Africa Fellowship
A two-year Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialty training in Sub-Saharan Africa, designed to deliver multidisciplinary PM&R exposure and a lifelong mentorship to African-trained local physicians. IRF Africa Fellows are the pioneering leaders that go on to raise awareness, establish PM&R programs and transform care systems for persons with disabilities in African countries.
IFR finds and trains local physicians who are leading the way to establish a sustainable and accessible rehabilitation medicine service in their countries. We act as a platform to provide PM&R training and connect them to a rich network of peers and partners around the world.
Curriculum
Fellows accepted to the program will be in training for 2-years. Potential Fellows must be practicing physicians in Sub-Saharan Africa with a passion for learning the specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R).
The program starts with an 8-week "boot camp" which provides an overview of core PM&R principles and begins forming the PM&R lense of viewing patient assessment and care. After the introduction, each month is dedicated to a particular subject.
Curriculum Topics
Rehab Universal Concept
Traumatic Brain Injury
Stroke
Spinal Cord Injury
Musculoskeletal / Sports Medicine
Amputee & Prosthetics / Orthotics
Spine and Pain
Neuromuscular / EMG
Pediatrics
Other Rehab Topics
Research
Practice Management
Training at the IRF will help me care in ways that have never been available before - comprehensive disability prevention and management model for persons with leprosy related disabilities as well as disabilities from other skin NTD
Dr. Benedict Quao | Ankaful Leprosy General Hospital | Ghana
This Fellowship Program is made possible by our generous donors, dedicated partners and volunteers who put their expertise and skills to teach the fellows
Thank you to the generous partners who power the fellowship curriculum for the Africa Fellows.
Meet our fellows
Dr. Maxwell Amo
Hometown: ACCRA, GHANA
Current Organization: KORLE BU TEACHING HOSPITAL
Field Mentor:
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Its an area of medicine I am passionate about and would like to sub-specialize. To be able to help individuals with disabilities from disease conditions or injuries, especially sports injuries improve function.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Musculoskeletal/ Sports rehabilitation, procedural injections and pain management
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to start a Sports, Exercise and Rehabilitation Clinic which will be the first of its kind in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to comprehensively manage individuals and families that require our services. Also, I hope to work with a Sports federation in the near future..
What do you like to do in your free time?: Spending time with my family watching movies and football
Dr. Ernest Anim-Opare
Hometown: ABURI, Ghana
Current Organization: KORLE BU TEACHING HOSPITAL
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: To expand the faculty and meet Ghana's demand for specialists in Sports, Exercise, and Rehabilitation Medicine, more fellows are required. In order to reduce the gap in rehabilitation care, my long-term professional ambition is to establish a one-stop-shop center of excellence for Sports, Exercise, and Rehabilitation in Ghana .This interdisciplinary team will include exercise physiologists, psychologists, sports physicians, nutritionists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, and sports massage therapists. I have begun speaking with the senior family doctors, as well as the other professionals on this multidisciplinary team, including a nutritionist and psychologist, and when I return, they will be just as determined to lead this project.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Sports and Exercise Rehabilitation, pediatric and geriatric rehabilitation
Vision after completing the fellowship: After completing my studies pursuing the physical medicine and rehabilitation fellowship, I will begin training nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and psychologists in order to increase our human resource capacity to provide rehabilitation services at the Korle Bu Polyclinic, and other hospitals as well. I will also share important knowledge with the technical directorate of the Ghana Football Association in order to advance sports science in Ghana. I will also more organize seminars to pass on knowledge gathered from my physical medicine and rehabilitation fellowship.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Reading current affairs and watching football matches
Dr. Donavan Clarke
Hometown: Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Current Organization: Nurture Aurora Hospital
Field Mentor: Dr. Marius Wasserfall
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Having previously worked as a medical officer, the rehabilitation setting seemed to be on the opposite side of the medical care spectrum. Fast forward to my now 7 years of experience in the rehabilitation medicine field. I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey in the field from day one. Unfortunately, undergraduate exposure to the field of rehabilitation medicine is basically non-existent which overflows to limitations in the availability of resources and guidance compared to other subspecialities of medicine. Also, rehabilitation medicine is not recognized as a formal field of specialty despite the growing need for such a service and the proven benefit provided to a wide range of patient groups and their loved ones.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Orthopaedic rehabilitation. Stroke rehabilitation. Spinal cord injuries. Use of botulinum toxin for spasticity.
