Amyloidosis Africa Leadership

John Heshmat is a public health specialist and clinical research leader working at the intersection of cardiovascular health, rare diseases, and health equity in Africa. He is the founder and coordinator of Amyloidosis Africa, a continental initiative dedicated to improving awareness, early diagnosis, and collaborative research on cardiac amyloidosis across African countries.

His work focuses on addressing the gap in recognition and diagnosis of rare and inherited cardiovascular diseases, particularly transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM), in African healthcare settings where awareness and diagnostic pathways remain limited.

John combines a background in pharmacy, clinical research, and public health with extensive field experience working in hospitals and underserved communities. Through his work, he seeks to strengthen healthcare workforce capacity, support clinician education, and encourage collaborative research that reflects African populations and healthcare systems.

He is also the co-founder and chairman of CRK Clinical Research Key (NGO), a Kenyan organization dedicated to advancing clinical and public health research in underserved communities. In this role, he leads investigator-driven research and educational programs focused on neglected and rare diseases, including initiatives supported by global partners such as Global Bridges, Pfizer, and Mayo Clinic.

In addition to his research work, John has extensive experience in public health program implementation and community health initiatives across Kenya. He has contributed to large-scale health programs addressing HIV, tuberculosis, cervical cancer, and gender-based violence, and has led medical outreach campaigns in underserved regions including urban informal settlements and remote communities.

John holds a Master’s degree in Public Health from Liverpool John Moores University (UK) and a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, and his work centers on building sustainable, Africa-led initiatives that strengthen clinical knowledge, research collaboration, and health system capacity across the continent.

A Kenyan Consultant Physician Cardiologist | MD PhD | Heart Failure Specialist | FRCP (Edin), FESC, PCHF Zurich International cardiovascular leader bridging Nordic and East African healthcare. 13 years driving clinical excellence, service innovation, and academic medicine. Specializing in heart failure, cardiac imaging including MRI, and research translation. Seeking partnerships in clinical delivery, capacity development, and cardiovascular research.

EXPERIENCE

2019 – 2025 | Heart Failure Lead, Southern Copenhagen (Amager-Hvidovre Hospital), Denmark

2024 – 2025 | Chair, Heart Failure Working Group, Danish Society of Cardiology

2023 – 2024 | Clinical Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen

2019 – 2022 | PACES Examiner, MRCP (UK/Edinburgh)

2018 – 2019 | Postgraduate Certificate in Heart Failure (PCHF), HFA/ESC, University of Zürich

2014 – 2019 | Consultant Cardiologist, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya

2007 – 2014 | Resident internal medicine and cardiology fellowship & PhD, Sahlgrenska Academy & University of  Gothenburg, Sweden

Dr. Christina Mwachari, MD, MSc, PhD is a physician-scientist and public health researcher with more than 25 years of experience in infectious disease research, epidemiology, and health systems strengthening in Africa. She currently serves as a Principal Research Scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and as Director of Research and Development (R&D) at CRK Clinical Research Organization, where she leads initiatives focused on advancing clinical research, innovation, and workforce development.

She holds an MBChB from the University of Nairobi, an MSc in Medical Microbiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from the University of Washington, and a PhD in Public Health / Epidemiology from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

Dr. Mwachari’s research career began within Kenya’s Ministry of Health before transitioning into senior research and leadership roles at KEMRI and the University of Maryland Programs in Kenya, where she contributed to large-scale public health, laboratory systems strengthening, and implementation programs. Her work has focused on HIV prevention and care, tuberculosis and respiratory diseases, reproductive health, and community-based health interventions.

Throughout her career, she has led and contributed to numerous clinical studies and public health programs supported by organizations including WHO, NIH, PEPFAR, and the Rockefeller Foundation, and she has presented her work at major international scientific meetings such as CROI, the International AIDS Conference, and the IUATLD World Conference on Lung Health.

She has also played an important role in strengthening laboratory systems in Kenya, mentoring more than twenty laboratories toward ISO 15189 accreditation and supervising postgraduate researchers in epidemiology and public health.

Within Amyloidosis Africa, Dr. Mwachari contributes research leadership and scientific guidance, supporting efforts to strengthen evidence generation, research collaboration, and capacity building across African countries.

Prof. Leonard Mzee Ngunga is the President of the Kenya Cardiac Society, Cardiology Fellowship Director, and a Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi. He is also a full-time faculty member in the Department of Medicine at Aga Khan University, where he plays a key role in training the next generation of cardiologists in East Africa.

Prof. Ngunga completed his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) at the University of Nairobi, followed by a Master of Medicine (MMed) in Internal Medicine at Aga Khan University, Nairobi. He later pursued advanced cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowships at the University of Alberta, Canada. In recognition of his contributions to cardiovascular medicine, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP), Edinburgh.

His clinical expertise includes interventional cardiology, cardiac haemodynamics, complex cardiac device implantation and extraction, and the management of coronary artery disease. He also has strong interest in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease and improving cardiovascular outcomes in Africa.

In addition to his clinical practice, Prof. Ngunga is actively involved in teaching, research, and professional leadership. His teaching areas include general internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine, cardiac catheterization, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and research methods. His research interests include cardiac arrest, primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, and treatment of coronary artery disease.

