Centers Of Excellence – The Network: TUFH

By investing in the capacity of regions and countries, TUFH aspires to achieve its vision for local adoption and implementation on Social Accountability, Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care, and Health Workers Competency Standards.

TUFH Centers of Excellence (CEs) are parts of institutions such as universities and health institutions focused on health. CEs are an extension of TUFH in specified technical areas according to agreed upon Terms of Reference and a work plan. CEs support research, provide input to inform the development of guidance on TUFH technical areas of expertise. CEs support regional and/or national capacity building, provided technical advise, and help to disseminate information within the country/region.

TUFH's Centers of Excellence 2025

TUFH South India

TUFH Brazil

TUFH USA

TUFH Francophone

KLE's Vision for Becoming a TUFH Center of Excellence in South India

KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research (KAHER) envisions to become a TUFH Center of Excellence in India by adopting a comprehensive
approach to health education and community involvement. The institution seeks to
blend medical training with a strong focus on social accountability, ensuring that its
graduates emerge not only as skilled professionals but also as compassionate leaders dedicated to meeting the diverse health needs of various populations.
To realize this vision, KAHER is committed to enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering innovative research, and implementing evidence-based practices that tackle both local and global health challenges. The academy plans to forge strong partnerships with community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers, establishing a dynamic environment that promotes sustainable health initiatives.
KAHER’s dedication to inclusivity and equity is embedded in its curriculum, which prioritizes cultural competency and empathy in healthcare. By integrating community-
oriented learning experiences, the institution equips students to address health disparities and enhance outcomes in under-served regions.
KAHER aims to serve as a hub for knowledge exchange, offering training programs and
workshops designed to empower health professionals across India, including faculty
and student exchange initiatives. By emphasizing continuous improvement and adapting to the evolving healthcare landscape, KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research aspires to set a standard for excellence in medical education, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more equitable society.

UFPE's Vision for Becoming a TUFH Center of Excellence in Brazil

The Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) envisions becoming a TUFH Center of Excellence by advancing innovative, community-oriented medical education that aligns with the needs of Brazil’s healthcare system. As a leading academic institution in Latin America, UFPE is committed to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting social accountability, and addressing the healthcare challenges of vulnerable populations. Through partnerships with international organizations such as TUFH, UFPE aims to empower healthcare professionals with the competencies required for effective, culturally sensitive service delivery within the Unified Health System (SUS). The Center will serve as a hub for transformative education, research, and policy development that emphasizes the integration of health equity, interprofessional education and collaborative practice, intercultural competence, and social justice in healthcare practice.

CCA's Vision for Becoming a TUFH Center of Excellence in the USA

Convenient Care Association (CCA) is the national trade association of companies and healthcare systems that provide consumers with accessible, affordable, quality healthcare in retail-based locations.

It has become TUFH Center of Excellence in the U.S.A to actively drive national policy, support capacity building, offer technical guidance, and enhance information dissemination within the healthcare industry.

As a Center of Excellence, CCA’s primary focus will be to drive Health Profession Education Institutions and Health Delivery Systems to become more Socially Accountable, which is defined as being responsible to people and society’s needs in the training and preparation of the healthcare workforce. Its secondary focus is to guide policymakers and the public in understanding how to achieve improved affordability, access, and quality in healthcare.

TUFH's Vision for Becoming the TUFH Francophone Center of Excellence

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TUFH Francophone aspire à devenir un Centre d’Excellence de premier plan, unissant les pays francophones grâce aux outils et ressources transformateurs de The Network: TUFH. En favorisant la collaboration, l’innovation et le renforcement des capacités à travers les nations francophones, nous visons à faire progresser la recherche, à informer les orientations mondiales et à apporter des solutions impactantes dans les domaines techniques d’expertise de TUFH. Notre engagement est de renforcer les systèmes de santé régionaux et nationaux, de promouvoir un accès équitable au savoir et d’autonomiser les communautés en diffusant des informations et en fournissant des conseils techniques. Ensemble, nous construirons un réseau francophone connecté et résilient qui défend l’équité en santé et le développement durable.