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to continue expanding my knowledge and expertise to provide a medical service that is evidence based and up to date..
What do you like to do in your free time?: Spending time with my wonderful family. Running. Mountain biking.
Dr. Lionel de Gouveia
Hometown: Ballito, Kwazulu Natal Province, South Africa
Current Organization: Nurture Ilembe Hospital
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I am interested in the body-brain-mind connection. Rehabilitation medicine is about more than medication.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Stroke, complex medical, acute-rehab
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to improve the level of care provided in my rehabilitation setting, set-up an OPD/follow up clinic.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Running, reading, yoga.
Dr. Irshaad Hayat
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Current Organization: Newlands Nurture Hospital
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: A special entity that is very broad and so much more uncovering that needs to still unfold
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Orthopaedic and sports
Vision after completing the fellowship: To travel and expand my knowledge to my Rehabilitation team and others
What do you like to do in your free time?: Sports!
Dr. Rhonda-Leigh Naidoo
Hometown: Durban, South Africa
Current Organization: Life Entabeni Rehabilitation
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Rehabilitation medicine is a unique field of medicine which I find can be quite challenging, but very rewarding. To be able to help those vulnerable individuals who are often overlooked in society and provide them specialized care tailored to their specific needs.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Stroke rehabilitation and spinal cord injury
Vision after completing the fellowship: To use the experience and knowledge gained in this program to be able to educate others, provide specialized outreach programs, expand networks and develop a highly skilled team who are able to produce better patient outcomes.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Play with my kids and take them on 'adventures'
Dr. Vaishali Padayachy
Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa
Current Organization: Tshwane Rehabilitation Hospital
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Rehabilitation medicine aims improves quality of life no matter what the underlying condition. .
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Pediatric, Cancer and Neuro Rehabilitation
Vision after completing the fellowship: To improve the quality of care for patients at grass-root level, promote rehabilitation in the medical school syllabus and promote rehabilitative palliative care.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Spend quality family time
Dr. Nicci Snyders
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Current Organization: Faircape Tokai
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Giving people facing challenges hope and quality of life, interdisciplinary team approach where each member is vital and acknowledged.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Neuro-rehab, spinal cord injuries.
Vision after completing the fellowship: Integrating best, evidence-based rehabilitation methods/approaches into our rehabilitation center.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Hiking, reading, playing with my toddler.
Dr. Ché Venter
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Current Organization: Life Vincent Pallotti Rehabilitation Unit
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: It is an unexplored and undervalued field of medicine in South Africa and Africa at large. I enjoy working in a team and troubleshooting together and learning from one another. It is also a vast field of medicine requiring you to know a lot about a lot.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Neurological
Vision after completing the fellowship: Pioneer getting the College of Medicine to recognize us as specialists.
Encourage teaching on the management of spinal cord injuries at medical school.
Encourage medical students to work along side allied health care practitioners to properly understand their role within a rehabilitation team.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Trail run, hike, cook, host, dance
Dr. Sfiso Mthimunye
TBD
Dr. Janine Botha
Hometown: Arcadia, Pretoria, South Africa
Current Organization: Rehab@Muelmed
Field Mentor:
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I enjoy working within a team looking for creative options to optimise the function and independence of my patients. Rehabilitation Medicine gives me the opportunity to address my patient's needs in an comprehensive manner.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Wheelchair seating Children
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to serve my patients with empathy and skills that are evidence based.
What do you like to do in your free time?: I am a keen gardener, that also enjoys crochet and paper crafts.
Dr. Anrie Carstens
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Current Organization: Private Practice
Field Mentor: Dr. Chris Profyris
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I enjoy improving the quality of life of all my patients and I believe in a multidisciplinary approach.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Spinal cord injury, pain, palliative care, pasticity management
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to To feel more confident in managing my rehabilitation patients.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Playing with my baby boy, watching series on TV and baking sweet things.
Dr. Dale Cilliers
Hometown: Durbanville, South Africa
Current Organization: Nurture Health (Cape View Hospital)
Field Mentor: Dr. Marius Wasserfall
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I am interested in the care of the elderly - and the current South African model of private rehabilitation includes predominantly elderly care..
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Geriatrics, Cardiology
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to Continued service to the geriatric cohort of patients within the rehabilitation setting.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Playing acoustic guitar and singing; Road cycling.
