2024 Allan Drash Clinical Fellowship Awardees
Deniz Özalp Kizilay
Dr Deniz Özalp Kızılay is a clinician, researcher, and educator at the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey. Deniz is an active member of the Turkish Society of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes ISPAD, ISPAD JENIOUS Group, ESPE, and IADA (International Alliance for Diabetes Action). She acts as ISPAD's representative in the cooperation between ISPAD and IADA. Deniz has demonstrated her commitment to professional development by attending prestigious events such as ESPE Winter School, Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism School, and ISPAD Science School for Physicians. She also spent 4 months as an observer in the Endocrine/Diabetes Department at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh.
Deniz is the principal investigator of the ‘Health screening of refugees with type 1 diabetes’ study and co-investigator of important projects such as the T1Drink Project, conducted with ISPAD JENIOUS Group. Deniz is currently participating as a researcher in a project to develop a screening programme for first-degree relatives of individuals with T1D in Turkey and in many other important projects. Her active involvement in research and projects demonstrates her commitment to advancing diabetes care within her center and on a national and international level.
Ege University is a referral centre in Turkey known for its extensive use of technology in treating diabetes. Ege University is a SWEET member and a host center for the Allan Drash Fellowship Programme. Deniz and her colleagues in the Ege University diabetes team regularly organize national training programs, courses, and symposiums to promote the use of diabetes technologies nationwide. Ege University hosts the Diabetes Technologies Symposium in Turkey every 2 years, where Deniz plays an active role in the scientific committee and serves as the secretary. She is actively involved in the organising committee of the diabetes summer camp for children with T1D.
Deniz is extremely dedicated, motivated, and deeply interested in pediatric endocrinology and diabetology. She believes that the Allan Drash Clinical Fellowship will be beneficial at this stage of her career and an enriching experience. Participating in this fellowship programme will be an important step for Deniz to make a significant contribution to the care of people with diabetes and other endocrine disorders, to become an active early career member of ISPAD, and to provide invaluable opportunities in the future.
Fozia Memon
Fozia Memon is currently working as a senior Instructor of Pediatric Endocrinology at Aga Khan University Karachi, Pakistan, her medical expertise with post-graduate training in pediatrics at Aga Khan University (AKU). Her commitment to pediatric endocrinology was solidified through various fellowships, including a Pediatric endocrine fellowship at Aga Khan University & ESPE fellowship at Leeds Teaching Hospital in the UK.
With a passion for education, Fozia has been actively involved in mentoring students, residents, and fellows. She has facilitated numerous workshops and clinical teaching sessions, earning the Best Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2023.
Fozia has been recognized for her excellence in both education and clinical practice. Her distinctions include multiple Best Resident Awards and international accolades such as the Travel Award from the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology.
Fozia Memon is deeply engaged in research. Her contributions to these fields include several peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and international conferences. Her work on pediatric type 1 diabetes & Wolcott-Rallison syndrome has been particularly impactful, advancing understanding and treatment strategies in pediatric diabetes. She co-authored several influential research papers and book chapters, contributing significantly to pediatric endocrinology literature.
Fozia is a member of several professional societies and has participated in numerous workshops and conferences, including the ISPED annual conference, ESPE (summer, winter, DOM school), and ISPAD-ASPED school to stay abreast of the latest developments in pediatric endocrinology. Her participation in international fellowship programs and international conferences and schools highlights her commitment to continuous professional growth.
Fozia exemplifies dedication, excellence, and innovation in pediatric endocrinology. Her multifaceted career as a clinician, researcher, educator, and mentor has significantly impacted the field and continues to inspire future healthcare professionals. Fozia has a special interest in diabetes technology and believes that this fellowship will help her enhance her knowledge and skills in this field.
Ikomba Bukatuka Gloria
Dr. Ikomba Bukatuka Gloria is a hospital practitioner and researcher in Pediatric endocrinology, diabetology, and nutrition. He obtained his medical degree at the Christian University of Kinshasa, where he was a research assistant, before enrolling in the specialized master in pediatrics at the University of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He is an attending physician and head of the pediatric endocrinology and diabetology department at the Renaissance University Hospital Center (formerly Mama Yemo), the country's main health facility.
He is a consultant in the care centers for diabetic children in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi as part of the Changing Diabetes In Children (CDIC) and Life For A Child (LFAC) programs. Furthermore, he is a speaker and trainer in pediatric endocrinology and diabetology.