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TUFH Francophone envisions becoming a premier Center of Excellence, uniting French-speaking countries through the transformative tools and resources of The Network: TUFH. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and capacity building across Francophone nations, we aim to advance research, inform global guidance, and drive impactful solutions in TUFH’s technical areas of expertise. Our commitment is to strengthen regional and national health systems, promote equitable access to knowledge, and empower communities by disseminating information and providing technical advice. Together, we will build a connected and resilient Francophone network that champions health equity and sustainable development.

Prof. (Dr.) Nitin Gangane, Executive Director, TUFH Center of Excellence in South India

Prof. (Dr.) Nitin M. Gangane is a Pathologist with an MBBS (1983), M.D. in Pathology (1987), DNB in Pathology, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Hospital and Health Management. He holds a PhD in Medical Sciences, specializing in Epidemiology and Public Health from the University of Umea, Sweden. Starting his career as a Research Officer and Lecturer at MGIMS, Sevagram in 1985, he has served in various roles, including Dean, Professor & HOD at MGIMS, Sevagram, and Pro Vice-Chancellor at Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, over the past 37 years.. Dr. Gangane, as Dean, helped establish the Genetics & Genomics and Research Wing at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Maharashtra. He became Vice-Chancellor of KLE Academy of Higher Education and Research, Belagavi, on January 16, 2023. He has previously served on the Senate of MUHS, Nashik, and as president of the Maharashtra State Chapter of the Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists. He is a member of the ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research’s Scientific Advisory Committee. He has led and co-investigated several research projects funded by international bodies like IARC, WHO, UICC, NIH, and national agencies such as ICMR, UGC, and DST.He is a recipient of prestigious fellowships, including Fellow of the National Academy of Medical Sciences, International Union Against Cancer, and Indian College of Pathologists. He has worked at the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France, and at the NIH and NCI in Bethesda, USA.Prof. Gangane has published over 180 research papers, authored/co-authored books and chapters, presented scientific papers, and led clinical projects. He has received research grants and guided more than 25 postgraduate students and 6 Ph.D. scholars.

Fernando Antonio Menezes Da Silva, Executive Director, TUFH Center of Excellence in Brazil

Fernando Menezes da Silva, MD, PhD Executive Director of TUFH Brazil, Professor of Surgery at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), and Coordinator of the Research Chamber at UFPE’s Medical Sciences Center. He leads the Strategic Study Group on Health Equity Education and the Interculturality in Health Education Project in partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Health. A specialist in Oncological Surgery with a PhD in Surgery from the University of Dundee, he has extensive experience in medical education, public policy, and workforce planning. Served as dean of the medical school, rector of the Federal University of Roraima, and chief of the human resources department for the health unit at WHO/PAHO. His focus includes social accountability, curriculum innovation, equity in health, and quality assurance in health professions education.

Mike Clark, MPA, Executive Director, TUFH Center of Excellence in USA

Mike serves as the Policy Director for the Convenient Care Association, the international trade association of companies and healthcare systems that provide consumers with accessible, affordable, quality healthcare in retail-based locations. He also serves as Policy Director for the Reference Based Healthcare Association, a newly formed national trade organization of firms deploying innovative tools to reduce healthcare-related cost burdens for employers and consumers alike. Mike holds a Policy Fellowship at Woods Services, a Pennsylvania and New Jersey-based non-profit population health network and advocacy organization that along with its affiliate organizations provides life-long innovative, comprehensive and integrated health, education, housing, workforce, behavioral health and case management services to more than 22,000 children and adults in the intellectual and developmental disability, child welfare, behavioral and brain trauma public health sectors who have complex and intensive medical and behavioral healthcare needs.

Mike serves as Principal in Social Innovations Partners, a consulting firm specializing in collective impact, social entrepreneurship, and design thinking. Mike also has several consulting and advisory roles with international and domestic impact investing funds, human service non-profit agencies, and K-12 schools.

Mike holds an MPA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Fels Institute of Government and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Scranton’s Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program.