Dr. Samantha Du Preez
Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa
Current Organization: Life Eugene Marais hospital
Field Mentor: Dr Hilgaard Visser
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: The field of rehabilitation medicine is a fascinating field because it encompasses literally all specialisation fields in medicine which makes it wonderfully interesting and captivating. Secondly it is such a priviledge to be part of a field where you are included in a multidisciplinary team and to witness how each team member's work in conjunction leads to amazing improvement in a patient's progress regarding physical, cognitive and emotional aspects..
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Spasticity management
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to be more equiped to manage patients needing rehabilitation in an expert way. I am excited to learn and expand my knowledge as well as practical skills. I am also planning to share and teach what I have learned. It is so important to plough back your experties and lead physicians and team members of the future. It will be wonderful if the field of rehabilitation medicine can become a speciality in South Africa and hopefully this fellowship will help us on that road.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Reading, spending time in nature to clear my head and soul, fishing bass and trout with my partner, lunches with my friends, spending quality time with our 5 cats!
Dr. Mekonnen Gizachew
Hometown: Addis ababa, Ethiopia
Current Organization: St Paul Hospital and Mellinium Medical college
Field Mentor:
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Interested in patients who are in need of genuine help and who are unable to support them selves.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Palliative Care
Vision after completing the fellowship: To establish the best rehabilitation center in my country.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Swimming and playing table tennis.
Dr. Mario Greyling
Hometown: Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
Current Organization: Clayton Care Group
Field Mentor: Dr. Beyers Oosthuizen
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Interested in the neglected area in healthcare value chain that can add tremendous value to patients quality of life!.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Palliative Care and Pain management
Vision after completing the fellowship: To continue to convince Funders to fund Palliative Care.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Mountain Bike.
Dr. Bibi Fatima Hayat
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Current Organization: Private practice
Field Mentor: Prof M Haffejee/ Prof A Mochan
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: It gives me great satisfaction to see patients recovery from initial injury/ incident to recovery, even though it may be to a small degree.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Stroke/ TBI/ Medical conditions
Vision after completing the fellowship: To be more effective in the work that I have already been doing for the last 20 years.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Spend time with family
Dr. Aneesa Khan
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
Current Organization: Private Practice
Field Mentor: Dr Jennings
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I have been working in the field of rehabilitation since 2015.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Spinal injuries; musculoskeletal injuries.
Vision after completing the fellowship: I would like to improve my personal practice, provide solutions within the rehabilitation facility that I work and promote the further development of rehabilitation medicine in South Africa..
What do you like to do in your free time?: I go hiking in the countryside with my husband and spend time with my family.
Dr. Krzysztof Mon
Hometown: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Current Organization: Private Practice
Field Mentor: Prof Mohamed Haffajee
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I've been working in this field for 22 yrs.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Traumatic brain injury , neuroplasticity
Vision after completing the fellowship: Contribution to development of Rehabilitation medicine in South Africa.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Collecting of art. jogging .
Dr. Andries Johannes Nel
Hometown: Bloemfontein, South Africa
Current Organization: Nurture Hillandale Hospital
Field Mentor: Drs. Bester and Bosch
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I have always strived to expand my knowledge base and experience in all fields of medicine but found my passion in rehabilitation. Over the last 7 years, I have nurtured a love for the specific patient profile, their complexity, pathology and the IDT (Interdisciplinary team).
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Geriatrics and Non-Traumatic brain injuries
Vision after completing the fellowship: One of my long-term goals would be to establish a formalized training program for future doctors in this field.
What do you like to do in your free time?: I have diverse interests but currently divide my free time between my 2 year old son and spouse. .
Dr. Ernst Scriba
Hometown: Cape Town, South Africa
Current Organization: Private practice
Field Mentor: Dr. Johan Davis
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I have been working in this field for 25 years.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Spinal cord afflictions.
Vision after completing the fellowship: To be better qualified and improve my contribution to this field.
What do you like to do in your free time?: Cycling, hiking, chess, travel and swim in the ocean.
Dr. Francois Theron
Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa
Current Organization: Private practice
Field Mentor: N/A
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I have a passion to establish PM&R as a discipline in South-Africa and in so doing improve the lives of all our patients particularly those living with a Spina Cord Injury
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: SCI/SCA
Vision after completing the fellowship: I would like to pursue a more academic career in PM&R and develop the field in SA and Africa as a whole
What do you like to do in your free time?: Golf, Box, reading , carpentry and traveling.
