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Nana A. Y. Twum-Danso, MD, MPH, FACPM
2716 Elliott Avenue, Apt. 806, Seattle, WA 98121, USA
SUMMARY:
Licensed medical doctor who is board certification in preventive medicine and public health and has more than 12 years of experience in global health research, policy and practice with:  Subject matter expertise in quality improvement, organizational transformation, health systems strengthening, maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), community health, parasitic disease control, pharmacovigilance, and road traffic safety.  Strong leadership and management skills.  Excellent quantitative and qualitative analysis skills.  Track record of training, coaching and mentoring individuals and teams for improved performance.  Proven ability to build and nurture partnerships for program implementation, policy change, advocacy and resource mobilization at international and national levels.
EMPLOYMENT:

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, WA, USA
Family Health Division
Senior Program Officer
Apr. 2012 – present
Conceptualize, design, develop and manage an innovative grants program across the continuum of care from the community to the hospital to improve MNCH outcomes at scale in sub-Saharan Africa. Current portfolio: ~US $80 million. Advise colleagues across the Foundation on context-relevant strategies to better achieve impact at scale.
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Cambridge, MA, USA & Accra, Ghana
Low and Middle Income Countries Program
Executive Director
Jul. 2011 – Feb. 2012
Oversaw the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of quality improvement projects in Ghana, Malawi and South Africa that are focused on MNCH and HIV/AIDS. Provided technical, strategic and programmatic guidance to country directors. Developed new business opportunities in Africa. Project Fives Alive!, Ghana
Director
Feb. 2008 – Nov. 2011
Led a quality improvement project to reduce child mortality in Ghana through systems and process improvements in service delivery for MNCH in partnership with the National Catholic Health Service (NCHS) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the two largest health service delivery agencies of the Ministry of Health (MOH).  Provided training, coaching and mentoring in quality improvement to technical staff within the project, frontline health providers and their leaders at district and regional levels on an ongoing basis for improved system performance.  Built and nurtured strategic and technical relationships with NCHS, GHS, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in MNCH and quality improvement in Ghana and other African countries.
The Task Force for Global Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
Children Without Worms
Director
Mar. 2006 – Feb. 2008
Developed and led a start-up initiative to control soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in children in Africa, Asia and Latin America through regular mass deworming, hygiene education and environmental sanitation. Built collaborative relationships with MOHs, Johnson & Johnson, UNICEF, WHO, World Food Programme (WFP), and NGOs to promote and advocate for a broad-based, multi-sectoral approach to STH control. Mectizan Donation Program
Associate Director
Aug. 2001 – Nov. 2006
Program Development, Management & Policy
Developed and managed Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) operations which ensured safe, effective and appropriate donations of Mectizan and albendazole to LF Elimination Programs in 29 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and the Middle East (ME) for the community-based mass treatment of approximately 400 million people at risk of LF. Collaborated with MOHs, NGOs, WHO, World Bank, Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, academic institutions and other partners to ensure effective implementation of LF Elimination Programs. Serious Adverse Event Research, Surveillance & Management
Oversaw Serious Adverse Event (SAE) surveillance, management and reporting following mass treatment with Mectizan for onchocerciasis control, and with Mectizan and albendazole for LF in 35 countries in SSA, ME and Latin America with particular focus on countries with co-endemic loiasis. Provided technical support to the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) and its NGO partners, MOHs, particularly in Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, on SAE surveillance, referral and clinical management. Designed and implemented research studies and literature reviews to answer critical operational questions for field programs, in consultation with the Mectizan Expert Committee, the program’s technical advisory body.
ADJUNCT FACULTY POSITIONS:
Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Department of Maternal and Child Health
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Feb. 2012 – present
Teach sessions in courses as a guest lecturer and advise and mentor MPH students on theses.
Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
Department of Family & Preventive Medicine
Clinical Instructor
Oct. 2001 – Feb. 2008
Taught and facilitated didactic sessions in global health for the Emory Preventive Medicine Residency Program. Conducted research studies on hospital emergency preparedness with the National Center for Environmental Health of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.
CONSULTANCIES/ADVISORY BOARDS:
Africa Routine Immunization System Essentials (ARISE)
Apr. 2010 – May 2012
 Served on External Panel of Experts for a quality improvement project in routine childhood immunization in Africa, a partnership between JSI Research and Training Institute and Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice. Wyeth/Pfizer
Consultant
Apr. 2009 – Oct. 2011
 Served on Pfizer’s 3-member Drug Safety Monitoring Board for development of a drug for mass treatment of onchocerciasis in Africa which is being undertaken in conjunction with WHO.
WHO Special Programme on Tropical Disease Research (TDR)
Oct. 2008 – Sept. 2011
 Provided strategic and technical advice to TDR on its business line for drug development and evaluation for helminths and other neglected tropical diseases through a Scientific Advisory Committee.
National Onchocerciasis Task Force, APOC/WHO, Cameroon
Information, Education & Communication
Apr. 2002 – May 2002
Evaluated overall availability, distribution and effectiveness of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials in national onchocerciasis mass treatment program and developed strategies for improvement with key stakeholders. Serious Adverse Event Surveillance
Oct. 2000 – Nov. 2000
Evaluated surveillance system for SAEs following mass treatment with Mectizan in southern Cameroon where onchocerciasis and loiasis are co-endemic and developed strategies for improvement of surveillance in consultation with key stakeholders within the affected communities, MOH staff at national, provincial and district levels and NGO partners. PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:
Emory Preventive Medicine Residency Program, Atlanta, GA, USA
Resident
Aug. 1999 – Jul. 2001
Completed residency training in preventive medicine and public health which entailed academic work towards an M.P.H. degree in Health Policy and Management at Emory University and practicum experiences in clinical prevention and public health settings. Focused public health experience in epidemiological research on SAEs in Cameroon (6mths); project management, training,
monitoring and evaluation in polio eradication Pakistan (3mths); and emergency preparedness in the USA (3mths).

Harvard Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Boston, MA, USA Intern
Jul. 1998 – Jun. 1999
Completed internship training in emergency medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital, affiliates of Harvard Medical School in Boston. Provided patient care under the supervision of attending physicians in the emergency care of adult and pediatric patients, inpatient care of adults in medical wards and intensive care units, anesthesia, orthopedics and obstetrics.
EDUCATION:
Emory University School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
Aug. 1999 – Jul. 2001
 M.P.H. degree in Health Policy & Management Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Sept. 1994 – Jun. 1998
Harvard College, Cambridge, MA, USA
Sept. 1990 – Jun. 1994
AWARDS & HONORS:
 Fellowship in the American College of Preventive Medicine  Jane Rainie Opel Young Alumna Award for Outstanding Contribution to Profession  William H. & Anne E. Foege Global Health Scholarship  NBI Healthcare Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award  Harvard Public Service Work Abroad Fellowship  Harvard Committee on African Studies Research Fellowship  Ford Grant for Undergraduate Research
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS:
 International Society for Quality in Health Care  American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene  American College of Preventive Medicine
BOARDS & COMMITTEES:
Harvard Alumni Association, Cambridge, MA, USA
 Member, Board of Directors: Jul. 2007 – Jun. 2010 Harvard African Students’ Alumni Network, Boston, MA, USA
Past Chair, Board of Directors: Jan. 2007 – Dec. 2010 Founder, President & Chair, Board of Directors: May 2000 – Dec. 2006 Advisor, Philippe E. Wamba Memorial Fund for Road Traffic Safety in Africa: Apr. 2004 – Dec. 2010 Harvard Club of Georgia, Atlanta, GA, USA
Member, Schools & Scholarships Committee: Oct. 2001 – Aug. 2005 American College of Preventive Medicine, Washington, DC, USA
Member, Global Health Committee: Jul. 2006 – Feb. 2007 Member, Planning Committee for International Health Sessions of 2006 Annual Conference: Jul. 2005 – Feb. 2006

STATISTICAL SKILLS:
In-depth experience in the management and analysis of epidemiological and process improvement data. Highly proficient with the following software: EpiInfo, Filemaker Pro, SAS, and SPSS, and Chartrunner.
LANGUAGE SKILLS:
 Western Languages: English – fluent; French – proficient.  African Languages: Ga – fluent; Twi – fluent.
PUBLICATIONS:

REFERENCES:
PUBLICATIONS
1. Twum-Danso NAY, Akanlu GB, Dasoberi IN, Amenga-Etego IA, Adondiwo A, Kanyoke E et al. Using quality
improvement methods to test and scale-up a new early postnatal care policy in Ghana. Submitted 2. Singh K, Speizer I, Handa S, Boadu RO, Atinbire S, Barker PM, Twum-Danso NAY. Impact evaluation of a quality
improvement intervention on maternal and child health outcomes in northern Ghana: early assessment of a national scale-up project. Submitted 3. Twum-Danso NAY, Akanlu GB, Amenga-Etego IA, Dasoberi IN, Kanyoke E, Adondiwo A et al. Accelerating spread of
community-based strategies to reduce maternal and newborn health challenges in northern Ghana. In press.
4. Twum-Danso NAY, Akanlu GB, Osafo E, Sodzi-Tettey S, Boadu RO, Atinbire S et al. A nationwide quality project to
accelerate Ghana’s progress towards Millennium Development Goal Four: design and implementation progress. International Journal for Quality in Health Care 2012; 6: 601-611.
5. Barker PM, Twum-Danso NAY, Provost LP. Retrospective evaluation of UNICEF’s ACSD programme. Lancet 2010; 375:

6. Thylefors B, Alleman MM, Twum-Danso NAY. Operational lessons from 20 years of the Mectizan® Donation Program for
the control of onchocerciasis. Tropical Medicine and International Health 2008; 13: 689-696.

7. Fay MP, Huang C-Y, Twum-Danso NAY. Monitoring rare serious adverse events from a new treatment and testing for
difference from historical controls. Clinical Trials 2007; 4: 598-610.

8. Kamgno J, Pion SDS, Tejiokem MC, Twum-Danso NAY, Thylefors B, Boussinesq M. Randomized, controlled, double-
blind trial with ivermectin on Loa loa microfilaraemia: efficacy of a low dose (~25 μg/kg) versus current standard dose (150
μg/kg). Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene 2007; 101: 777-785.

9. Alleman MM, Twum-Danso NAY, Thylefors BI. The Mectizan® Donation Program – Highlights from 2005. Filaria
Journal 2006; 5: 11.

10. Gyapong JO, Twum-Danso NAY. Global elimination of lymphatic filariasis: fact or fantasy? Tropical Medicine and
International Health 2006; 11: 125-128.

11. Malecela-Lazaro M, Twum-Danso N. Towards a strategic plan for research to support the global program to eliminate
lymphatic filariasis. Summary of immediate needs and opportunities for research on lymphatic filariasis. 2.4 Program
implementation. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2004; 71(5 Suppl): 16-19.

12. Twum-Danso NAY. Mass treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin: should people with epilepsy and/or growth-
retardation syndromes be excluded? Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 2004; 98: 99-114.

13. Twum-Danso NAY, Meredith SEO. Variation in incidence of serious adverse events after onchocerciasis treatment with
ivermectin in areas of Cameroon co-endemic for loiasis. Tropical Medicine and International Health 2003; 8: 820-831.

14. Twum-Danso NAY. Serious adverse events following treatment with ivermectin for onchocerciasis control: a review of
reported cases. Filaria Journal 2003; 2(Suppl 1): S3.

15. Twum-Danso NAY. Loa loa encephalopathy temporally related to ivermectin administration reported from onchocerciasis
mass treatment programs from 1989 to 2001: implications for the future. Filaria Journal 2003; 2(Suppl 1): S7.

16. Addiss D, Rheingans R, Twum-Danso NAY, Richards FR. A framework for decision-making for mass distribution of
Mectizan® in areas endemic for Loa loa. Filaria Journal 2003; 2(Suppl 1): S9.

17. Keim ME, Pesik N, Twum-Danso NAY. Lack of hospital preparedness for chemical terrorism in a major U.S. city: 1996-
2000. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 2003; 18: 193-199.

18. Twum-Danso NY. Disaster epidemiology: prudent public health practice in the Pacific Islands. Pacific Health Dialog 2002;
9: 58-63.

19. Collins JJ, Geake J, Grier HE, Houck CS, Thaler HT, Weinstein HJ, Twum-Danso NY, Berde CB. Patient-controlled
analgesia for mucositis pain in children: a three-period crossover study comparing morphine and hydromorphone. Journal of
Pediatrics 1996; 129: 722-728.

Source: https://sph.unc.edu/files/2013/07/720373029_cv.pdf