Annual Comprehensive Hematology and Oncology Conference

Description

The AnCHOR conference is a hybrid-in-person and virtual event that will be hosted by the International Cancer Institute at Eka Hotel in Eldoret, Kenya. The AnCHOR Conference aims to bring together researchers, practitioners, educators, and scholars at all levels with interests in medical and clinical oncology, hematology, and NCDs from across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and around the world. The main theme of the Conference is â??Towards Innovation and Advancement in Oncology & NCDs Care in Sub-Saharan Africaâ?, incorporating perspectives from the entire translational research continuum.

Objectives

Presenters

1. Prof. Dinesh Pendharkar
   Prof. Pendharkar is an accomplished medical oncologist based in India. He has an experience spanning 35 years as a cancer specialist. His areas of expertise include General Oncology, leukemias, hematological malignancies, Breast cancer, and Management of Hand-Foot Syndrome. He finished his Ph.D. in Oncology from the Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow. Currently, he is the Director â?? of Sarvodaya Cancer Institute, Faridabad, and the Head of the Department of Cancer Chemotherapy at the Asian Institute of Oncology. He is also a Visiting Professor at RD Gardi Medical College, Ujjain. Prof. Pendharkar was formerly the Associate Editor Indian Journal of Medical and Pediatric Oncology and is a member of the Indian Society of Oncology and American Society of Clinical Oncology. He is a former President of the Indian Society of Oncology and the former Chair of the International Affairs Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In the past, he had been president of the Indian Society of Medical and Pediatric Oncology, Jt. Secretary Indian Society of Oncology and Associate Editor Indian Journal of Medical and Pediatric Oncology. Prof. Dinesh is currently the Chairperson of the International Cancer Institute Board of Advisors.
   Sarvodaya Cancer Institute, Faridabad, and the Head of the Department of Cancer Chemotherapy at the Asian Institute of Oncology.


2. Prof. Anne Greist M.D.
   Prof. Anne Greist, M.D., is co-founder and co-medical director of the Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center, Inc. She is a board-certified hematologist-oncologist and received her MBBS in 1977 from the University of London and Associate of Kingâ??s College and completed her medicine internship at the Kings College Hospital Health District in London in 1977. She was a Family Practice resident at St. Josephâ??s Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, and then an Internal Medicine resident at Indiana University Medical Center. She completed her fellowship in medical oncology and hematology at Indiana University, and a fellowship in medical oncology and Clinical Pharmacology, at the Lilly Clinic at Wishard Memorial Hospital, in Indianapolis. From 1986 to 1993 she was an Assistant Professor for the Department of Medicine, Hematology-Oncology Section, at Indiana University, where from 1993 to 1998 she was a Clinical Associate Professor. Prof. Greist continues with Indiana University as an Associate Professor, Part-Time, of Clinical Medicine. In July 1998, she opened the Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center (IHTC). Prof. Greist serves as a member of the IHTC Board of Directors as well as a member of the International Cancer Institute Advisory Board.
   Indiana Hemophilia & Thrombosis Center


3. Dr. Miriam Mutebi M.D., MPH.
   Dr. Miriam Mutebi is a Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She is also the incoming President of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), Chairperson of the Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO), and part of the Board of Directors at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). She is the co-founder of the Pan African Womenâ??s Association of Surgeons (PAWAS -www.africanwomensurgeons.org) and is part of the Kenya Association of Women Surgeons. She did her general surgery residency at Aga Khan University and proceeded to do a two-year fellowship in Breast Surgical Oncology, which included a year in plastics and reconstruction at the University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital in South Africa followed by a Mammadi Soudavar International Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York. She then worked for 2 years as a Graduate Surgical Oncology Research Fellow at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, and also completed her Masterâ??s degree in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Systems Research at the Weill Cornell University, New York, with a focus towards understanding the barriers to the diagnosis and treatment, for women with cancers in Africa, thus designing interventions to mitigate these barriers. Dr. Mutebi is an avid supporter of the education and support for women, especially in surgery and she aims to provide mentorship for women in surgery and to improve womenâ??s health and surgical care in Africa).
   African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO)