Dr. Andries Visser
Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa
Current Organization: Intercare
Field Mentor: Dr Mensah
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: I have a passion to to improve my knowledge
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: Neuro and spinal rehab.
Vision after completing the fellowship: I would like to be a rehab consultant
What do you like to do in your free time?: Watching sports, fishing.
Dr. Leslie Wheatley Ajavon
Hometown: Keta, Volta Region, Ghana
Current Organization: 37 Military Hospital, Ghana
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine:
My interest in rehabilitation medicine stems from my days as a university track & field athlete and soccer player. I realized very early the importance of rehabilitation when I sustained some knee injuries.
In more recent years I have observed the paucity of well-trained rehabilitation specialists to coordinate the care of post-stroke patients, patients with spinal cord injuries, other neurological and musculoskeletal injuries, and sports injuries requiring rehabilitation to improve their function. The program will equip me to fill the gap.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?:
- Sports Rehabilitation
- Neuromuscular rehabilitation
- Spinal cord injuries & Post-stroke rehabilitation
Vision after completing the fellowship:
I am hoping to initiate a more deliberate team-based approach to rehabilitation in my hospital and in Ghana.
I also hope to collaborate with other rehabilitation experts to improve rehabilitation programs post sports injuries.
Last but not least to serve as an advocate to champion good policies to improve rehabilitation services in Ghana and beyond.
What do you like to do in your free time?:
I enjoy playing badminton, watching soccer, and track & field events. I also enjoy listening to current affairs programs
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Dr. Kennedy Korankye
Hometown:
Current Organization:
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine:
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine:
Vision after completing the fellowship:
What do you like to do in your free time?
Dr. Benedict Okoe Quao
Hometown: La, Accra
Current Organization: Ghana Health Service
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: My interest in rehabilitation medicine draws from my several years of working with persons affected by leprosy, many of whom may have developed permanent deformities and/or disabilities, for which reason they needed some form of medical rehabilitation. Training in rehabilitation medicine will enable me to provide the best care needed by such persons suffering from some form of limitation in function - not just leprosy, but extending to other neglected tropical diseases, and indeed all diseases, as my base specialization is in family medicine.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine?: The whole spectrum of neuro-rehabilitation - not just peripheral neuropathies, but also including post-stroke, post-SCI, and neurodevelopmental care - and including Electro-conduction studies.
Vision after completing the fellowship: As part of this fellowship program, I will be pioneering the team-based approach of Physiatry within the Public Health space Ghana as I head a District Hospital which also serves as the National Leprosy Referral Hospital. This model, I expect to be replicated across the country, and even beyond within the West-African Sub-region. Together with the other fore-runner fellow in Ghana, I hope to bring out the mainstreaming of rehabilitation care into the standard care package available within the country.
What do you like to do in your free time?: I like writing - poems, sermons, etc. But what I enjoy most is spending time with my family - my wife and 3 lovely kids.
Dr. Sinforian Kambou
Hometown: Cameroon
Current Organization: Saint Cecile Clinic
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: Rehabilitation medicine is a passion for me since six years. It is a medical specialty strongly oriented toward patient, his family, caregivers and environment with a strong multidisciplinary approach. With rehabilitation, we bring in a special way hope to the patient and his family. This is why i am really interested in this.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine? My fields of interest are: neurological rehabilitation, hand rehabilitation, cerebral palsy, community based rehabilitation, rehabilitation policy and advocacy.
Vision after completing the fellowship: My vision is to become a leader in the fields of rehabilitation in Cameroon and improve this specialty in the country. I would like to use all the knowledge I have learned during the training to improve my clinical practice and bring my expertise to other rehabilitation professionals
What do you like to do in your free time? My favorite hobbies are music (playing piano), tourist trips and reading.
Dr. Sena Dhugasa Teso
Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Current Organization: Saint Paulo’s Hospital Millennium medical College
Why are you interested in the field of rehabilitation medicine: It is my pleasure to see people become independent and lead their life after they have got disabilities.
Do you have a specific area of interest in rehab medicine: palliative care rehabilitation
Vision after completing the fellowship: To lead big rehabilitation centre in Ethiopia
What do you like to do in your free time? To read Bible
TBA