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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Prof. Lukoye AtwoliDean, Medical College, East Africa (The Aga Khan University)

Prof Atwoli is a Professor in Psychiatry with extensive leadership, teaching, and academic research experience. He is the former Dean of the Moi University School of Medicine, where he excelled at building collaborations and partnerships between the School of Medicine and academic medical centres in Africa, Europe, and the US, transforming it into a regionally leading research and graduate medical school.

Prof Atwoli has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Moi University. His residency (Master of Medicine) in Psychiatry was undertaken at the University of Nairobi. Prof Atwoli has a PhD from the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He is a Visiting Scientist at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and an Honorary Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town. He is an international Faculty member at the Global Health Institute, Duke University and an external examiner for multiple universities.

Prof Atwoli leads and participates in mental health research locally and globally. He is a member of the WHO World Mental Health Surveys Consortium, which is the leading collaborative project in psychiatric epidemiology globally. He was also the Global Technical Director for the citiesRISE initiative (www.cities-rise.org), whose goal is to help make five cities mental health friendly (Nairobi, Chennai, Bogota, as well as Seattle and Sacramento). The initiative works with young people in these cities to increase connectedness, improving their coping ability by working to build resilience and hopefulness, and linking those in need to care.

Prof Atwoli has over 50 publications to his credit in academic books and in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, he has supervised to completion 17 Masters Candidates and is currently supervising four PhD and four Masters students at universities in Kenya, the US, and Europe.

Prof Atwoli is a significant influencer of mental health policy in Kenya and on the continent. To this end, he has served as Vice President of the Kenya Medical Association and holds positions with the African Association of Psychiatrists, the African College of Neuro-psychopharmacology, and the World Psychiatric Association. ​

Prof. Lukoye AtwoliDean, Medical College, East Africa (The Aga Khan University)

Prof Atwoli is a Professor in Psychiatry with extensive leadership, teaching, and academic research experience. He is the former Dean of the Moi University School of Medicine, where he excelled at building collaborations and partnerships between the School of Medicine and academic medical centres in Africa, Europe, and the US, transforming it into a regionally leading research and graduate medical school.

Prof Atwoli has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Moi University. His residency (Master of Medicine) in Psychiatry was undertaken at the University of Nairobi. Prof Atwoli has a PhD from the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He is a Visiting Scientist at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health and an Honorary Associate Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town. He is an international Faculty member at the Global Health Institute, Duke University and an external examiner for multiple universities.

Prof Atwoli leads and participates in mental health research locally and globally. He is a member of the WHO World Mental Health Surveys Consortium, which is the leading collaborative project in psychiatric epidemiology globally. He was also the Global Technical Director for the citiesRISE initiative (www.cities-rise.org), whose goal is to help make five cities mental health friendly (Nairobi, Chennai, Bogota, as well as Seattle and Sacramento). The initiative works with young people in these cities to increase connectedness, improving their coping ability by working to build resilience and hopefulness, and linking those in need to care.

Prof Atwoli has over 50 publications to his credit in academic books and in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, he has supervised to completion 17 Masters Candidates and is currently supervising four PhD and four Masters students at universities in Kenya, the US, and Europe.

Prof Atwoli is a significant influencer of mental health policy in Kenya and on the continent. To this end, he has served as Vice President of the Kenya Medical Association and holds positions with the African Association of Psychiatrists, the African College of Neuro-psychopharmacology, and the World Psychiatric Association. ​

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Dr. Boniface Chitayi MurabulaPresident of the Kenya Psychiatric Association (KPA)

Dr. Boniface Chitayi Murabula is a consultant Psychiatrist and the current president of the Kenya Psychiatric Association (KPA). He was awarded the best student in Master of medicine in Psychiatry at the University of Nairobi (2017/18) courtesy of the Nestle Foods Kenya Ltd.

