Connecting the Global South to a healthier future

Dr. Betel (Betty) Yibrehu is a General Surgery resident at the University of Toronto. She obtained her M.D. in the Community and Urban Health Track from The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.. Prior to that she studied Global Health at the University of Toronto. She recently completed a year away from clinical residency to work in Nigeria as the global oncology research fellow with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the African Research Group for Oncology. She is applying for fellowship in surgical oncology with a special interest in colorectal surgery. In addition to her interest in global surgery, since starting residency she has co-founded UpSurge, a diversity in surgery initiative within the University of Toronto’s Department of Surgery.

Dr. Fadi Salah Issa is an educator and expert in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, committed to advancing medical training and capacity-building in crisis response. He serves as a Director of Education for the Disaster Medicine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, faculty member at Harvard Medical School, and a member of the Board of directors At WADEM ( World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine). "Dr. Issa specializes in designing and delivering comprehensive education programs focused on Disaster Medicine, emergency preparedness, and crisis response. His training initiatives encompass CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) preparedness, decontamination protocols, and the effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Through interactive courses, hands-on simulations, and online learning modules, he equips medical students, emergency responders, and healthcare professionals with critical skills for disaster scenarios. With a strong commitment to global medical education, Dr. Issa has played a key role in mentoring fellows, supporting Emergency Medicine programs globally, and integrating disaster response training into healthcare curricula. Dr. Issa has authored numerous publications and contributed to the textbook Ciottone’s Disaster Medicine. His work continues to shape the education and training of future leaders in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, ensuring they are well-prepared to manage complex emergencies and improve healthcare resilience globally."

Dr. Mallika Manyapu is an emergency medicine physician and currently a Global Health fellow at George Washington University in Washington DC. She has specific experience in workforce training, systems strengthening, and capacity building in low-resource and humanitarian settings.

Dr. Amir Lotfy Rashed is currently a Fellow of Disaster Medicine and Global Health at the University of Texas, Southwestern where he is engaged in Disaster Resiliency and mentoring research initiatives in India. Graduating with his medical doctorate from the George Washington University, he went on to complete residency at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore/Jacobi in the Bronx, New York City. He has published works in the Journal of Global Health and presented his research at avenues such as the World Health Organization's Emergency Medical Teams scientific congress. His focus is on capacity building and institutional development in the Middle East and Africa.