A medical doctor and global health physician with a 17-year career experience in medical
practice, clinical and preventive oncology, cancer policy formulation and programming at the
Ministry of Health in Kenya. Currently serves as the Head of the National Cancer Control
Program and Co-Chair of the National Cancer Taskforce.

She is passionate about improving access to care across the cancer care continuum and health
system strengthening to ensure delivery of services in a timely, safe and effective manner.
She has led the formulation and implementation of various cancer policy documents and
guidelines including the Breast Cancer Screening and Early Diagnosis Action Plan 2021-2025.
Globally, she has also contributed to the drafting of the Global Strategy for Elimination of
Cervical Cancer abd the Global Breast Health Initiative. She has interest in cancer research
especially in the area of preventive oncology and behavioural studies and have published a
number of papers in various peer-reviewed journals. She is a member of the Kenya Medical
Association, the Africa Cancer Coalition, the Kenya Red Cross and the Kenya Society of
Haematology and Oncology.

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. 

Dr. Andrew is a Consultant Physician/Medical Oncologist & Program Director/Lecturer (Medical Oncology Fellowship Program) at the University of Nairobi. Dr. Andrew holds a Master’s degree in Internal Medicine from the University of Nairobi. He has attended a preceptorship training in Haematological Oncology & Infectious Diseases from the University of Maryland Marleen & Stewart Greenbaum Cancer Centre in the United States. 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 Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh as well as the East, Central & Southern Africa College of Physicians.

He is the outgoing Secretary & former Treasurer of Kenya Society of Haematology & Oncology (KESHO). Dr. Andrew is a member of KAP, ASCO, ESMO, AORTIC & ECSACOP. Dr. Andrew serves as an expert advisor for local and international bodies i.e. MOH, Kenya Cancer Prevention TWG, ASCO & NCCN Cancer Treatment Guidelines Committees. He has published several articles on cancer in both international and local peer reviewed scientific journals.

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. He has over 50 appearances in mainstream local and international TV and print media promoting cancer awareness.

His key areas of sub specialization and interest include Colon cancer, Stomach cancer, Breast Cancer, Pancreatic, Liver & Bile Duct cancer, Cancer or Unknown Primary, Lymphoma as well as newer treatments i.e. Immunotherapy & Targeted therapy for Colon, Skin, Lung, Kidney cancers etc. For his full profile, please visit www.drandrewodhiambo.com

Dr Melly is a Medical Doctor and Cancer Expert. He is the current CEO of the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K).

Dr Melly is highly skilled and knowledgeable with experience at the local, regional, and global levels in clinical care, training, research, and program development and growth, He believes in value-based, transformative leadership and governance.

Dr Melly is gifted in building partnerships and collaborations. He is a true advocate of service to humanity without fear or favor.

Truphena is an Oncology Clinical Officer at Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital (MTRH)

She is the current Program coordinator for Higher Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Surgery (Medical Oncology).

Chief Medical Specialist MTRH 2 Clinical & Radiation Oncology
Director: Hemato-Oncology Directorate, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital, Eldoret Kenya

Positions and Honors

2006 – 2007 Medical officer intern at Kitale District Hospital

2008 – 2010 Medical Officer Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital

2010 – 2015 Residency training in Clinical and Radiation Oncology – University of Stellenbosch, and Fellowship of the College of Radiation Oncologists of South Africa.
2015 – Date Medical Specialist MTRH 4, Consultant in Clinical and Radiation Oncology at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH).

2017 November to Date: Director- Directorate of Hemato-Oncology MTRH 2019June: Senior Medical Specialist MTRH 3

2022 September: Chief Medical Specialist MTRH 2

Peer-reviewed Publication

Results of Radioactive Iodine (131I) Therapy in Well Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study from the Tygerberg Hospital.
D. Acullu 1* A. E. Fourie 2, K. Baatjes 3 and E. J. Opakas 4 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283708956_Results_of_Radioactive
_Iodine_131I_Therapy_in_Well_Differentiated_Thyroid_Carcinoma_A_Retrospe ctive_Study_from_the_Tygerberg_Hospital

Radiotherapy in the management of carcinoma of the vulva in HIV positive and negative patients : an institutional experience; Jesse Elungat Opakas https://www.academia.edu/66075078/Radiotherapy_in_the_management_of_ carcinoma_ of_the_vulva_in_HIV_positive_and_negative_patients_an_institutional_experie nce 2015