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News & Events

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 Peter Koskei

, PhD

Programme Lead, Junior Faculty Development Program, Moi University

Moi University

Photo of Dr. Yeukai Mlambo

, PhD

Interim Director of Special Programs Collaboratives

Mastercard Foundation

Photo of Peter Materu

Chief Program Officer

Mastercard Foundation

Apply for the Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarship

How to Apply: Step One Prospective applicants must first consult the admission requirements for the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) program of study. The link above will guide you in exploring this program. If you meet the academic requirements of this program, please follow through to step two. Step Two Review the recording of the […]

Photo of Leila Serwaah Khalid

, MA, PMP

Communications Officer, Africa

University of Toronto, Africa Secretariat

Photo of Elena Rosca

Senior Lecturer and Head, Engineering Department; HEMP Pillar Lead

Ashesi University

Profile

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)
Profile

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)
Profile

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
Profile

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

Peter Koskei, PhD

Programme Lead, Junior Faculty Development Program, Moi University

Moi University

Dr. Koskei is a Lecturer and former Head, Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics at the School of Public Health Moi University, Kenya. He teaches Principles of Epidemiology, Principles of One Health, Research Methods as well as Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Control. Prior to his joining Moi University, He worked for the Rinderpest eradication project in Southern Sudan undertaken by Veterinaires Sans Frontiers – Belgium and funded by FAO. He has also worked as a Veterinary investigation officer and as a field Veterinarian at the ministry of livestock development, Government of Kenya. He is the academic leader for the newly developed Masters of Science in Infectious Diseases and Global Health programme

Currently, Dr. Koskei is the activity lead for the Junior Faculty Development programme under the Mastercard Foundation. He has also been the One Health Central and Eastern Africa (OHCEA) focal person for Moi University, a project that brought together 16 schools (8 Public Health and 8 Veterinary) across eight countries in East, Central and West Africa.

Dr. Koskei is committed to training, mentoring and promoting an inclusive and supportive scientific environment, while providing training in rigorous and unbiased experimental design, methodology, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of results. He is also committed to aiding and supporting trainees in identifying and transitioning into careers in the biomedical research workforce that are consistent with trainee skills, interests, and values.

Profile Type
Staff
Country
Kenya
Profile

Dr. Yeukai Mlambo , PhD

Interim Director of Special Programs Collaboratives

Mastercard Foundation

Dr. Yeukai Mlambo is the Interim Director of Special Programs Collaboratives at the Mastercard Foundation. In her role, she advances multi-stakeholder sectoral programs that leverage a consortia of higher education institutions working collaboratively to address pressing global challenges that impact African youth. Current Collaboratives focus on health, pandemic sciences and climate resilience and sustainability, aimed at strengthening the workforce, entrepreneurship, ecosystems, and knowledge activities and outcomes in and for Africa in these key sectors.  

Yeukai holds a master’s degree in research psychology from the University of Pretoria, and a PhD in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education from Michigan State University. She has worked in the private sector, civil society, and higher education for 15 years where she advanced higher education development, faculty engagement and research, and partnerships for African development. Yeukai continues to publish on issues of higher education transformation, access, and leadership. Yeukai’s work spans multiple thematic areas including a focus on the recruitment, retention, and sustained success of women in higher education; faculty development in sub-Saharan Africa; international student experiences; global north-south higher education partnerships; and leveraging technology to support youth transitions into and beyond higher education. Drawing from her educational and professional experiences in both Africa and North America, Yeukai brings a strategic operational approach to her work to achieve impact.

Pillars
Health Entrepreneurship
Health Employment
Health Ecosystems
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
Profile

Peter Materu

Chief Program Officer

Mastercard Foundation

Peter Materu is currently the Chief Program Officer of the Mastercard
Foundation. In this role, he is responsible for all the Foundation’s
programs globally. Among others, Peter championed the rollout of the
Foundation’s new operating model since 2019, which saw the Foundation set
up its footprint in Africa for the first time.


Peter joined the Mastercard Foundation over seven years ago from the World Bank where he served for seventeen years, including as Practice Manager for Education and Skills Development
in Africa. During his time at the World Bank, Peter made a significant contribution to the Bank’s higher education agenda, notably the Africa Centers of Excellence and the Partnership for Applied
Science, Engineering and Technology initiatives which seek to strengthen higher education institutions as hubs for socio-economic transformation in Africa. Prior to joining the World Bank, Peter served as Professor and Dean of Engineering, and as Director of Graduate Studies at the
University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. Peter holds a doctorate in electrical engineering and master’s degrees in engineering and education.

Pillars
Health Entrepreneurship
Health Employment
Health Ecosystems
Governance
Executive Steering Committee
Profile

Leila Serwaah Khalid , MA, PMP

Communications Officer, Africa

University of Toronto

Leila Serwaah Khalid is a seasoned communications and brand expert with over a decade of experience driving impactful narratives across diverse industries and continents. She has a proven track record of transforming brands into thought leaders, securing high-profile media placements in outlets such as BBC, CNN, Time Magazine, and Reuters.

Leila has excelled at leading dynamic marketing teams and executing successful multimedia campaigns that drive awareness, enhance reputation, and expand customer bases across African and European markets.


Her expertise spans strategic planning, digital marketing, content development, and public relations.


Currently, she serves as Communications Officer for Africa at the University of Toronto, where she spearheads communication strategies for the Africa Health Collaborative, collaborating with 10 institutional partners.


Leila holds a Master’s degree in Communication Studies from the University of Ghana, a certification in Marketing Management from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Bachelor of Laws from KNUST, Ghana. She is also a certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute.

Email Address
Leilas.khalid@utoronto.ca
Profile Type
Staff
Country
Ghana
Profile

Elena Rosca

Senior Lecturer and Head, Engineering Department; HEMP Pillar Lead

Ashesi University

Dr. Elena Rosca is the Senior Lecturer and Head, Engineering Department and HEMP Pillar Lead

Profile Type
Faculty
Country
Ghana
Governance
HEMP Pillar Advisory Commitee