He has followed training on the management of pediatric diabetes, including the ISPAD, IDF, EASD, Harvard Medical School, Francophon Diabetes Society (SFD), Diabafrica e-learning courses, and the introductory course in pediatric endocrinology and diabetology organized by the pediatric endocrinology and diabetology teaching program for French-speaking Africa (PEDAF).
Membre of ISPAD since 2023, he benefited from the ISPAD-CDIC travel grant to attend the 50th annual ISPAD conference in 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal.
As a researcher, he is the principal investigator in several studies investigating the epidemiology, pathogenesis, treatment, complications, and quality of life of T1D children in the context of limited resources, sickle cell disease, and environmental pollution. He is very open to research and plans to participate in fundamental, applied, clinical, epidemiological or other studies and all types of research through collaborations with international and multidisciplinary research teams worldwide.
Among his main research projects is studying the genotype, immunology, and phenotype of T1D in African children exposed to heavy metals. This study aims to understand the role of heavy metal bioaccumulation in the pathogenesis of T1D and provide a basis for prevention.
This Allan Drash clinical fellowship will improve his clinical practice and teamwork. It will allow him to organize services better and set up a register of T1D children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It will also be an opportunity to learn new diabetes technologies, a very little exploited field in sub-Saharan Africa.
In the end, he will be able to optimize the care for diabetes children in Congo and develop a modern, specialized, and multidisciplinary pediatric diabetology unit in Kinshasa for their reference.
Kashan Arshad
Dr. Kashan Arshad works as a Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at the University of Child Health Sciences, The Children’s Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan. He did his MBBS from the University of Lahore (UOL), Lahore, Pakistan (2009), and his fellowship in Pediatric Medicine (FCPS) from the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (2016).
He has worked in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes for the last 6 years. He is an active member of the ISPAD, ESPE, ESPE-YES groups, ASPED, PES, GPED, and SPED-P. He has participated in the “Global Fellowship Programme in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes” in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in February 2023; the ASPED-ISPAD Diabetes Academy in November 2023; and the ESPE Winter School in February 2024. He was selected for the ESPE Clinical Fellowship Grant 2023-2024 and represented Pakistan on different international platforms, like the ESPE Winter School, as a YES group representative.
He has presented his institute at several national and international conferences and has won awards for oral and poster presentations in Pediatric Endocrinology. He has also arranged many workshops and symposia on endocrine and diabetes issues. He has more than seven publications in peer-reviewed journals.
He has tirelessly worked with many collaborators to improve healthcare services for children and adolescents with diabetes at public-sector hospitals in Pakistan. He coordinates the “ADOPT A Child” project, which provides free insulin to diabetic children. He is also an active member of the peer support group Diabeaters (Pakistan).
His aim is to learn about using new technology to manage type 1 diabetes and improve his knowledge of managing rare diabetes. His future goal is to create a state-of-the-art Pediatric Diabetes centre in Pakistan.
Maryam Haider
Dr. Maryam Haider is a dedicated and compassionate pediatrician based in Karachi, Pakistan, with a strong focus on pediatric endocrinology and diabetes. With a deep commitment to delivering exceptional patient care and advancing research in the field, Maryam aspires to make a lasting impact on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of endocrine disorders in children.
Dr. Haider completed her Fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology from The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in 2023, one of Pakistan's premier tertiary care hospitals, renowned for its advanced technology and pioneering research, and has been working as a Lecturer in the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, AKUH ever since.
She completed her FCPS pediatrics training from Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi in 2019. Her passion for teaching led her to serve as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, for three years. During this time, she developed a keen interest in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes, which inspired her to join Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) for fellowship training in this specialized field.
At The Aga Khan University Hospital, she provides comprehensive care to pediatric patients with Diabetes. She excelled in educating patients and parents about insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus, including techniques such as Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Carb Counting. Additionally, she contributed significantly to developing educational materials and protocols for diabetes education within the pediatrics department. As a facilitator of Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions and workshops, Maryam shared her expertise in diabetes management and education with undergraduate medical students, postgraduate pediatric trainees, nursing students, and family physicians.
Dr. Haider has been an ISPAD member since 2022. She has presented her research findings and cases at prestigious conferences, including the ISPAD, Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Pakistan (SPED-P), and Pakistan Pediatric Association conferences. She was awarded a travel grant to present her work on Monogenic Diabetes at the ISPAD-ASPED Diabetes Academy 2023, held in Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Haider is deeply honoured to receive the Allan Drash Fellowship for 2024. She thanks ISPAD and the pediatric endocrinology team at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) for their unwavering support and guidance in advanced diabetes care. Dr. Haider intends to leverage this prestigious opportunity to expand her clinical and research expertise, ultimately aiming to elevate the standard of care for people with diabetes in Pakistan.
