Global Surgery Advocacy Fellowship

María José García is a sociology and political science expert on international relations. She holds postgraduate degrees in public policy design and project management. She has a wealth of experience in leadership, advocacy and community relations, having worked with the Vice Presidency of Ecuador, the Municipality of Quito and various NGOs. She has led social responsibility, health, community development and public policy projects. Her contributions to the National Surgical Strengthening Plan in Ecuador earned her an honorable mention in “The Lancet.” García is a proactive and creative professional dedicated to addressing complex development challenges.

Dr. Juan Carlos Gallego, a renowned gynecologist and professor, is affiliated with Fundacion Valle del Lili and ICESI University. He is committed to health equity and advocates for sexual and reproductive rights in vulnerable populations. Gallego’s community work, particularly the “Hospital Padrino” strategy, has reduced maternal mortality and is now part of Colombia’s public policy. As a volunteer, he’s provided care to underserved communities and trained local health care workers, witnessing the transformative impact of improved lives. Gallego is eager to enhance his skills, collaborate and improve women’s health in Colombia.

Dr. Tinsae Abera Worku is an Ethiopian medical doctor and global health leader holding a master’s degree in global health delivery with a focus on health management. With a profound passion for global surgery and a commitment to addressing surgical care disparities in resource-limited countries, Worku is actively participating in various global surgery projects. Her expertise encompasses clinical care, education, gender equity, disaster management, research and advocacy, reflecting a holistic approach to improving individual and community health outcomes. Driven by a commitment to evidence-based policymaking, innovation and advocacy, she is dedicated to closing knowledge and research gaps and advocating for health equity.

Regina Sinsai is a public health researcher at the Nkafu Policy Institute in Cameroon. She has a degree in psychology and a diploma in nursing, which she obtained from the United States International University-Africa in Nairobi and a vocational training institute in Yaoundé. She leads research projects to contribute to equitable health care delivery as a public health researcher. Her advocacy interests include health care financing for surgical patients — in other words, improving access to affordable surgical procedures by reducing catastrophic health expenditures for patients.

Dr. Nicholas Okumu is a renowned orthopedic surgeon and health care leader in Kenya. He heads the orthopaedic oncology unit at Kenyatta National Hospital and is the CEO of Stratus Medical. He holds a master’s degree in orthopedic surgery and an MBA. His training includes project management and leadership from Harvard and the University of Washington. As a 2024 Global Surgery Advocacy Fellow, he is dedicated to improving orthopedic care and health care accessibility in Kenya and mentoring future leaders.

Dr. Pierrette Ngutete Mukundwa, a global health leader, holds a master’s degree in global health delivery from the University of Global Health and a medical degree from the University of Rwanda. She serves as a faculty member at UGHE, coordinating global surgery modules, mentoring students and supporting the Center for Equity in Global Surgery. Her experience as a general practitioner in Rwanda highlighted the need for equitable surgical care. She advocates for patient inclusion in health care decisions and ensures interventions are tailored to their needs.

Dr. Metasebia Worku Abebe is an assistant professor and plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Saint Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College and leads the plastic and reconstructive surgery unit. She’s dedicated to reconstructive surgery, caring for patients with various needs. She has recently made history as the first female plastic surgeon from Ethiopia to be a College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) fellow. Beyond her clinical work, she’s committed to education and advocacy for increased access to safe reconstructive surgical care.

Abdo Husen Abdulkadir is a public health specialist with a special focus on health care project management. He has received a postgraduate degree in public health from Hawassa University in Ethiopia. He has been trained in project management, health system management, monitoring and evaluations. Abdulkadir is also a current student fellow at Africa Civil Engagement Academy, a program being run by the University of Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the health care and nonprofit sectors having held program coordination and project management roles at various international NGOs, including Amref Health Africa, The Fred Hollows Foundation and The Pharo Foundation.

Dr. Patrick Maison is a urologist and senior lecturer with the University of Cape Coast in Ghana. He is a fellow of the Ghana College of Surgeons and also of the West African College of Surgeons where he graduated in 2014. Maison has a passion for improving surgical practice in Ghana by promoting the training and practice of minimally invasive surgery across the country. He won the prize for the best candidate in urology in West Africa in 2014 and has received academic scholarships from the International Society of Urology (SIU), International Volunteers of Urology (IVUmed) and the Ghana Education Trust Fund. He has also won some competitive international research grants and has over 20 research publications to his credit.

Dr. Simon Pierre is a medical doctor with extensive clinical experience in remote areas. He has been trained in Advanced Life Support of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Essential surgical skills. He is passionate about global surgery, research and orthopedics. Currently in the Clinical Medicine Division at the University of Global Health Equity as a junior faculty and coordinator, he coordinates and participates in the teaching of students during their clerkship in different hospitals and participates in curricula development. With the CEGS team, he participates in different research aiming to contribute to equitable health delivery.

Dr. Rahantasoa Finaritra is a surgeon in Madagascar. She works in the Department of Visceral and Digestive Surgery and is also a teaching assistant in the Faculty of Medicine of Antananarivo. In 2022, she won a scholarship for young students from the French National Society of Gastroenterology. The scholarship included an internship in Paris for a week and participation in an international congress. She did a one-year internship in France in 2018 and a three-month internship in South Korea in 2022. She has also had the opportunity over the past few years to assist in workshops offered by Mercyships. Her research focus is primarily on digestive surgery.

Dr. Franco Roldan was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia, in a time marked by violence and drug trafficking. She graduated from medical school at the CES University in Medellin. She trained in anesthesia with an emphasis in oncology in Bogota, Colombia, at the National Institute of Cancerology. After her residency, Roldan began volunteering for Operation Smile and served as a volunteer in surgical programs for 11 years. Roldan went on to receive additional training in obstetric and fetal anesthesia a the Clinic Hospital in Barcelona, Spain. She has served as an anesthesiologist and subspecialist in many hospitals in various regions of Colombia.