About AfrECC

AfrECC Foundation Board Members

David Fleischer, MD

Location:

Washington DC, USA

Title:

Emeritus Professor of Medicine Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Foundation Role:

Chairman, Board of Directors

Sanford (Sandy) Dawsey, MD

Location:

Washington DC area, USA

Title:

Retired Senior Investigator from the National Cancer Institute

Foundation Role:

President, Board of Directors

Violet Kayamba, BScHB, MBChB, MMed, FCP(ECSA), Ph.D

Location:

Lusaka, Zambia

Title:

Senior Lecturer, University of Zambia School of Medicine

Foundation Role:

Vice President, Board of Directors

Jim O'Hara

Location:

Washington, DC area, USA

Title:

CFO, PM Hotel Group

Foundation Role:

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Dorene E. McCourt, MBA

Location:

Boston, MA, USA

Title:

Pharmaceutical marketing and sales executive (retired)

Foundation Role:

Secretary, Board of Directors

Lilly Alfonso

Location:

Lilongwe, Malawi

Title:

CEO, Founder & Head Designer, Lilly Alfonso

Foundation Role:

Board Member

Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, SM

Vivian Kobusingye Birchall is the founder and CEO of Health Care Blind Spots Consulting, an initiative dedicated to identifying and addressing critical gaps in healthcare that are often overlooked by traditional systems. Through her pioneering work, Vivian is transforming the global healthcare landscape by advocating for equitable solutions that enhance the well-being of underserved populations. Her leadership fosters collaboration with industry leaders, governments, healthcare institutions, and academic organizations to uncover and tackle the challenges that hinder access to quality care. Born and raised in Uganda, Vivian's early career was shaped by her work with the National Planning Authority under the Ministry of Finance, where she played a key role in implementing African Union programs such as the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and NEPAD. Her work in these initiatives gave her invaluable experience in comprehensive planning, cross-sector collaboration, and developing strategies to address systemic challenges across Africa. With deep knowledge and lived experience spanning both Africa and the United States, Vivian brings a unique perspective to her work. She seamlessly applies her expertise in global health, communication, and systems planning to bridge disparities and create innovative solutions tailored to diverse cultural, geographical, and economic contexts. A proud Harvard Medical School alumna, Vivian holds a Master of Science in Media, Medicine, and Health, where she developed her skills in using innovative communication to drive health system improvements. She is deeply passionate about strengthening healthcare systems, advancing health equity, and fostering sustainable growth in the health sector. Vivian’s leadership in addressing healthcare blind spots reflects her unwavering commitment to empowering communities, creating scalable solutions, and inspiring global change in the pursuit of accessible, effective, and inclusive healthcare for all.

Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, SM

Location:

Massachusetts, USA

Title:

Founder & CEO, Health Care Blind Spots Consulting

Foundation Role:

Board Member

Geoffrey (Geoff) Buckle, MD, MPH

Location:

San Francisco, California, USA

Title:

Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Foundation Role:

Board member

Chloë Cooney

Location:

Washington DC, USA

Title:

Director of U.S. Strategy for Gavi

Foundation Role:

Board member; Leader of Strategic Planning Task Force

Gift Mulima, MD

Location:

Lilongwe, Malawi

Title:

General Surgeon, Kamuzu Central Hospital

Foundation Role:

Board member

Diana Menya, BSc, MBChB, MSc, PhD

Location:

Eldoret, Kenya

Title:

Epidemiologist, Moi University

Foundation Role:

Board member

Beatrice Paul Mushi, MD, MPH.