Mehak Dhingra
Mehak Dhingra holds a Master of Laws degree and is a Certified Pediatric Diabetes Educator from India. Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2007, she has spent the last five years dedicated to studying diabetes as an educator and researcher.
In 2022, Mehak began her professional journey at Chaitanya Cardio Clinic as a Diabetes Educator. After four months of clinical experience, she realized that individuals with diabetes often visited clinics only during emergencies, leading to a gap in diabetes education. Inspired to bridge this gap, she founded Unstoppable Type 1, an organization dedicated to educating both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. Through her efforts, she has impacted the lives of over 500 individuals with Type 1 Diabetes.
Mehak's core specialization is in Type 1 Diabetes self-management, with the motto of bringing independence to those dealing with Type 1 Diabetes. Her areas of interest include dual diabetes in children, diabetes management in low-resource settings, diabetes and technology, and diabetes in women. She has presented her research on these topics at various diabetes conferences and is a national speaker on diabetes lifestyle management at multiple conferences in India. Additionally, Mehak is often invited to speak on DIY Loop, Basal settings in pumps, Diabetes self-management strategies, and Exercise and Type 1 diabetes.
Ms. Dhingra is honored to have received the Allan Drash Fellowship 2024 from ISPAD and JDRF. This further motivates her to provide comprehensive care and address education and management gaps in India. She aspires to enhance her clinical expertise in diabetes, with a vision to improve the standard of care and quality of life for people with diabetes in her country.
Raban Dusabimana
Dr. Raban Dusabimana is a distinguished graduate of the School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science at the University of Rwanda, completing his studies in 2018. He furthered his expertise with a specialist certificate in quality improvement and patient safety from the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQUA).
Since graduating, Dr. Dusabimana has served as a Primary Care Physician (PCP) in various district hospitals across Rwanda, amassing significant clinical experience, research acumen, and involvement in quality improvement initiatives. In 2020, he completed a six-month foundation course in diabetes through the Merck Foundation. This led to his selection for a one-year postgraduate diploma in diabetes at the University of South Wales (USW) from 2021 to 2022. He subsequently advanced his studies by earning a Master of Science in Diabetes from USW from 2022 to 2023.
Currently, Dr. Dusabimana is a dedicated medical doctor at the Rwanda Diabetes Association Clinic. He specializes in diabetes management, focusing on youth and adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM). His responsibilities include diabetes education and continuous professional development in diabetes management. He has actively participated in various programs, such as the Life for Child Program for T1DM. He has been instrumental in youth empowerment through education and self-management programs for T1DM across Rwanda.
As a member of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), Dr. Dusabimana has attended numerous national and international conferences, presenting his research and contributing to the global dialogue on diabetes management.
In addition to his clinical and educational roles, Dr. Dusabimana is a member of a technical working group of local health experts that reviews, adapts, and translates WHO guidelines to develop national protocols for managing PEN-Plus conditions, including T1DM. He has held leadership positions, including Clinical Director at the Rwanda Diabetes Association.
During his ISPAD Allan Fellowship at Montreal Children's Hospital, Dr. Dusabimana aims to expand his knowledge of new technologies in diabetes management and enhance his clinical experience in the field. His commitment to improving diabetes care and education continues to significantly impact Rwanda and beyond.
Steve Vassili Missambou Mandilou
I am a Consultant Pediatrician and Pediatric Endocrinologist at the Department of Pediatrics of the Teaching Hospital of Brazzaville and at the Institut du diabète Maison Bleue of Brazzaville in the Republic of CONGO. I am also a volunteer lecturer and member of the pedagogical committee of the Teaching Program in Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology in Francophone Africa (PEDAF).
I completed my medical studies (2009) and residency in pediatrics and child care (2014) at Marien NGOUABI University in Brazzaville – CONGO. Then after, I joined the Pediatric Endocrinology Training Center for Africa (PETCA) in Nairobi – KENYA, for the Fellowship Program in Pediatric Endocrinology, where I graduated in September 2015, becoming the first pediatric endocrinologist in the nation of Congo. I have been an ISPAD member for more than 10 years now. I have been involved with ISPAD activities in different ways (as a delegate at the ISPAD research school for physicians in 2015 in Milano, as a mentor for the ISPAD science school in 2020, and as an abstract presenter at the ISPAD annual conference in 2020, 2021, and recently in 2023). I have published 36 scientific papers (including some in pediatric diabetes) in reputable journals.