Aricia De Kempeneer, Executive Director, TUFH Francophone Center of Excellence

Aricia De Kempeneer, M. Sc., is the Operations and Programming Director for The Network: Towards Unity For Health. She is responsible for managing the annual conferences, virtual regional conferences, TUFH Symposiums and Workshops, TUFH Academies, ISAT, iSTEP, Digital Aspects, Social Media, Newsletter, Communications and Membership. In addition, Aricia is the liaison to the Student Network Organization.

Aricia holds a Masters in Health Education and Promotion from Ghent University and a Bachelor in Midwifery from Erasmus Hogeschool. She works as an independent midwife in Belgium and gives prenatal lessons, prenatal care, and postnatal follow-up.
Prior to The Network: TUFH Aricia worked as a midwife in Gambia, Finland, United Kingdom, and Belgium in low-risk birthing units. She co-founded and was the first president of the Student Network Organization in 2015. She has been attending TUFH annual conferences since 2012.

TUFH Indonesia

FK-KMK UGM Vision for Becoming a TUFH Center of Excellence in Indonesia

The Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing Universitas Gadjah Mada (FK-KMK UGM), Indonesia has long history collaboration with TUFH through participation in every TUFH’s conferences since 1989. UGM had also experiences in hosted TUFH International conference; 1). In 1990 FKKMK UGM hosted TUFH International Conference on PBL, 2). In 2021, FKKMK UGM hosted TUFH Conference (full online due to Covid-19). On June 2021 we signed an MoU with TUFH for International Student Training and Exchange Program (iSTEP), a program that creates opportunities for students to gain international classroom exposure and multicultural collaboration. Our successful collaboration overtime has led TUFH to offer FK-KMK UGM’s Department of Medical Education and Bioethics (DPKB) the responsibility to run the TUFH Center of Excellence (CEs) in 2024. This will involve launching several development programs aligned with TUFH’s vision. The Center of Excellence will extend TUFH’s impact in specific technical areas as outlined in the Terms of Reference and Work Plan. DPKB is committed to enhancing the quality of medical and health profession education regionally, nationally, and internationally.

VISION: To be a Centre of Excellence in Social Accountability and Interprofessional Education in South East Asia that motivate health profession education institutions to be socially accountable in improving the population health status through applying collaborative practices.

MISSION: 1) Lead a cross sector Social Accountability across multiple organizations (10+) in partnership with Government; 2) Build the collective leadership for the adoption and implementation of Social Accountability and Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care Standards; 3) Provide the Tool Boxes to improve upon the healthcare provided to Indigenous, Migrant and Refugee, Remote and Rural, Women, Elderly, and I/DD, Autism, and other complex care populations.

Mora Claramita, Executive Director, TUFH Center of Excellence in Indonesia

Mora Claramita, MD., MHPE., Ph.D, Professor in Medical Education and Bioethics, and an active general practice/ GP, graduated from Maastricth University, The Netherlands, Masters of Health Professions Education (MHPE) –STUNED Grantee, 2002-2005, PhD in Medical Education, 2012 (NPT Project, U to U Grantee. Currently she is Head of Department Medical, Health Professions Education and Bioethics (1stapp.) Department Family and Community Medicine (2nd app.) During her career she got some awards Lyn Clearihan Award 2019, The Best Lecturer Award – 2017 Awarded by the Faculty of Medicine Universitas Gadjah Mada, Australia Fellowship Awards – 2016 and Fulbright Senior Scholar Award – 2014. Mora is also active as a Project Coordinator for some projects and the author of books related to HPE and primary care physicians. She is now the chair of the Indonesian Collegium of Health Professions Education (I AM HPE)

TUFH Oman

National University of Science and Technology Vision for Becoming a TUFH Center of Excellence in Oman

The TUFH-Oman Collaborating Center of Excellence envisions a future where health professions education is anchored in social accountability, and interprofessional collaboration is integrated into practice. We aspire to ensure that all communities across Oman and beyond have equitable access to high-quality healthcare.

Our mission is to empower health professionals through innovative, context-sensitive training and advocacy, cultivating a resilient healthcare workforce that effectively addresses societal needs, aligns with national priorities, and contributes to advancing global health outcomes.