Dr. Murabula strongly believes that mental health is an integral part of physical health and shapes an individual's choices related to relationships, careers, finances, hobbies, opinions, and spirituality. He works closely with his patients to improve their quality of life and teach them how to manage mental illnesses. Dr. Murabula offers management of mental disorders in collaboration with other mental health professionals. He has a keen interest and expertise in mental health research, mental health project management, mental health advocacy, public mental health literacy, and the creation of mental health-friendly institutions.

Dr. Murabula completed his undergraduate degree in Bachelor of medicine and surgery at the University of Nairobi. He completed his internship at Mbagathi district hospital and worked as a medical officer for three years before joining the master of medicine Psychiatry program at the University of Nairobi. His master thesis was on “Mental Health Literacy Among Media Practitioners in Kenya.” Dr. Murabula presented findings from this study at the Kenya Psychiatric Association 11th annual scientific conference. He is certified in the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality Rights in mental health and the WHO Mental Health Leadership and Advocacy Program (MHLAP) from Ibadan University, Nigeria. He also has certification from the African College of Neuro Psycho Pharmacology (AfCNP) leadership training program.

Dr. Murabula has extensive experience in public mental health education through open forum discussions, social media conversations, writing opinion articles, and participating in radio and television interviews. He led the Kenya Psychiatric Association mental health awareness campaign in May 2020. Dr. Murabula is interested in opportunities that intersect the business worlds of mental health, social media, public health, consumer/patient education, and mainstreaming mental health in programs and institutional policies. He is a lifelong learner and open to future partnerships for mental health.

Dr. Boniface Chitayi MurabulaPresident of the Kenya Psychiatric Association (KPA)

Dr. Boniface Chitayi Murabula is a consultant Psychiatrist and the current president of the Kenya Psychiatric Association (KPA). He was awarded the best student in Master of medicine in Psychiatry at the University of Nairobi (2017/18) courtesy of the Nestle Foods Kenya Ltd.

Dr. Murabula strongly believes that mental health is an integral part of physical health and shapes an individual's choices related to relationships, careers, finances, hobbies, opinions, and spirituality. He works closely with his patients to improve their quality of life and teach them how to manage mental illnesses. Dr. Murabula offers management of mental disorders in collaboration with other mental health professionals. He has a keen interest and expertise in mental health research, mental health project management, mental health advocacy, public mental health literacy, and the creation of mental health-friendly institutions.

Dr. Murabula completed his undergraduate degree in Bachelor of medicine and surgery at the University of Nairobi. He completed his internship at Mbagathi district hospital and worked as a medical officer for three years before joining the master of medicine Psychiatry program at the University of Nairobi. His master thesis was on “Mental Health Literacy Among Media Practitioners in Kenya.” Dr. Murabula presented findings from this study at the Kenya Psychiatric Association 11th annual scientific conference. He is certified in the World Health Organization (WHO) Quality Rights in mental health and the WHO Mental Health Leadership and Advocacy Program (MHLAP) from Ibadan University, Nigeria. He also has certification from the African College of Neuro Psycho Pharmacology (AfCNP) leadership training program.

Dr. Murabula has extensive experience in public mental health education through open forum discussions, social media conversations, writing opinion articles, and participating in radio and television interviews. He led the Kenya Psychiatric Association mental health awareness campaign in May 2020. Dr. Murabula is interested in opportunities that intersect the business worlds of mental health, social media, public health, consumer/patient education, and mainstreaming mental health in programs and institutional policies. He is a lifelong learner and open to future partnerships for mental health.

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Dr. Marie MorrisonStaff Therapist, Wheaton College, IL

Marie is completing her post-doc as a staff therapist in the Counseling Center. Before coming to Wheaton, she counseled university students in Cambridge, UK, as well as community members through an Anglican church in London. Originally from Nova Scotia, she completed her graduate work at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. In addition to Canada and the UK, she has served as a counselor in refugee camps in Greece. Marie’s areas of clinical interest include anxiety and depression, and the intersectionality of race, culture, gender, religion, and emerging adulthood. Marie enjoys hiking, cycling, music, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Dr. Marie MorrisonStaff Therapist, Wheaton College, IL

Marie is completing her post-doc as a staff therapist in the Counseling Center. Before coming to Wheaton, she counseled university students in Cambridge, UK, as well as community members through an Anglican church in London. Originally from Nova Scotia, she completed her graduate work at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. In addition to Canada and the UK, she has served as a counselor in refugee camps in Greece. Marie’s areas of clinical interest include anxiety and depression, and the intersectionality of race, culture, gender, religion, and emerging adulthood. Marie enjoys hiking, cycling, music, and spending quality time with friends and family.

