AMPATH Leaders Gather to Reflect and Recommit
Leaders from AMPATH Kenya reunited with friends and colleagues and welcomed new partners from Ghana, Mexico and Nepal during the AMPATH Global Gathering in Indianapolis in early October.
Enjoy a recap of the AMPATH Global Gathering
Working groups related to AMPATH’s care, training and research missions spent two days reflecting on the partnership’s past successes and planning for the future. More than 100 members of the AMPATH Consortium of academic health centers around the world discussed topics such as global oncology, mental health, education, reproductive health, cardiology and more with their international colleagues.
Dr. Tim Evans, former senior director of Health, Nutrition and Population Global Practice at the World Bank and now director and associate dean of the School of Population and Global Health at McGill University, led a keynote presentation and discussion about Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and each of the AMPATH partnership sites presented about the status of UHC in their country.
A gala reception and dinner welcomed nearly 600 guests from 20 U.S. states and around the world to wrap up the weekend’s work.
Meet all of the AMPATH Global sites
Grammy award-winning singer and AMPATH supporter Sylvia McNair served as emcee and kicked-off the evening by asking people who had been involved with AMPATH for more than 20 years to be recognized. This included three of AMPATH’s founding physicians. Dr. David and Ruth Van Reken, Dr. Bob and Lea Anne Einterz, and Dr. Joe and Sarah Ellen Mamlin attended the Global Gathering. Drs. Charlie and Lorraine Kelley were unable to attend.
Dr. Charity Wambui demonstrates how AMPATH education programs make an impact.
AMPATH Kenya leaders welcomed their new partners with a ceremonial Maasai Shuka presentation. Guests heard from leaders of each of the partnerships via video and had the opportunity to support the Einterz Global Health Education Fund which enables medical students and residents to participate in two-month exchange programs that expand their medical knowledge, perspective and leadership skills.
“One of the most exciting parts of this whole process is realizing that the dream goes on and it's not limited by a single individual, but it's empowered by all of us,” said Dr. Mamlin.
Honored guests from Kenya in attendance included:
Professor Isaac S. Kosgei, Vice Chancellor, Moi University
Professor Robert Tenge, Principal, Moi University College of Health Sciences
Professor Winstone Nyandiko, Executive Director, AMPATH Research
Prof. Sylvester Kimaiyo, Chief of Party, AMPATH Uzima, representing Dr. Wilson Aruasa, CEO, Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital
Dr. Mabel Nangami, Dean, Moi University School of Public Health
Dr. Dinah Chelagat, Dean, Moi University School of Nursing
Dr. Julia Songok, Associate Dean, Moi University School of Medicine
Dr. Jeremiah Laktabai, Acting Executive Director, AMPATH Care
Many other Kenyan faculty and staff
“Tonight we celebrate a new chapter in the AMPATH story as we expand our global network across four continents, seven different time zones (apologies to those who have to try to schedule our meetings), and over 21,000 miles,” said Adrian Gardner, MD, MPH, executive director of the AMPATH Consortium. “In our various meetings and sites visits so far, what is evident to all of us is despite how different our institutions, our language, our cultures may be, the challenges and the opportunities are so familiar. We have much work to do collectively to strengthen health systems, train future health leaders, and realize global health equity.”
The evening was sponsored by Abbott, Takeda, Pfizer, IU Health, OneAmerica Foundation, Eli Lilly and Company, Second Presbyterian Church, Tonia and Tim Hassinger and dozens of table sponsors.