He is a member of several professional organizations, including the Kenya Cardiac Society, European Society of Cardiology, Kenya Association of Physicians, Kenya Medical Association, and the Pan African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR). Through his leadership and academic work, he continues to contribute to strengthening cardiovascular care, training, and research across Africa.

Dr. Yubrine Moraa Gachemba is a Consultant Cardiologist and Chief Cardiologist at Primecare Heart Clinic, The Nairobi Hospital, with advanced subspecialty expertise in multimodality cardiac imaging (advanced echocardiography, cardiac CT, and CMR), structural heart disease, and women’s and pregnancy-related cardiovascular disease.

Her clinical and academic work sits at the intersection of imaging-led decision making, structural heart pathology, and cardio-obstetrics, with a strong focus on delivering evidence-based, guideline-aligned care across diverse and resource-variable health systems. She has a particular interest in how precision imaging informs diagnosis, risk stratification, and timing of intervention in complex cardiovascular disease.

Trained within the UK NHS system, she brings a global perspective to cardiovascular care while remaining deeply grounded in African clinical realities. Her work emphasises the translation of ESC and ACC guideline recommendations into practical, context-appropriate strategies, particularly in women’s heart health, pregnancy-associated cardiovascular disease, and structural valve pathology.

Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Gachemba is actively engaged in research, registries, education, and regional collaborations aimed at strengthening cardiovascular care delivery, imaging capacity, and outcomes for women and underserved populations across Africa.

She collaborates across clinical care, academic research, and health systems strengthening, particularly where cardiac imaging, structural heart disease, women’s cardiovascular health, and implementation science intersect.

Experienced Professor of cardiology with a demonstrated history of working in the medical practice industry. Strong education professional skilled in Medicine, Public Speaking, Research, in Invasive Cardiology Leading Expert in Sports Cardiology in Africa ,CAF medical Instructor, member of the Egyptian supreme council of sports Medicine, member of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, head of the Egyptian Triathlon medical Committee Member of the world Triathlon Medical and antidoping committee

Dr. Okechukwu S. Ogah MSc, PhD, FWACP, FACP, FESC, FACC, FNCS is a Senior Lecturer in Cardiology at the Department of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and Consultant Physician/Cardiologist in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. He holds a PhD in Medicine from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, and an MSc in Epidemiology and Medical Statistics and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), both from the University of Ibadan. He is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, the Nigerian Cardiac Society, the European Society of Cardiology, and the American College of Cardiology.

He is the Chair of the African Heart Failure Association, a Bernard Lown Visiting Scholar at the Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the current President of the Nigerian Cardiac Society.

His research interests include surveys on cardiovascular risk factors, national heart disease registries, continental heart failure registries, pericarditis, rheumatic heart disease, pulmonary hypertension, and systemic hypertension. He has over 120 publications in peer-reviewed journals. He is married with children.

Dr. Constantin Nyamuzangura is the President of the Burundian Society of Cardiology and the Head of the National Council of the Medical Association of Burundi (CNOMB). He is actively involved in advancing human medicine and equitable access to healthcare, with a particular focus on cardiovascular health, which remains the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide.

His work also addresses non-communicable diseases, with strong emphasis on prevention, innovation, and improving healthcare systems. Dr. Nyamuzangura practices as a cardiologist and, through his training and professional experience, has also developed interests as a medical entrepreneur.

He is deeply committed to strengthening healthcare leadership and innovation to improve access to quality cardiovascular care and public health outcomes.

Dr. Lambert Tetteh Appiah, FWACP, FESC, is a Consultant Cardiologist, clinical researcher, and academic leader in cardiovascular medicine in Ghana. He serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and practices as a cardiologist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Dr. Appiah is a Principal Investigator and clinical trialist actively involved in cardiovascular research across Africa, with a focus on heart failure, cardiovascular epidemiology, and health systems strengthening. He plays key leadership roles as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of HeartLINK+ Global and COO of the G-ACT Foundation, contributing to initiatives that advance cardiovascular care, research, and training.

He also serves as the General Secretary of the Ghanaian Society of Cardiology (GSC) and is a Fogarty Scholar, reflecting his commitment to advancing global cardiovascular health, collaborative research, and capacity building across Africa.

Dr. Mazou Ngou Temgoua is a Cameroonian cardiologist and clinical epidemiologist recognized for his significant contributions to cardiovascular research, medical education, and public health in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is affiliated with the University of Yaoundé I, where he contributes to clinical practice, research, and the training of future healthcare professionals. He also collaborates academically with international institutions, including Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier in France.

Dr. Temgoua’s clinical expertise includes cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac pacing, cardiovascular imaging, and intensive cardiac care. His work bridges clinical cardiology and population health, with a strong focus on understanding the burden of cardiovascular diseases in African populations.

He has authored or co-authored more than 110 scientific publications, addressing key topics such as hypertension, chronic heart failure, cardiovascular disease epidemiology, and the relationship between social determinants of health and cardiovascular outcomes in Africa. His research has also explored the impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular care and thromboembolic complications.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Temgoua plays an important leadership role in medical education as the General Coordinator of Succes Pro Academy, a training center dedicated to supporting medical specialization and professional development in Cameroon.

He holds a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH) and is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC). Through his research, education, and leadership activities, he continues to contribute to strengthening cardiovascular science, training, and healthcare systems across Africa.