Prof Al Shafaee, Executive Director, TUFH Center of Excellence in Oman

Prof Al Shafaee is the Dean of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (COMHS), at the National University of Science and Technology from August 2019 to date. He was the Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs and Community Service at COMHS since August 2014.

Prof Mohammed Al Shafaee graduated from the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University with an MD in 1993. After completing a 4-year residency program in Family and Community Medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in 1998, he received membership in the Royal College of General Practitioners – London (MRCGPI) in 2003. Subsequently, he earned his PhD in Health System Management and Public Health from the University of Hull, United Kingdom in 2001. He also holds a professional diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the University of Liverpool, UK (1996).

Before joining the National University, he worked at the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University for 21 years, where he assumed multiple leadership positions. He chaired the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health from 2006 to 2014. He also held the position of Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs from 2004 to 2006.

Prof Al Shafaee was the first professor of Family Medicine in Oman. He contributed greatly to the establishment and development of Family Medicine in Oman and this region. In 2011, he was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Royal College of General Practitioners, London at a ceremony held at the British Embassy in Muscat recognising his exceptional contribution to family medicine and primary health care at the national and international levels.

Prof Al Shafaee has a prominent role in the advancement of medical education in the Sultanate through his outstanding contributions to curriculum design and implementation specifically in the field of family medicine. For almost 10 years, he was the representative of Oman in the Arab Board of Medical Specialties; a specialty of family medicine. Prof Al Shafaee served as an external examiner for the Kuwaiti and Egyptian boards of family medicine.

Internationally, Prof Al Shafaee served as a focal point for the membership exams of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Oman and the region (2007-2014). He is a member of the International Organization of Family Physicians, WONCA, and a founding member ofthe WONCA branch in the Middle East, where he serves on the Executive Council. He also served as an external examiner for the Arab board in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and KSA

Prof Al Shafaee has published more than 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He supervised many Master’s and PhD students during his tenure at Sultan Qaboos University. His research had an impact on the Omani society and has positively influenced health outcomes.

Prof Al Shafaee is a member of the Board of Trustees of Oman Medical Specialty Board. He was also a member of the Executive Council of the Sohar Healthy City Project, Chairman of the Lifestyles Committee until 2011, and a member of the Sohar Development Committee and Head of its Projects Committee (2007-10). Prof Al Shafaee has participated in a large number of international conferences around the world. He was actively involved in the chairing and organizing of many regional and international conferences. In addition, he received invitations from the WHO and Arab organizations to participate in various seminars and workshops.

TUFH Oman

National University of Science and Technology Vision for Becoming a TUFH Center of Excellence in Oman

Dr. Ciraj Ali Mohammed, Executive Director, TUFH Center of Excellence in Oman

Dr. Ciraj Ali Mohammed is the Head, Medical Education and Professor of Microbiology at College of Medicine and Health Sciences, National University of Science and Technology, Sultanate of Oman. He is the founding Director of the MAHE-FAIMER fellowship programme that focuses on leadership in interprofessional education organised in collaboration with Foundation for advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER), Philadelphia, and a faculty of the International FAIMER Institute (IFI), Philadelphia. He is a recipient of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) – Early Career Award (2006), Honourable Mention Award (2010), UNESCO Award for International Educators (2011) and Outstanding Mentor Award (2012).

Prof. Ciraj is a Fulbright visiting scholar at the Department of Molecular Biology and Infectious Diseases, Florida International University, Miami, and a recipient of the International Fellowship in Medical Education (IFME). He is also the Social Accountability fellow of the network: TUFH. Dr. Ciraj has authored articles and chapters in medical education and medical microbiology and served on the editorial board of many journals. For the innovative student-centered pedagogic approaches in medical education, he was awarded the “Good Teacher Award”, eight times. He has served as the Secretary of the Academy of Health Professions Educators, India, the Chair of IndiPEN, (the Indian interprofessional education network), and a member of the Global confederation for interprofessional education and collaborative practice. Dr Ciraj is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Network – Towards Unity for Health (TUFH).