4. Dr. Zipporah Ali
   Dr. Zipporah Ali has recently retired from the position of Executive Director of Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association (KEHPCA), a position she held for 15 years. She is the current chair of the NCD Alliance Kenya and the Vice President of AORTIC East Africa. She serves on several national and international boards. Dr. Ali has been and continues to be involved in advocacy and creating awareness on pain relief and palliative care in Kenya for children and adults as well as Universal Health Coverage. In her leadership role as the Executive Director for KEHPCA, she was very instrumental in fostering strong relationships with the Ministry of Health to integrate palliative care into government hospitals. She was also instrumental in advocating for palliative care to be included in the undergraduate medical and nursing schools in Kenya. She is a strong advocate for cancer prevention, control, and treatment and was instrumental in developing the first National Cancer Control Strategy and the National Guidelines for Cancer Management-Kenya. She has also advocated for palliative care to be integrated into other non-communicable diseases as well as infectious diseases. She is a strong advocate for the right to health for all and a supporter of the movement on meaningful involvement of persons living with serious health conditions and leaving no one behind. Dr. Ali holds a Masterâ??s Degree in Public Health from the University of Nairobi, and a Masterâ??s in Palliative Care from the University of Dundee, Scotland (Commonwealth Scholar). She has received a number of awards in recognition of her work nationally and globally. These include: â?¢ Doctor of Law Honoris Causa-University of Dundee (2018) â?¢ International Humanitarian Award-Women4Africa (2018) â?¢ Social Impact Award for the Sub-Saharan Africa region-British Council (2018) â?¢ Honorary Doctor of the University by Oxford Brookes University (2012) â?¢ Individual Advocacy Award by the African Palliative Care Association and Open Society Foundations (2013 â?¢ African Palliative Care Award â?? (In recognition for being on the interim board and later serving on the board for 2 teams) -2007
   NCD Alliance Kenya, AORTIC East Africa


5. Dr. Gilbert Zacharia
   Dr. Gilbert Zacharia Nkya was born and raised at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, in Hai district, Kilimanjaro region. He is a Pathologist at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) a Zonal Consultant hospital found in Moshi town, Northern Tanzania. He received his bachelorâ??s in medicine from the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College (KCMUCo) in 2014. In 2019 he graduated from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) where I was awarded my Masterâ??s degree in Anatomical Pathology. His areas of interest are cytopathology, renal pathology, and screening and early detection of cancer conditions which is a burden to our communities. This involves breast cancer, cervical cancer, prostate carcinoma, and GI tract neoplasms where the majority of patients present late and with advanced disease. He is also involved in research and research projects such as â??The role of Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling in determining the cause of death among patients following short-term hospitalizations at a tertiary hospital in Northern Tanzaniaâ?. Currently, he is involved in a project which aims to standardize and validate breast cancer reporting at KCMC, this includes IHC. He is a member of the Association of Tanzania Pathologists (APT) and the United States and the Canadian Academy of Pathology (USCAP).
   Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC)


6. Dr. Titus Suge
   Dr. Titus Suge is a Senior Lecturer of Clinical Pharmacology with over twelve years of experience in University teaching and quality assurance. His educational background includes an MSc in Pharmacy and an MPH â?? In Epidemiology from Saint Louis University and a bachelor's of Pharmacy from the University of San Carlos. He is currently winding up with his Doctorate study in Pharmacoepidemiology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. His research interests include Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, Epidemiology, Communicable Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Quality Management Systems.
   Kabarak University


7. Dr. Michael Walekhwa
   Dr. Michael Nyongesa Walekhwa is a Lecturer of Immunology & Hematology at the School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Kabarak University (KABU). He holds a Ph.D. in Medical Immunology, MSc. Infectious Diseases-Immunology option and a BSc. Medical Laboratory Sciences. Dr. Walekhwa has also taught Immunology at the University of Embu (UoE) and the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton (UEAB). His research interests are in the area of microbial immunology with a special focus on vaccine development and evaluation. He is especially interested in the revelation of specific immunological events and hallmarks during infection with medically vital microbial species among pediatrics. His scholarly outputs are widely published and reasonably cited.
   School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Kabarak University (KABU).