Dr. Beatrice Paul Mushi is a distinguished Public Health Specialist and researcher specialized in the field of cancer in Tanzania. Currently serving as the Program Manager for the collaborative Cancer Program between Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ocean Road Cancer Institute, and the University of California San Francisco (MUHAS-ORCI-UCSF). Dr. Mushi’s expertise spans a wide range of area, including research, training, patient advocacy and capacity building, all aimed at advancing cancer care-related initiatives. Dr. Mushi holds both a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from MUHAS. Additionally, she is certified in Project management for Developing Projects for Professionals by Crown Agents in London, UK and a WomenLift Health one year Leadership Program Cohort 2 Alumni. Her extensive experience in research project management includes oversight of a diverse portfolio of multidisciplinary projects oncology, radiology, surgery, pathology, nursing and epidemiology. As a Principal Investigator, Co-investigator and Trainee mentor to various projects, Dr. Mushi has made significant contributions to advocacy and development of interventions for cancer care in Tanzania. She supervises a dedicated team of Clinicians Research Coordinators, scholars and acts as a liaison among trainees, faculty and international partners across East Africa and beyond. Dr. Mushi oversees the D43 Cancer Research Training Program in Tanzania (CRTP-TZ), and supports the day-to-day activities of programs affiliated with CreDO, Fogarty and GloCal Health Fellowship awardees, fostering the next generation of cancer researchers. As the one of the founding members and former Chair of the African Esophageal Cancer Consortium (AfrECC), Dr. Mushi is actively engaged in etiology, clinical, and Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) on esophageal cancer. In addition, she is a member of the AfrECC Steering Committee and the AfrECC Foundation Board. Her passion for cancer research extends to mentoring emerging leaders in the field, emphasizing hands-on training to advance knowledge, enhancing capacity, leadership development, and improving cancer care in Tanzania and broader East African Region.

Beatrice Paul Mushi, MD, MPH.

Location:

Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania

Title:

Program Manager, Cancer Collaboration Program, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ocean Road Cancer Institute, and University of California San Francisco (MUHAS-ORCI-UCSF)

Foundation Role:

Board member

Michael Mwachiro, MD

Location:

Nairobi, Kenya

Title:

Consultant General Surgeon and Interventional Endoscopist, Avenue HealthCare

Foundation Role:

Board member

Ike Ogbuebile, MA, MiPD

Location:

Washington DC area, USA

Title:

Founder & CEO, Encase Consulting

Foundation Role:

Board member

John Sims

Location:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Title:

President and CEO of AJS Consulting Company, LLC.

Foundation Role:

Board member

Mark Topazian, MD

Location:

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Title:

Gastroenterologist

Foundation Role:

Board member

Jerome (Jerry) D. Waye, MD

Location:

New York area, USA

Title:

Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Mt Sinai, New York

Foundation Role:

Board member; Leader of the Remote Endoscopic Teaching Task Force

Chloë Cooney

Location:

Washington DC, USA

Title:

Director of U.S. Strategy for Gavi

Foundation Role:

Board member; Leader of Strategic Planning Task Force

Gift Mulima, MD

Location:

Lilongwe, Malawi

Title:

General Surgeon, Kamuzu Central Hospital

Foundation Role:

Board member

Diana Menya, BSc, MBChB, MSc, PhD

Location:

Eldoret, Kenya

Title:

Epidemiologist, Moi University

Foundation Role:

Board member

Beatrice Paul Mushi, MD, MPH.

Location:

Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania

Title:

Program Manager, Cancer Collaboration Program, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ocean Road Cancer Institute, and University of California San Francisco (MUHAS-ORCI-UCSF)

Foundation Role:

Board member

Michael Mwachiro, MD

Location:

Nairobi, Kenya

Title:

Consultant General Surgeon and Interventional Endoscopist, Avenue HealthCare

Foundation Role:

Board member

Ike Ogbuebile, MA, MiPD

Location:

Washington DC area, USA

Title:

Founder & CEO, Encase Consulting

Foundation Role:

Board member

John Sims

Location:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Title:

President and CEO of AJS Consulting Company, LLC.

Foundation Role:

Board member

Mark Topazian, MD

Location:

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Title:

Gastroenterologist

Foundation Role:

Board member

Chloë Cooney

Location:

Washington DC, USA

Title:

Director of U.S. Strategy for Gavi

Foundation Role:

Board member; Leader of Strategic Planning Task Force

Gift Mulima, MD

Location:

Lilongwe, Malawi

Title:

General Surgeon, Kamuzu Central Hospital

Foundation Role:

Board member

Diana Menya, BSc, MBChB, MSc, PhD

Location:

Eldoret, Kenya

Title:

Epidemiologist, Moi University

Foundation Role:

Board member

Beatrice Paul Mushi, MD, MPH.

