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News & Events

Photo of Erica Di Ruggiero

Associate Professor of Global Health, Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division, and the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

University of Toronto

Call for Expressions of Interest: Africa Health Collaborative Research Fund 2025

Flag of Mauritius Mauritius Flag of Rwanda Rwanda Flag of South Africa South Africa Flag of Canada Canada Flag of Ghana Ghana Flag of Ethiopia Ethiopia

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Photo of Solomon Makuza

, BSc (Hons); MPH

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Photo of Naomi Teshome Assegied

, MD

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Photo of Shaza Fadel

, PhD

Assistant Professor, Clinical Public Health Division; Faculty Co-Lead, Junior Faculty Development Program

University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Photo of Ashley Aimone

, PhD

Associate Director, Doctor of Public Health Program

University of Toronto, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Office of the Vice-President International

Photo of Lisa Huehner

, M.A.

Marketing & Operations, University of Toronto Mississauga, IMIx Executive Programs

University of Toronto, Institute for Management & Innovation

Innovative Solutions for Healthcare Challenges: Youth-Driven Ventures Transforming Access to Medical Services in Africa

The University of Toronto is pleased to invite you to attend the session of the Health in Africa Series, entitled “Innovative Solutions for Healthcare Challenges: Youth Driven Ventures Transforming Access to Medical Services in Africa". This session will feature Pauline Gethi, founder of DoctorsLive, and Nomboh Evans Kunchu, founder of Moto, who will share their entrepreneurial journeys and showcase youth-led Health Entrepreneurship Ventures.

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Erica Di Ruggiero

Associate Professor of Global Health, Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division, and the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

University of Toronto

Erica Di Ruggiero (she/her), PhD is an Associate Professor of Global Health, Social and Behavioural Health Sciences Division, and the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto.

She is also the Director of the Centre for Global Health and Collaborative Specialization in Global Health and is the inaugural research director for the Sustainable Development Goals at U of T institutional strategic initiative. She leads and is engaged in MCF-funded programs such as the Women in Global Health Leadership Program in close collaboration with partners in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Moi University and UCT. Her program of research draws upon different theories and mixed methods to evaluate the population health, gender and equity impacts of policy and program interventions addressing health and social issues (e.g. precarious work) in diverse global settings. She studies the role of governance in global, national, and sub-national public health and health system policy agendas in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. She teaches courses in global health, global health policy and population health intervention research, and supervises and mentors several graduate and postdoctoral fellows in health and social science disciplines. She is editor in chief for Global Health Promotion. Di Ruggiero holds a PhD in public health sciences from the University of Toronto.

Email Address
e.diruggiero@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Canada
Governance
HEMP Pillar Advisory Commitee
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Solomon Makuza, BSc (Hons); MPH

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

University of Toronto

Solomon Makuza is a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) student at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. He has devoted his career to improving social determinants of health and well-being in under-resourced communities. His career began at AVSI International, where he led a child protection and development project across three refugee camps in Rwanda. There, he established multisectoral mechanisms to protect, respond to, and prevent child abuse.

Following this, he served as Programs Manager at Partners in Health, addressing socioeconomic disparities and improving healthcare and social support for vulnerable communities. Most recently, Solomon served as the Executive Director of Gardens for Health International, an NGO focused on maternal and child nutrition. Under his leadership, thousands of families and children were positively impacted. He built enduring partnerships with both local and global stakeholders and played a pivotal role in shaping national policies, including school feeding programs, community health workers’ nutrition guidelines, and the food and nutrition policy.

With a strong background in community outreach, international development, and health equity, Solomon’s interests include maternal and child health, food and nutrition security, global health, and policy development.

In his free time, Solomon enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching soccer and basketball, and jogging. Originally from Rwanda, he holds a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Health Sciences and a Master’s in Public Health. Upon completing his DrPH program, Solomon aims to use his expertise and platform to advance public health in underserved communities, driven by a strong sense of optimism about his potential impact.