I completed other training, including but not limited to the European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) Maghreb school, ESPE winter school, Inborn Errors of Metabolism, and Post Graduate Program in Pediatric Nutrition. I am passionate about clinical, teaching, and research activities in pediatrics and child care and about increasing, through training, the number of healthcare professionals trained in managing endocrine conditions in children (including diabetes) in the sub-Saharan African region.
Swati Dokania
Dr. Swati Dokania is a distinguished pediatrician from India specializing in pediatric endocrinology. Her medical journey commenced with a bachelor's degree in Medicine from a prestigious government college in Kolkata, India, followed by a rigorous three-year residency in Pediatrics at the esteemed All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhopal, a tertiary care center renowned for its excellence in medical care.
During her residency, Dr. Swati recognized a significant lack of awareness among children and parents regarding Type 1 Diabetes. This realization fueled her thesis research, “The effect of educational interventions for parents of children with Type 1 Diabetes,” which focused particularly on economically disadvantaged families reliant on government healthcare services. Her outstanding work in this area earned her the prestigious Dr. D K Shrivastava Gold Medal in Social Pediatrics, underscoring her dedication to addressing public health challenges.
Dr. Swati further honed her expertise through an 18-month Fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology in Bangalore, gaining valuable hands-on experience in advanced diabetes management techniques.
Dr. Swati’s contributions extend beyond clinical practice to significant research presentations at various national & international platforms. Her research work was presented at the 48th & 49th Annual Conference of the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD). Her research endeavors encompass diverse topics, including diabetic ketoacidosis in children, diabetes & Graves disease, and genetic mutations in pediatric endocrine disorders.
Passionate about continuously advancing diabetes management in children, Dr. Swati became a certified diabetes educator and actively participated in fellow schools from the Asia Pacific Pediatric Endocrine Society (APPES) and the Indian Society of Pediatric & Adolescent Endocrinology (ISPAE). She has also conducted collaborative research initiatives with global bodies like the ISPAD JENIOUS Group.
She was awarded the prestigious Allan Drash Fellowship 2024 from ISPAD and JDRF, a testament to her dedication to improving diabetes care and education. Her vision is to elevate the standards of diabetes care in India & Internationally, aiming to enhance the quality of life for children living with diabetes through innovative therapies and comprehensive education programs.
Dr. Swati Dokania's holistic approach to pediatric care, extensive clinical acumen, and research proficiency position her as a highly respected figure in pediatric endocrinology.
Yempabou Sagna
Dr Yempabou Sagna is working as an adult endocrinologist with an interest in pediatric endocrinology at Sourô Sanou University Hospital of Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso.
Indeed, since 2018, he has been a local partner of the “Life For A Child” program in his country. He helps coordinate 6 centers for the management of childhood and adolescent diabetes, which has approximately 400 patients.
As there was no pediatric endocrinologist in his country, his passion for pediatric endocrinology led him to follow the first master's course in pediatric endocrinology and diabetology organized by the Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology Teaching Program for French-speaking Africa (PEDAF).
He also holds an appointment as an assistant professor in endocrinology at Nazi BONI University of Bobo-Dioulasso.
As a researcher, he is the principal investigator in several studies investigating T1D epidemiology and treatment and diabetes knowledge in children and youth. His contributions to these fields include several peer-reviewed publications and presentations. In 2022, he was awarded the ISPAD-JDRF Research Fellowship to conduct a study evaluating the efficacy of twice-daily mixed insulin injection versus a basal-bolus regimen with human insulin for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in his country.
Dr. Sagna has been a member of ISPAD since 2018 and joined the ISPAD JENIOUS group. He is also a member of ESPE and ASPAE. He has participated in numerous workshops and conferences, including the ISPAD and ASPAE annual conferences and the 21st ISPAD Science School for Physicians in Prague.
One of his latest studies showed that the incidence and prevalence of T1D in youth in Burkina Faso are sharply rising, partly due to improved case detection. However, the mortality rate is very high.
Through the Allan Drash Clinical Fellowship 2024, he wants to learn tips to improve the quality of pediatric and youth diabetes care and reduce the T1D mortality rate in his country. Furthermore, he would like to conduct further study on the phenotypes and endotypes occurring as there is very limited information on this from African regions and set up the 1st pediatric endocrinology department in his country.