A Collaborative Victory: KNUST-U of T Win Big at the 2024 Family Medicine Forum in Vancouver

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Health Employment

Network Learning & Development

The Africa Health Collaborative (Health Collaborative) is celebrating a major win at the Big Ideas Soapbox competition held during the 2024 Family Medicine Forum (FMF)  in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Princess Acheampong of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Dr. Jennifer Wilson of the University of Toronto (U of T) took home the top prize for their innovative idea and presentation on “Equity-Focused Global Health Partnerships Can Transform Health Systems.”

This prestigious recognition came after a rigorous selection process where their idea stood out among over 200 submissions from across Canada. During the final round, the team presented their vision in a concise 3-minute pitch and skillfully answered audience questions. Competing against innovative concepts in indigenous knowledge, digital health, and prescription refill systems, their idea captured an astounding 46% of the audience vote.

This success highlights the power of collaboration between the Health Collaborative partners; KNUST and U of T’s Department of Family and Community Medicine (DFCM). Through their joint efforts, this pitch embodied the transformative potential of equity-driven global health partnerships, emphasizing co-creation, mutual respect, and shared ownership as core principles.

Contributors

Dr. Acheampong and Dr. Wilson’s compelling presentation was supported by invaluable contributions from Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, Jamie Rodas, Dr. Katherine Rouleau, Dr. Kofi Akohene Mensah, and Dr. Olivia Wilson, showcasing the collective expertise of the Health Collaborative team. Together, they made a strong case for equity-focused partnerships as a sustainable approach to improving global health systems.

This victory not only celebrates an innovative idea but also reflects the broader scope of impactful work being undertaken by KNUST and U of T under the Africa Health Collaborative.

Currently, the two institutions are collaborating on the third cycle of five short courses designed to enhance the skills of primary care practitioners in Ghana, West Africa.

• Palliative Care
• Pre-Hospital Emergency Care
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Emergency Preparedness & Response to Epidemic-Prone Diseases
• Community Emergency Care

Scenes from the Palliative Care Graduation Ceremony

These courses, co-created and co-delivered by expert teams from both institutions, have reached approximately 200 primary care professionals in Ghana through in-person sessions. They have been met with high participant satisfaction and have garnered significant academic recognition—including this win at FMF 2024, and a publication in the Frontiers in Medicine, Health Professions Education.

This moment is a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the shared commitment to advancing equitable and sustainable health systems. Congratulations to Dr. Acheampong, Dr. Wilson, and the teams at both institutions for this outstanding achievement!

About the Family Medicine Forum and Big Ideas Soapbox

The Family Medicine Forum (FMF) is Canada’s premier annual conference for family physicians, healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, and students. Organized by the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC), it serves as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, professional development, and networking in the field of family medicine.

The Big Ideas Soapbox at Family Medicine Forum (FMF) showcases concepts that could make a difference to clinical practice, faculty development, postgraduate or undergraduate education, patient care and outcomes, or health policy. This session offers a platform for innovators to share fresh ideas, innovative thinking, and fledgling developments with the potential to initiate change. Proposals are selected for presentation at FMF based on reviewers’ scores, and the innovators are invited to the Big Ideas Soapbox session to present and defend their ideas. Audience participation identifies the top proposals.