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Dr. Violet Okech Consultant Psychiatrist/Counselor Kenyatta National Hospital

Dr. Violet Okech-Helu is a Consultant Psychiatrist/ Counselor with more than 15 years of experience in the field of mental health. She chairs Adult Psychiatry and Coordinates Mental Health Research at the Department of Mental Health, KNH, Nairobi, Kenya. She is an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi. She played a key role in Mental Health Services development in Kenya and East Africa as the Founding President of the Eastern Africa Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Association (EAYPTA) and was the first female to be the National Vice Chairperson of Kenya Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Okech is an expert in Gender, HIV care, and Public Mental Health and Policy. She is an alumnus of the Johns Hopkins University, USA, MPH (Masters in Public Health) and Fulbright Hubert. H. Humphrey Programs and of the University of Nairobi, Medical School. She is also the Kenya Psychiatric Association Ambassador to ADI.

Dr. Violet Okech Consultant Psychiatrist/Counselor Kenyatta National Hospital

Dr. Violet Okech-Helu is a Consultant Psychiatrist/ Counselor with more than 15 years of experience in the field of mental health. She chairs Adult Psychiatry and Coordinates Mental Health Research at the Department of Mental Health, KNH, Nairobi, Kenya. She is an Honorary Lecturer in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi. She played a key role in Mental Health Services development in Kenya and East Africa as the Founding President of the Eastern Africa Young Psychiatrists and Trainees Association (EAYPTA) and was the first female to be the National Vice Chairperson of Kenya Psychiatric Association.

Dr. Okech is an expert in Gender, HIV care, and Public Mental Health and Policy. She is an alumnus of the Johns Hopkins University, USA, MPH (Masters in Public Health) and Fulbright Hubert. H. Humphrey Programs and of the University of Nairobi, Medical School. She is also the Kenya Psychiatric Association Ambassador to ADI.

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Dr. Anne Wanjiru MbwayoDepartment of Psychiatry University of Nairobi
Dr. Anne Wanjiru MbwayoDepartment of Psychiatry University of Nairobi
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Objectives/benefits of the Conference

1. Identify the scope of mental health research challenges
illustrate on where we are in testing-detection and linkage to mental health care and what are the main priorities and challenges in the years to come
2. Provide an increased understanding of how well to improve monitoring and surveillance and use this to impact policy and programmes to increase research and treatment uptake
3. Establish ways to harmonize and synthesise information amongst stakeholders.
4. Shared understanding and consensus around:
i) Identify actions needed to advance the Ethics in Mental Health research and ensure the achievement of its goals and objectives;
Learn how to best support the ethics in Mental Health research in Africa
5. Shared lessons and experiences regarding:
i) The establishment and operation of country platforms, including their role in identifying and bridging capacity gaps in policy and knowledge management,
ii) Mobilizing local centers of expertise in supporting high‐quality analyses and knowledge to improve policymaking and track progress, and
iii) Facilitating policy dialogue, benchmarking, review, and mutual learning in ethics in mental health research.

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The Africa Bioethic Network Conference 2023

St. Paul’s University, Faculty of Health Sciences in liaison with the Faculty of Theology and Faculty of Social Sciences are hosting theThe Africa Bioethic Network Conference 2023. The conference theme is “Mental Health Research, Treatment, Equity, And Stigmatization in Africa.” The Conference will be held blended in nature and will accommodate both physical and virtual attendance. It will be hosted in St Paul’s University Limuru Campus.

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The Africa Bioethic Network Conference 2023