The Social Accountability Fellowship is a collaboration to advance Impact, Accreditation, and Leadership by The Network: TUFH and NOSM University.
The goal of this fellowship is to design and implement social accountability principles and standards in your institution to better respond to the priority health needs of your societies, communities, and contexts.
Please contact Ghislaine Attema, Social Accountability Coordinator, TUFH / NOSM University at GhislaineAttema@thenetworktufh.org
Ana Carolina Sepúlveda Vildósola
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)
Ana Carolina Sepúlveda Vildósola (b. May 7, 1968, Mexico City) is a surgeon, pediatrician, and expert in medical education with master’s and doctoral degrees from UNAM, all with honors. She is Dean and a full-time Professor C at the UNAM School of Medicine, Vicepresident of the National Academy of Medicine of Mexico, and Editor-in-Chief of Gaceta Médica de México. With 21 years of experience in education and research management, she has held leadership roles at IMSS and participated in over 130 academic courses and 81 conferences. She has mentored 39 theses and continues to tutor graduate students. Dr. Sepúlveda has contributed to numerous committees in medical education and research and received prestigious awards, including the Alfonso Caso Medal. Author of 20 book chapters and 56 articles, her work focuses on pediatrics, health education, and bioethics, establishing her as a leading figure in Mexican medicine.
- Melissa Islas Upegui
Mariano Granero
Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
Mariano Granero is a family doctor at the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, where he coordinates the Community-Oriented Primary Care program. He is an educator and researcher, actively contributing to the academic and healthcare fields. He also serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Policy Advocacy Working Party of WONCA (World organization of Family Medicine) and the coordinator of the Rural Medicine Group of CIMF (Iberoamerican Confederation of Family Medicine).
- Eduardo Durante Universidad Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires
Nousheena Firfirey-Brijlal
Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness
Dr Nousheena Firfirey serves as a Deputy Director in the Service Priorities Coordination Directorate at the Department of Health and Wellness. In this role, she focuses on the Late Life Course (ages 25+), overseeing critical health programs that include HIV, TB, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Disability and Rehabilitation, Community-based Services, Non-communicable Diseases, and Palliative Care. With over 19 years of experience in the public health sector, Dr Firfirey is a dedicated Public Health Policy Specialist, passionate about advancing health equity and improving community health outcomes. Her expertise lies in navigating the complexities of health policy and driving meaningful change through strategic action. She also holds a PhD in Occupational Therapy, specializing in client-centered interventions for adults with drug-resistant tuberculosis. Her commitment to public health is rooted in innovation and collaboration, striving to create opportunities for all individuals to lead healthier lives, irrespective of their background or circumstances.
- Akhona Nkwanyana The IIEs Varsity College
- Anneline Janse Van Rensburg Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness
- Cindy Melanie Christian The IIEs Varsity College
Akhona Nkwanyana
Miss Akhona Nkwanyana is the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Humanities at the Independent Institute of Education’s Varsity College (IIE VC), based at the Cape Town National office. She has been in the higher education space for the past 4 years, and in research since 2016. Her training and registration are as a Research Psychologist. She is currently completing her PhD, part-time, at the University of the Western Cape, that is seeking to explore the relationship between mental health, diet intake and food insecurity among high school adolescents in South Africa. Some of her research interests also include adolescent substance use and abuse, instrument development and validation, health, data and technology, and programme monitoring and evaluation.
- Cindy Melanie Christian The IIEs Varsity College
Lorraine Oriokot
Makerere University School of Medicine
Lorraine Oriokot is a lecturer at Makerere University School of Medicine, Kampala, Uganda with five years experience in medical education. As a lecturer and paediatrician, Lorraine is passionate about social accountability and improving individual and community health and outcomes. She recently completed her PhD exploring the implementation of social accountability in undergraduate medical education. Lorraine hopes to make a meaningful impact on medical education and healthcare through quality, effective and equitable means.
- Margaret Lubwama Makerere University School of Medicine
- Annettee Nakimuli Makerere University School of Medicine
Godwin Aja
Association for Public Health Teaching, Research and Service
Godwin N. Aja, DrPH, is a distinguished Professor of Health Promotion and Community Health with three decades of expertise in public health education, research, and community service. With a career spanning 30 years, he has made significant contributions to advancing public health, holding leadership roles on the boards of numerous national and international organizations. Prof. Aja currently serves as the President of the Association for Public Health Teaching, Research, and Service (APHTReS). He also previously represented the African region on the Executive Board of The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH), further demonstrating his global impact on public health initiatives.
- Bernadine Ekpenyong Association for Public Health Teaching, Research and Service
- Antor Ndep Association for Public Health Teaching, Research and Service
- Obadina Abosede Association for Public Health Teaching, Research and Service
- Esther Umahi Association for Public Health Teaching, Research and Service
Maha Emad Ibrahim
Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University
Dr. Maha Ibrahim works as an assistant professor of physical medicine and Rheumatology at the faculty of medicine, Suez Canal University. She is also the deputy director of the center of research and development (CRD) which has a long history of collaboration with the World Health Organization. She holds a Diploma in Health Professionals Education and has experience in training health professionals on management and leadership skills.