Location:

Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania

Title:

Program Manager, Cancer Collaboration Program, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ocean Road Cancer Institute, and University of California San Francisco (MUHAS-ORCI-UCSF)

Foundation Role:

Board member

Michael Mwachiro, MD

Location:

Nairobi, Kenya

Title:

Consultant General Surgeon and Interventional Endoscopist, Avenue HealthCare

Foundation Role:

Board member

Ike Ogbuebile, MA, MiPD

Location:

Washington DC area, USA

Title:

Founder & CEO, Encase Consulting

Foundation Role:

Board member

John Sims

Location:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Title:

President and CEO of AJS Consulting Company, LLC.

Foundation Role:

Board member

Mark Topazian, MD

Location:

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Title:

Gastroenterologist

Foundation Role:

Board member

David Fleischer, MD

Location:

Washington DC, USA

Title:

Emeritus Professor of Medicine Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Foundation Role:

Chairman, Board of Directors

Sanford (Sandy) Dawsey, MD

Location:

Washington DC area, USA

Title:

Retired Senior Investigator from the National Cancer Institute

Foundation Role:

President, Board of Directors

Violet Kayamba, BScHB, MBChB, MMed, FCP(ECSA), Ph.D

Location:

Lusaka, Zambia

Title:

Senior Lecturer, University of Zambia School of Medicine

Foundation Role:

Vice President, Board of Directors

Jim O'Hara

Location:

Washington, DC area, USA

Title:

CFO, PM Hotel Group

Foundation Role:

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Dorene E. McCourt, MBA

Location:

Boston, MA, USA

Title:

Pharmaceutical marketing and sales executive (retired)

Foundation Role:

Secretary, Board of Directors

Lilly Alfonso

Location:

Lilongwe, Malawi

Title:

CEO, Founder & Head Designer, Lilly Alfonso

Foundation Role:

Board Member

Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, SM

Location:

Massachusetts, USA

Title:

Founder & CEO, Health Care Blind Spots Consulting

Foundation Role:

Board Member

Geoffrey (Geoff) Buckle, MD, MPH

Location:

San Francisco, California, USA

Title:

Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Foundation Role:

Board member

Sanford (Sandy) Dawsey, MD

Location: Washington DC area, US

Title: Retired Senior Investigator from the National Cancer Institute

Foundation Role: President, Board of Directors

Violet Kayamba, BScHB, MBChB, MMed, FCP (ECSA),

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

Title: Senior Lecturer, University of Zambia School of Medicine

Foundation Role: Vice President, Board of Directors

Dorene E. McCourt, MBA

Location: Boston, MA and Burlington, WI, US

Title: Pharmaceutical marketing and sales executive (retired)

Foundation Role: Secretary, Board of Directors

Robby Vanrijkel, MBA, MSc, BSc, BComm

Location: McLean, VA, US

Title: Industry Specialty Services (Nonprofit & Grantmakers Advisory) – Principal

Foundation Role: Treasurer, Board of Directors

Geoffrey Buckle, MD, MPH

Location: San Francisco, CA, US

Title: Assistant Professor in the Division ofHematology/Oncology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Foundation Role: Board member

Chloe Cooney

Location: Washington DC, US

Title: Director of U.S. Strategy for Gavi

Foundation Role: Board member; Leader of Strategic Planning Task Force

Beatrice Paul Mushi, MD, MPH

Location: Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania

Title: Program Manager, Cancer Collaboration Program, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ocean Road Cancer Institute, and University of California San Francisco (MUHAS-ORCI-UCSF)

Foundation Role: Board member

Diana Menya, BSc, MBChB, MSc, PhD

Location:

Eldoret, Kenya

Title:

Epidemiologist, Moi University

Foundation Role:

Board member

Gift Mulima, MD

Location:

Lilongwe, Malawi

Title:

General Surgeon, Kamuzu Central Hospital

Foundation Role:

Board member

Jerome (Jerry) D. Waye, MD

Location:

New York, US

Title:

Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Mt Sinai, New York

Foundation Role:

