Sylvia Shitsama Nyamweya
Shitsama Nyamweya | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983 (age 42–43) |
| Citizenship | Kenya |
| Education | University of Nairobi (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) (Master of Medicine in Neurosurgery) |
| Occupation | Consultant Neurosurgeon |
| Website | https://drsylviashitsama.com |
Sylvia Shitsama Nyamweya (née Sylvia Shitsama) is a Kenyan consultant neurosurgeon at the Kenyatta National Referral Hospital.[1] She is the first female neurosurgeon in Kenya[2] and one of a handful of female neurosurgeons in the country.[3]
Background and education
Nyamweya was born in the Kakamega District in Kenya in 1983,[4][1] and attended Kenyan schools for her elementary and secondary education. She was admitted to the University of Nairobi, where she studied human medicine, graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree. In 2008, she was admitted into the neurosurgery residency program at Kenyatta National Hospital, operated by the University of Nairobi.[2] The program, lasting at least six years, leads to the award of a Master of Medicine (MMed) degree in Neurosurgery. She graduated with her MMed degree in 2015, and became the first female neurosurgeon in Kenya.[2][1]
Career
Nyamweya was appointed as a consultant neurosurgeon at Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest referral hospital in the country, which also serves as the teaching hospital of the Nairobi Medical School.[1] Effective January 2016, she concurrently serves as a lecturer at the College of Health Sciences at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).[2] In June 2017, she began working at Sage Brain and Spine Clinic, located at the Kenya Medical Association Centre in Nairobi.[3][5] She is reported to be seeking funding to sponsor residents enrolled in the neurosurgery Master of Medicine programme to increase enrollment and output of specialist neurosurgeons.[3]
Shitsama has served as a board member of the Kenya Medical Association Sacco (KMA), responsible for member credit issues.[6]
Honors and awards
In 2017, she was named among the "Top 40 Women Under 40 in Kenya" by the Nation Media Group.[1] In 2022, she was one of 14 people honored at the Grow, Unite, Build, Africa (GUBA) Awards, and received the Pioneer Award for Health Excellence.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Top 40 Women Under 40 in Kenya" (PDF). Business Daily Africa. Nairobi: Nation Media Group. 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d Muchangi, John (10 November 2022). "Story of Kenya's only four female neurosurgeons". The Star. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Nyambega Gisesa, and Abigael Sum (22 November 2014). "Why there are only 17 neurosurgeons in Kenya". Nairobi: SDE Kenya. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ "Sylvia Shitsama-Nyamweya: The Neurosurgeon". Paukwa. 29 October 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
- ^ Ndonga, Simon (21 July 2017). "Relief for patients as neurosurgery clinic opens in Nairobi". Nairobi: 98.4 Capital FM. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ KMASACCO (22 November 2017). "Kenya Medical Association Sacco: Board of Directors". Nairobi: Kenya Medical Association Sacco (KMASACCO). Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- ^ "GUBA celebrates hard work, excellence of 14 role models at 13th Awards in Kigali". JoyOnline. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2022.