The Duke Center for Policy Impact in Global Health (CPIGH) has partnered with the University Ibadan Medical Students Association (UIMSA), and the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (COMUI) to facilitate mentored research by medical students at COMUI on child health disparities. The project seeks to inject new ideas and inform policy dialogue and decisions about reducing child health disparities in Nigeria while also building the interest and capacity of a new generation of children’s health researchers. The two-year pilot focuses on children’s health disparities in three focus areas:
- Population Health
- Clinical Care
- Child and adolescent mental health
Dr. Taofeeq O. Togunwa
Currently Dr. Togunwa is leading the “Detection of Pneumonia in Children through Chest Radiographs using Artificial Intelligence in a Low-Resource Setting: A Pilot Study” project, which aims to develop an AI model, using transfer learning with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), to detect pneumonia in under-5 children, utilizing chest radiographs from patients in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Dr. Togunwa’s current interests lie in AI in Medicine, Biomedical Informatics, AI in Diagnostic Medical Imaging, and Global Health Technology. As an early-career physician-scientist, Dr. Toguwa is dedicated to developing AI-driven solutions for early diagnosis and healthcare decision support, particularly for low-resource healthcare settings where access to specialized medical care is often limited.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taofeeq-togunwa-2a7690184/
Dr. Abdulhammed Babatunde
Linkedin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdulhammed-babatunde-6b5270125/
David M. Akoki
Mr. Akoki currently serves as the Director of Public Communications with the The Genowise Project, an organization that focuses on research, advocacy and awareness to work towards a society free of sickle cell disease.
Mr. Akoki’s interests lie in medical education and also serves as the current chair for the student association’s committee on curriculum assessment, research and development (COM/CARD). He is currently working with a student team on a number of medical education related topics. Other interests include the nexus of clinical research and quality patient care aimed at ensuring better outcomes for patients with cancers.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-akoki-35ba6a18a/
Abigail Olawumi Oyedokun
Abigail Olawumi Oyedokun is a final-year medical student at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, with over three years of experience in healthcare innovation and social impact. She is one of the winners of the public health track of the UIMSA-DUKE research grant and has been working on innovative research on sickle cell disease. She co-founded The Holistique Drive Initiative, a grant-winning health-tech project promoting all-round well-being in underserved communities, sponsored by the Big Six in partnership with the WHO. She is also a founding member of The GENOWISE Project, a sickle cell disease-focused foundation anchored on a tripartite model of awareness, research, and policy. As a proficient early-career researcher, she is a member of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and has presented at international conferences. Abigail’s professional interests lie at the intersection of clinical medicine, healthcare innovation, and community engagement. She is passionate about improving healthcare access and outcomes for underserved populations. With her medical training, leadership experience, and ongoing projects, she aims to inspire positive change in healthcare delivery and health education, particularly for non-communicable diseases like sickle cell disease, hypertension, and obesity.
Linkedin:
Joshua Simpa Lawal
Professional interests include Global Health, Social Determinants of Health, Health Financing
Linkedin:
Oluwatomisin Esther Agboola
Ms, Agboola is currently working with the team on a project called The Genowise Project, targeted at increasing awareness on Sickle Cell Disease and the importance of genotype testing at reputable labs.
Her research includes knowledge, perception and concerns of Healthcare Providers towards the implementation of HPV vaccine in Nigeria .
Linkedin:
Akande Damilola
Ms. Akande is working with Duke and a team of people on adolescent mental health, the project is called “Enhancing the psychological health through a school-based resilience training program for vulnerable adolescents in Oyó state, Nigeria.”
Ms. Akande is interested in public health, with a focus on issues affecting adolescents and their mental health. Recognizing the unique challenges this demographic faces, she is passionate about creating initiatives that promote mental well-being, reduce stigma, and improve access to care for youths.
Her aspirations include collaborations with local and international organizations on projects that aim to:
- Developing community-based programs to raise awareness about adolescent mental health.
- Implementing school-centered interventions that equip students, teachers, and parents with tools for mental health education and early detection.
- Conducting research on barriers to mental health care access in low-middle-income settings, with the goal of influencing policies and resource allocation.
Ms. Akande hopes to partner with like-minded individuals and organizations to design innovative solutions, advocate for increased investment in adolescent mental health, and contribute to a healthier, more resilient generation.
Linkedin:
Deborah Iyanuoluwa Akinrinde
Linkedin:
Samuel Ayeni
Linkedin: