Medicine

Dean's Welcome Address

With immense pride and great pleasure, as Dean of the School of Medicine (SOM), I warmly welcome you to our esteemed medical school. This phase of your journey with the School of Medicine promises to be one of shared learning, growth, and opportunity. 

As the only health-dedicated university in Ghana, UHAS provides a unique platform for multidisciplinary collaboration during your studies. This approach not only strengthens your academic foundation but also fosters personal development, preparing you to become tomorrow's leaders in the healthcare sector. 

I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our faculty and staff for their unwavering dedication to excellence in teaching, research, and service. As we continue to serve our nation, Ghana, let us uphold an environment of collaboration, mutual respect, and intellectual curiosity. Together, we can cultivate an atmosphere that nurtures innovation and produces world-class healthcare professionals for Ghana and beyond. 

Thank you for choosing to be a part of our vibrant medical school, the School of Medicine at the University of Health and Allied Sciences

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Prof. Yaw Asante Awuku

Dean

Professor Yaw Asante Awuku is an accomplished medical professional with over 20 years of clinical practice and 15 years of experience in medical education. Known for his exemplary leadership and mentorship, Prof. Awuku currently serves as the Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), where he is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics and a consultant gastroenterologist at the Ho Teaching Hospital.

Prof. Awuku is a Fellow of the West African Postgraduate Medical College and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he also serves as Faculty Chair of Internal Medicine. He has completed a prestigious clinical fellowship in gastroenterology under the World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) at Groote Schuur Hospital, affiliated with the University of Cape Town. Additionally, he is a certified WGO trainer of trainers in gastrointestinal endoscopy and a graduate of the World Endoscopy Organisation's Emerging Stars training programme, which took him to Germany, Singapore, and Egypt. His academic qualifications also include postgraduate certificates in Antiretroviral Therapy and Clinical Research/Evidence-Based Medicine from the Prince Leopold Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium.

Prof. Awuku has made significant contributions to medical education in Ghana. He was instrumental in establishing and developing curricula for the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Cape Coast in 2010 and taught Internal Medicine at the University for Development Studies (UDS) from 2009 to 2011. As an examiner, he has contributed to academic excellence at UDS, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and the University of Ghana, as well as for the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and the West African College of Physicians.

He is a distinguished researcher whose work focuses on viral hepatitis, liver cancer, and the role of microbiota in disease causation. Prof. Awuku is deeply committed to advancing healthcare in Ghana and has written numerous technical reports and guidelines for national and international use. He has also played an integral role in the development of healthcare guidelines in Ghana and across Africa.

Prof. Awuku’s expertise extends to HIV Medicine, Nephrology, and Gastroenterology, with advanced skills in gastrointestinal endoscopy, including therapeutic procedures. He is a passionate advocate for point-of-care ultrasound training and has established UHAS as a centre for this critical skill in Ghana.

Beyond his academic and clinical contributions, Prof. Awuku has served on several key boards and committees, including the FDA Ghana’s Technical Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials, the Viral Hepatitis Expert Committee, and the editorial board of the Ghana Standard Treatment Guidelines. He is also a member of the Africa Advisory Board of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD).

Prof. Awuku is a devout Christian and a family man who enjoys music and football. His leadership as Dean reflects his vision of excellence, innovation, and collaboration in producing world-class healthcare professionals for Ghana and beyond.

Email: [email protected]

ORCID ID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4562-9294