Email Address
s.makuza@mail.utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Scholar
Country
Canada
Program
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
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Naomi Teshome Assegied, MD

Mastercard Foundation Doctoral Scholar

University of Toronto

Dr. Naomi Teshome Assegied is an accomplished medical doctor with almost ten years of experience, most of which has been dedicated to public health. With a solid foundation in medicine, she has a proven track record in health financing, project management, health system strengthening, and strategic planning. Naomi completed her undergraduate studies in medicine from the University of Gondar and her Master’s in Public Health from the Hebrew University. She has also completed a leadership fellowship from the University of Delaware and is a Mandela Washington Fellow under the Young African Leaders Initiative.

Naomi has illustrated her leadership abilities throughout her career, one notable example being her role in spearheading the development of a comprehensive five-year strategic plan for Ethiopia’s emergency, injury, and critical care systems. She has also played a crucial role in preparing and revising over ten national policy documents at the Ministry of Health in Ethiopia during her time as a technical advisor.

In her most recent role as a Country Manager for East Africa at Akros Research, Naomi oversaw the implementation of critical health initiatives in Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan. Her role involved managing local teams, coordinating with member states, and driving innovative solutions to improve health outcomes at the country level. Naomi also served as a Co-Chair of the Standing Committee of Medical Care and a Scientific Committee Member at the Ethiopian Medical Association.

Naomi’s areas of interest include public health leadership, health equity and social determinants of health, emergency preparedness and response, and global health.

Beyond her professional life, Naomi is passionate about exploring new places, learning about diverse cultures, and indulging in the rich variety of global cuisines. She has also been a Sunday school teacher at her local church since she was fifteen years old and deeply values this role.

Email Address
naomi.assegied@mail.utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Scholar
Country
Canada
Program
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
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Shaza Fadel, PhD

Assistant Professor, Clinical Public Health Division; Faculty Co-Lead, Junior Faculty Development Program

University of Toronto

Dr. Shaza Aladien Fadel is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Public Health Division at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Centre for Global Health. At the Centre, she serves as  the Faculty co-lead of the Junior Faculty Development Program co-designed with the Moi University School of Public Health. She is an epidemiologist, immunologist, and public health professional working at the intersection of health service research and vaccine preventable diseases. Her program looks at the impact of vaccination programs across the life-course in improving equitable distribution of benefits to individuals and community-engaged evaluation of interventions that improve vaccine confidence.

Email Address
shaza.fadel@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Canada
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Ashley Aimone, PhD

Associate Director, Doctor of Public Health Program

University of Toronto

Ashley’s background and training include pediatric nutrition, epidemiology, and global health research.  As the Associate Director of the Doctor of Public Health program, Ashley supports the training and mentorship of the Mastercard Foundation-funded scholars from African Health Collaborative partner institutions, as well as teaches applied research methods, and supports program operations and development. In her faculty role, she is the co-lead instructor for a Planetary Health course, in partnership with the School of Public Health, Moi University, Kenya. Her research interests and engagements include planetary health education, and community-based research, particularly at the intersection of climate/environmental change and food systems (including nutrition, food security, and food sovereignty).

Email Address
ashley.aimone@utoronto.ca
Profile Types
Staff
Faculty
Country
Canada
Program
Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
Profile

Lisa Huehner, M.A.

Marketing & Operations, University of Toronto Mississauga, IMIx Executive Programs

University of Toronto

Lisa Huehner is responsible for Marketing & Operations at IMIx Executive Programs, a division of the Institute for Management & Innovation at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

In her current role Lisa manages all marketing activities as well as various professional development certificate programs. One of the programs Lisa is managing is the Certificate of Effective Healthcare Management, which is part of the Health Ecosystems Pillar. 

Before Lisa joined the University of Toronto, she worked for an international software company focusing on creating strategic partnerships and delivering global marketing initiatives. Lisa holds a Master’s degree from the University of Waterloo (Canada) as well as the University of Mannheim (Germany). Throughout her professional life, Lisa has always enjoyed working in a global setting and collaborating with partners from all over the world.

Email Address
imi.executiveprograms@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Canada
Program
IMIx