- Ranya Moustafa Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University
- Shrouk Mohamed Ali Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University
- Shaimaa Ahmed Ali Shehata Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University
- Hadeer Adel Mohammed Mahmoud Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University
Durria Mansour Elhussein
Associate professor of Parasitology with over three decades of academic, research and administrative experience. She currently serves as Director of Research and Grant Unit at Ahfad University for Women. Dr.Durria holds a PhD in Zoology, (Parasitology) . Her expertise spans visceral leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, toxoplasmosis and gastrointestinal parasitic infections. She has led multiple research projects funded by WHO TDR/EMRO, Ministry of Higher Education in Sudan with more than 20 published articles in peer review journals. Dr.Durria was Ex dean of the School of Health Sciences at Ahfad University, Director of Ahfad Biomedical Research Laboratory and coordinator of the Department of Laboratory Sciences at Al-Jouf University in KSA. Dr. Durria is a recognized mentor as she supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students. She is a member of several high academic committees in her institution including the academic council, Postgraduate studies committee, Ahfad University Research committee and the Ahfad university quality assurance steering committee. She is committed to advancing global health, gender equality and promoting ethical research standards in health sciences.
- Omeima Salih Mohammed Salih Ahfad University for Women
- Sara Isam Ahfad University for Women
Roopa Rawat
WHO Collaborating Centre for Emergency & Trauma Care
Roopa is a highly experienced public health nurse with 18 years in healthcare, specializing in system building and capacity development. As the Regional Nursing Lead for SEAR at WHO CCET, AIIMS, New Delhi, she focuses on improving emergency and trauma care systems.With expertise in rheumatology nursing, Roopa is India’s first nurse with formal training in this field, holding a Master’s degree from Keele University, UK, along with international training. She has worked across diverse healthcare roles, including education, quality improvement, and research, contributing to both corporate and public health sectors.Roopa also supports national quality initiatives and mentors Community Health Officers, aiming to enhance healthcare at all levels in India.
- Tej Praksh Sinha WHO Collaborating Centre for Emergency & Trauma Care
- Shanvi Yadav WHO Collaborating Centre for Emergency & Trauma Care
Sajaratulnisah Binti Othman
Dr. Sajar Othman is a Professor of Family Medicine at Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia. She formerly headed the Department of Research, Development and Innovation and the Department of Primary Care Medicine at UM Medical Centre. She teaches primary care medicine, family violence, communication, and self-care. Her research spans family violence, adolescent well-being, and healthcare provider well-being. As a research fellow at the UM Ungku Aziz Centre, she contributes to poverty, ageing, and health studies. Active in advocacy, she co-chairs the WONCA Family Violence Special Interest Group, acts as a vice president for the Malaysian Association for Adolescent Health (MAAH) and conducts research for UNICEF on children’s rights in Sabah.
- Choo Wan Yuen Universiti Malaya
- Fadzilah Hanum Mohd Mydin Universiti Malaya
Shambhu Dutta Joshi
Mahabaudha Medical Center
Dr. Joshi serves as a Consultant physician, dermatologist, and public health educator and dedication to enhancing healthcare delivery and access for underserved populations in Nepal.
- Mandeep Joshi
- Dinesh Joshi
- Tilak Ojha
Duaa Mohamed Suliman
Mohamed Bin Rashid School of Government
Duaa Mohamed is a global health activist. She is an interdisciplinary professional whose work convenes at the intersection of health, research, policy and arts. With a master degree in Public Policy (Health) from the Mohamed Bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) in the UAE and a Master in Science in Healthcare Delivery from Arizona State University, she is currently serving as a Research Fellow at MBRSG, Duaa where she contributes to the development of policy briefs, papers, and policy dialogue aligned with the UAE National Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. She is Global Arts in Medicine Fellow from the United Arab Emirate. In 2024, Duaa Mohammed won the first Prize of the Emirate Health Services, Sustainability Award, Youth Category.
- Immanuel Moonesar Mohamed Bin Rashid School of Government
Ana Pholyn A. Balahadia-Mortel
Batangas State University College of Medicine
An Associate Professor at the Batangas State University College of Medicine, she teaches Preventive Medicine and Research among other subjects. She is the current Assistant Director of the university’s Research Integrity and Assurance Unit. She is also the Chair for Community Engagement and Health Research Development in the College of Medicine. She worked as a Medical Officer in a district hospital and was also a staff of a local non-government organization before working in a private tertiary hospital during the pandemic. After exploring the different sectors of the healthcare system, she decided to pursue further studies in Public Health at the University of the Philippines. She has engaged in several research projects on Maternal and Child Health, COVID, and medical devices funded by national and international agencies. She has also served as a consultant to some internationally funded research and projects.
- Dolores V. Viliran Batangas State University College of Medicine
- Mylene M. Monteclaro Batangas State University College of Medicine
- Lia Aileen M. Palileo-Villanueva College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila
Simone Jacquelyn Ross
Simone Ross, PhD, has over 14 years of experience working in health professional education. Simone has held multiple roles at James Cook University in Australia for the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. These include the research coordinator for social accountability, and more recently the coordinator for student professionalism education and leadership skills. Simone has engaged in numerous student development initiatives, including health and wellbeing of MBBS (medical) students. Simone served as a consultant project manager for the Training for Health Equity Network during 2011 to 2019. During COVID and ongoing, Simone was an inaugural national organising committee member for the Australasian Mental Health and Higher Education Collaboration. During Simone’s PhD she created and validated the first Australian Medical Student Leadership Framework for medical students in medical entry professional degrees.
- Karen Carlisle James Cook University
- Sarah Larkins James Cook University
- Karen Johnston James Cook University
