MRCP, FRCPath (UK)    

Dr. Mwirigi is a consultant haematologist working at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She obtained her undergraduate MBChB from the University of Glasgow in 2002. After her house jobs and a medical rotation in Glasgow, she moved to London in February 2007.

Her career in Haematology began as a senior house officer at King’s College Hospital, following which she was accepted on the Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust Specialist Registrar Rotation in 2009. She obtained her certificate of completion of training in 2014 and thereafter took on consultant haematologist positions for a period of two and a half years at both Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospitals.

Dr. Mwirigi has a passion for haematology and always planned to practice haematology in her country of birth, Kenya. Since moving back in December 2016, she has engaged with haematopathologists and clinical haematologists in the region and is involved in collaborative ventures aimed at improving the quality of haematology services in Kenya. She was a key member of the scientific committee which organised the Haematology and Oncology Society of Africa 3^rd inaugural conference held in Nairobi in August 2017.

Dr. Matilda Ong’ondi

Dr. Matilda is a Consultant Physician and Clinical Hemato-Oncologist at the Kenyatta National Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya’s oldest and largest hospital. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree (2005) and a Master of Medicine (MMed) degree in Internal Medicine (2010), both from the University of Nairobi. She is registered with the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council as an Internal Medicine Specialist.

Dr. Matilda pursued her Clinical Hemato-oncology training at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia in 2017. In addition, she has undertaken various short Fellowship opportunities through the following institutions: International Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Foundation (Royal Adelaide Hospital and SAHMRI Adelaide, 2017); American Society of Hematology, Visitor Training Program at The Cancer Therapy and Research Centre, San Antonio Texas (2014); and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota (2010).

Her main interests are Multiple Myeloma; Acute Leukemia; Chronic Leukemia; and Platelet disorders. Her other interests are Psycho-Oncology and Clinical Research. She is also passionate about clinical bedside teaching and mentorship.

Dr. Matilda is a member of various societies: Kenya Society of Hematologists and Oncologists (KESHO); European Hematology Association (EHA); and International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH). In addition, she served as a member of the bodies that developed the Kenya National Cancer Guidelines and NCCN Harmonized Guidelines.