GloCal applauds 2021-2022 alumnus, Dr. Felix Oyania, MBChB, MMed, FCS, PhD, for recently receiving his PhD in Medicine and simultaneously being appointed Chair of the Department of Surgery at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology in Uganda!

Dr. Felix Oyania’s career emphasizes the importance of improving surgical access and outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Over the past several years, he has made significant contributions to global pediatric surgery and public health, particularly in the management of anorectal malformations (ARMs) in Uganda. His PhD specifically focused on the effectiveness of one-stage repair for anorectal malformations. His research, supervised by mentors from UCSF, Mbarara University, and McGill University, aimed to address the challenges faced by children with ARMs in low-resource settings. Traditionally, ARM repair involves three stages; however, Dr. Oyania’s research has demonstrated that one-stage repair, which avoids colostomy, is effective and reduces healthcare costs, complications, social stigma, and catastrophic expenditures for families.

Dr. Oyania’s PhD research was funded by the NIH Fogarty International Center and National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases through the UCGHI GloCal Health Fellowship and UCSF’s Center for Health Equity in Surgery and Anesthesia (CHESA). It has resulted in numerous publications in high-impact journals, as well as a chapter in a book that tackles ethical dilemmas in global pediatric surgery. Notably, he and his UCSF mentor, Professor Doruk Ozgediz, received the prestigious 2024 James O’Neill Global Pediatric Surgery Research Scholar Grant from the American Pediatric Surgical Association Foundation to address the mental health and social integration challenges faced by children with stomas.

As the new Chair of the Department of Surgery at Mbarara University, Dr. Oyania will oversee strategic planning, training of medical students and residents, postgraduate research training, and the overall management of the department. Congratulations, Dr. Oyania, for all your remarkable achievements and ongoing leadership in this critical area!