8. Dr. Anisa Mburu
   Dr. Anisa Mburu is a Gynecologic Oncologist at the Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa, and International Cancer Institute with a special interest in HPV-associated cancers and pediatric gynecological cancers. As PI in several programs, she has worked with adolescents to educate them and encourage socio-behavioral strategies to prevent cervical cancer. She evaluated the gynecological cancers affecting the pediatric age group in western Kenya to raise the index of suspicion among health care workers for early detection and management. Dr. Anisa is currently working to build awareness of the access disparity to palliative, hospice, and survivorship interventions amongst cervical cancer patients. She is an active member and graduate fellow of the International Gynecological Cancer Society (IGCS) and a contributing member of the Boston Global Cancer Institute (GCI) which hosts monthly international gynecologic oncology tumor boards. She did her postgraduate (residency and fellowship) training at Moi University, Kenya, and the University of Nicosia, Cyprus. Her undergraduate training was at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She is also an animal rights activist, specifically focused on rescuing cats, neutering, and rehoming them.
   Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa, and International Cancer Institute


9. Dr. Pamela Kimeto
   Dr. Pamela Kimeto Tingâ??ei currently serves as the Dean-School of medicine and Health Sciences of Kabarak University. She also serves as a senior lecturer of nursing at the same institution. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Nursing from the University of Virginia (Fulbright fellowship), Master of Arts in Bioethics from Trinity International University (TIU Scholarship), Master of Science in Pediatric Nursing from the University of Nairobi, and Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. Her research interests include maternal and child health, ethical issues that affect women and children, the use of technology, and biotechnology in Health. Dr. Kimeto also has an interest in the use of information technology in health care and health policy. She together with other members, they have attracted grants to conduct studies on the use of information technology to monitor blood pressure in pregnant mothers for early detection of possible development of preeclampsia and continuous monitoring of blood pressure in adults to detect early onset of hypertension, and one grant to conduct research on ethical issues in the use of artificial intelligence in health care. She serves as project activity lead in the deployment of Health information systems in four Counties. This position is through Health IT, a project funded by USAID through the University of Nairobi (UoN).
   Kabarak University


10. Miss Benda Kithaka
    Ms. Benda Kithaka is a Communications & Health Advocacy Specialist, with a keen interest in Cervical Cancer Elimination and Cancer Survivorship. She sits on various Global, Regional, and National Technical Working Groups, in advocacy and technical advisory role. She also Co-chairs the #STOPCervicalCancer Initiative, an advocacy platform formed in 2018 to stimulate and coordinate efforts by stakeholders toward a unified approach to Cervical Cancer Advocacy. The Initiative started the National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, held from 20th to 27th January each year, through the support of the American Cancer Society, and Women4Cancer Early Detection and Treatment. Benda is the founder of KILELE Challenge, a community project that is empowering people living with chronic conditions and their caregivers to inspire change using their lived experiences. Her personal interests include Women's Health, Behaviour Change Communications, Fitness, Social Innovation, and Traveling to discover/interact with new cultures. She is a recipient of numerous awards, including the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS) 2019 Distinguished Advocacy Award; the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) award to participate as the civil society voice in the Regional Consultation on the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in the African Region (May 2019); the AACE Selma Morris Memorial Travel Scholarship Award in 2017; and the 2016 Cancer Ambassador of the Year in Kenya. Currently, she is a Health Advocate at KILELE Challenge, Benda Kithaka is a Health Policy Advocacy and Communications expert based in Kenya. Her work is focused on policies that address late presentation by patients with chronic conditions which affect Quality of Life and Survivorship. She has a keen interest in Behaviour Change Communications as a vehicle for collaboration between healthcare practitioners and patient advocates to improve care outcomes.
    Women4Cancer Early Detection and Treatment.


11. Dr. Gregory Ganda
    Dr. Ganda is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist and gynecologic-oncologist with over 13 years of experience. He holds a Master of Medicine from Moi University and a Fellowship in Gyn-Oncology from the University of Toronto. He boasts a wealth of skill and expertise in the management of cancers of the female genital tract and is passionate about cancer prevention through early detection and treatment. He is a founder member and chair of the Kisumu Cancer Alliance. In 2019, this passion saw him recognized and appointed as the Lead Consultant for the National Ministry of Health Cervical Cancer training guidelines which was the first strategy of its kind in Kenya. He was subsequently appointed as the Lead Consultant for Rwanda Cancer Screening Trainer of Trainers in 2020. Dr. Ganda is a contributor and lead writer in the Gynecology chapter in the Kenya cancer prevention guidelines as well as an Editor for the cancer treatment guidelines. He has a keen eye for research and has been a Principal Investigator in various studies and has presented on several topics at local and international conferences. He is a member of the International Gynecological Cancer Society (IGCS), Kenya Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (KOGS), and the Kenya Medical Association (KMA). Apart from spending most of his days in theatre or in Gynecologic Outpatient Clinics, Dr. Ganda has carved out a niche as a seasoned and experienced administrator and leader rising through ranks to the pinnacle. Currently, Dr. Ganda is the acting County Executive Committee Member and Chief Officer for Health and Sanitation in Kisumu County providing strategic policy direction for the department.
    Kisumu Cancer Alliance, National Ministry of Health Cervical Cancer training