Board member; Leader of the Remote Endoscopic Teaching Task Force

Michael Mwachiro, MD

Location:

Nairobi, Kenya

Title:

Consultant General Surgeon and Interventional Endoscopist, Avenue Health Care

Foundation Role:

Board member

Mark Topazian, MD

Location:

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Title:

Gastroenterologist, Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennial Medical Center

Foundation Role:

Board member

Ogbuebile, MA, MiPD

Location:

Washington DC, US

Title:

Founder & CEO, Encase Consulting

Foundation Role:

Board member

Sanford (Sandy) Dawsey, MD

AfrECC Research

Etiology

Working Group

Major Activities

AfrECC Research

Clinical

Working Group

Major Activities

AfrECC

Publications

2026

Validation of Methylated DNA Markers for Esophageal Squamous Cancer: An International Study.

2025

Multiple Mycotoxin Exposure Assessment through Human Biomonitoring in an Esophageal Cancer Case-Control Study in the Arsi-Bale Districts of Oromia Region of Ethiopia.

2025

Esophageal Cancer Staging in Malawi: The Feasibility of Chest Radiography and Abdominal Ultrasound for Initial Evaluation.

2025

Treatment Outcomes of Esophageal Cancer in Malawi: An Analysis of Overall Survival and Patient-Reported Outcomes.

2024

Endoscopic Diagnosis of Gastric and Oesophageal Cancer in Lusaka, Zambia: A Retrospective Analysis.

2024

Hot Beverage Consumption in the African Esophageal Cancer Corridor: A Community-Based Thermal Exposure Measurement Study across the Lifespan.

2024

Poor Oral Health and the Risk of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Malawi.

2024

Clinical Trials in Gastroesophageal Cancers: An Analysis of the Global Landscape of Interventional Trials from Clinicaltrials.Gov.

2024

Spatiotemporal Distribution, Time to Treatment Outcome Clustering and Determinants of Esophageal Cancer in Ethiopia, a Scoping Study.

2023

Oesophageal Cancer Cases Recorded in the Zambia National Cancer Registry: A Cross-Sectional Study.

2023

Population-Based Investigation of Common and Deviating Patterns of Gastric Cancer and Oesophageal Cancer Incidence across Populations and Time.

2023

The Contribution of Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco to Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk in the African Oesophageal Cancer Corridor: Results from the Esccape Multicentre Case-Control Studies.

Upcoming Event Calendar

AfrECC

Research Library

AfrECC Foundation Board Members

David Fleischer, MD

David Fleischer, MD

Sanford (Sandy) Dawsey, MD

Sanford (Sandy) Dawsey, MD

Violet Kayamba, BScHB, MBChB, MMed, FCP(ECSA), Ph.D

Violet Kayamba, BScHB, MBChB, MMed, FCP(ECSA), Ph.D

Jim O'Hara

Jim O'Hara

Dorene E. McCourt, MBA

Dorene E. McCourt, MBA

Lilly Alfonso

Lilly Alfonso

Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, SM

Vivian Kobusingye Birchall, SM

Geoffrey (Geoff) Buckle, MD, MPH

Geoffrey (Geoff) Buckle, MD, MPH

Chloë Cooney

Chloë Cooney

Gift Mulima, MD

Gift Mulima, MD

Diana Menya, BSc, MBChB, MSc, PhD

Diana Menya, BSc, MBChB, MSc, PhD

Beatrice Paul Mushi, MD, MPH.

Beatrice Paul Mushi, MD, MPH.

Michael Mwachiro, MD

Michael Mwachiro, MD

Ike Ogbuebile, MA, MiPD

Ike Ogbuebile, MA, MiPD

John Sims

John Sims

Mark Topazian, MD

Mark Topazian, MD

Jerome (Jerry) D. Waye, MD

Jerome (Jerry) D. Waye, MD

Chloë Cooney

Chloë Cooney

Gift Mulima, MD

Gift Mulima, MD

Diana Menya, BSc, MBChB, MSc, PhD

Diana Menya, BSc, MBChB, MSc, PhD

Beatrice Paul Mushi, MD, MPH.