12. Dr. Benjamin Odongo
    Dr. Elly Odongo is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist and Gynecologic Oncologist with over 20 years of experience in clinical practice and programmatic leadership of public health initiatives. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kenyatta University School of Medicine. He has previously served as the Head of The Department of Gynecologic Oncology at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) Eldoret/ Moi University. Prior to his current engagement. Dr. Elly was a Technical Lead in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/Maternal and Child Health (PMTCT/MCH) at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Elly served as North Eastern Provincial Obstetrician and Gynecologist and Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Garissa and founder of Garissa Obstetric Fistula Centre. In this role, he promoted service delivery excellence and standards based on evidence and also provided administrative and clinical leadership to trainee medical officers and other cadres of health care workers, developed protocols for obstetric emergencies, conducted weekly medical education, monthly maternal and perinatal death reviews, and participated in target setting and budgetary allocation for the department. He is a published researcher and is in the process of developing multiple protocols. He has presented at International and local conferences and participated in various reproductive health discussion forums. Dr. Elly is the Immediate Past President and Current Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (KOGS), providing leadership and strategic direction for a professional body of over 400 Kenyan Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
    Kenyatta University


13. Dr. Chakou Halfani
    Dr. Chakou Halfani is the Managing Director of TMHS, Chairman of Tanzania Health Summit, and past senior Clinical Oncologist at Ocean Road Cancer Institute. He serves on various local and international committees and boards. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Master of Medicine (MMed. Clinical Oncology) from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and Master of Business Administration (MBA-Finance) from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Master of Public Health (MPH-Global Health) from University of Manchester-UK and Master of Science in Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (MSc. PMME) from MUHAS. Dr. Chakou Halfani is the Managing Director of TMHS, Chairman of Tanzania Health Summit, and past senior Clinical Oncologist at Ocean Road Cancer Institute. He serves on various local and international committees and boards. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Master of Medicine (MMed. Clinical Oncology) from the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), and Master of Business Administration (MBA-Finance) from the University of Dar Es Salaam, Master of Public Health (MPH-Global Health) from University of Manchester-UK and Master of Science in Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (MSc. PMME) from MUHAS.
    Tanzania Health Summit


14. Dr. Esbon Wambugu
    Dr. Esbon Wambugu Njau is a Lecturer and acting Head of the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy at Kabarak University. He has a master of pharmacy in Clinical pharmacy and is a graduate of the University of Nairobi. He serves on a number of committees in the university including; the Kabarak University Research and Ethics Committee. He worked at Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital for 6 years where he was among the team that developed the first hospital formulary. His research interest is in Oncology (Breast Cancer) and Antimicrobial stewardship. He recently published a paper on the Modulatory Effects of Flavonoids on Breast Cancer. He is committed to ensuring that there is a multidisciplinary approach to cancer patient care.
    Kabarak University


15. Dr. Miriam Muga
    Dr. Miriam Muga is a lecturer at Kabarak University where she serves in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. She graduated with a Ph. D in Nutrition and Health Science from Taipei Medical University, ROC Taiwan. Her research works are in the area of nutrition and health with a major interest in assessing diet patterns of different populations and relating them to the risk of different non-communicable diseases. She has also co-authored several researchers in the areas of maternal, new-borns, and childrenâ??s health and also earned the â??Peter Reizenstein prizeâ? award for the best published paper in the International Journal for Quality in Health Care in 2019. In addition to her vast experience in research, Dr. Muga is also trained in bio-ethics and is tasked with the responsibility of coordinating the University research ethics committee a position that ensures that research is conducted with the utmost Integrity within the university
    Kabarak University


16. Dr. Helena Musau
    Dr. Helena Musau is a Consultant Clinical/Radiation Oncologist with robust experience in palliative care. She has worked in both the private and public sectors as well as managing projects at various levels. She is involved in teaching and health education for both oncology and palliative care. She is a member of various Kenya Ministry of Health technical working groups aiming to improve access to cancer care. She is involved in the Blueprint Print for Success Initiative in Kenya whose vision is to create an ecosystem for comprehensive cancer control in sub-Saharan Africa and aims to improve access to medicines in developing healthcare systems through sustainable partnerships.
    Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital.