Akbar Waljee, MD MSc

That’s a wrap! I had the privilege of moderating a debate between two remarkable scholars on AI & Inequity in Low Middle Income settings at the Center for Global Health Equity. The resolution for the house was “AI is worsening the gap in inequities rather than reducing it.” My colleagues Dr. Bilial Butt, Professor of Enviroment and Sustainability here at University of Michigan, was the affirmative debator, and Ms. Farhana Alarakhiya, Chief Data Innovation Officer of Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya, was against the resolution. It was spirited and quite a challenge to stay neutral! Thank you, Dr. @AkbarWaljee , for the invitation! @umichmedicine @UMichMedSchool @aafp

Strengthening Global Partnerships for AI-Driven Cancer Care The National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K) was honored to host a delegation from the University of Michigan Center for Global Health Equity to explore transformative collaborations in oncology. Our CEO, @DrEliasMelly and the NCI-K team met with the team led by Dr. Akbar K. Waljee, Center Director, Global Health Equity, and Assistant Dean, to discuss the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in cancer care. The deliberations focused on three strategic pillars: Cancer Surveillance, Diagnosis and Treatment. Together, we are looking toward a future where technology bridges the gap in global health equity.

We also say goodbye and thank you, as well as warmly welcome, a number of members of #TeamGUT We say a huge thank you to Professor Alexander Gerbes @AlexanderGerbes, Professor Guy Boeckxstaens @BoeckxstaensLab, Professor Patrice Cani, Professor Jean-Francois Dufour @dufour_jf, Professor Christian Jobin, Professor Herbert Tilg, Professor Akbar Waljee @AkbarWaljee, and Professor Fabien Zoulim. Thank you for everything you have done for @Gut_BMJ from Professor Emad El-Omar @emadelomar and all at #TeamGUT We warmly welcome some new research superstars to the #TeamGUT fold from around the globe. We welcome Professor Hongliang Li, Professor Alexander Ford @alex_ford12399, Professor Debbie Shawcross @DebbieShawcros1, Professor Nageshwar Reddy @DrDNReddy, Professor Amit Singal @docamitgs, Professor Jonel Trebicka @JonelTrebicka, Professor Chiara Braconi @chiarabraconi, Professor Nadim Mahmud @nadimmahmud and Professor Francisco Javier Cubero @CUBEROlab. It is great to have you as part of #TeamGUT We look forward to the new and exciting developments ahead in 2026 and beyond #GUTPortfolio @FrontGastro_BMJ @BMJOpen_Gastro @BritSocGastro #GUTScience @bmj_company

We also say goodbye and thank you, as well as warmly welcome, a number of members of #TeamGUT We say a huge thank you to Professor Alexander Gerbes @AlexanderGerbes, Professor Guy Boeckxstaens @BoeckxstaensLab, Professor Patrice Cani, Professor Jean-Francois Dufour @dufour_jf, Professor Christian Jobin, Professor Herbert Tilg, Professor Akbar Waljee @AkbarWaljee, and Professor Fabien Zoulim. Thank you for everything you have done for @Gut_BMJ from Professor Emad El-Omar @emadelomar and all at #TeamGUT We warmly welcome some new research superstars to the #TeamGUT fold from around the globe. We welcome Professor Hongliang Li, Professor Alexander Ford @alex_ford12399, Professor Debbie Shawcross @DebbieShawcros, Professor Nageshwar Reddy @DrDNReddy, Professor Amit Singal @docamitgs, Professor Jonel Trebicka @JonelTrebicka, Professor Chiara Braconi @chiarabraconi, Professor Nadim Mahmud @nadimmahmud and Professor Francisco Javier Cubero @CUBEROlab. It is great to have you as part of #TeamGUT We look forward to the new and exciting developments ahead in 2026 and beyond #GUTPortfolio @FrontGastro_BMJ @BMJOpenGastro @BritScoGastro #GUTScience @bmj_company

Honored to meet with Rwanda’s Ministers of Health, Education, ICT, + State. We explored a shared vision for how policy, innovation, + edu can strengthen health systems + prepare for the future. Rwanda’s leadership and commitment to advancing health for all is truly inspiring.

The plenary speaker of the day, Prof. Akbar Waljee, is a globally respected leader in learning health systems and Artificial Intelligence, dedicated to strengthening health systems across Africa through data driven solutions, training and equitable partnerships.

Tonight, we celebrated a living legend. Our longest-serving volunteer alive, Dolat Karim, received the A. A. Molu Lifetime Achievement Award, a rare honour reserved for those who have overcome extraordinary challenges in their volunteer service. She was also presented with her book, The Power of Philanthropy, a powerful reflection of her 52-year journey of service and compassion. At 83, Dolat has stood at the forefront of major crises, championed prison reform and supported some of the most vulnerable members of our communities. #RedCrossVolunteerAwardsKe

From educator to internationally recognized researcher. Meet Prof Amina Abubakar - our Director at the Institute for Human Development, Aga Khan University. Her work is changing autism science and services in sub-Saharan Africa. thetransmitter.org/spectrum/amina…

Yesterday, we launched a 3-day session under the #UZIMA_DS-funded grant to empower grant administrators with insights into research administration stages, ethics compliance, budgeting, & AKU’s research tools.📸 See glimpses from the workshop below! @AKUGlobal #AKU @akuih

New publication from center-affiliated researchers: Mobile phone surveys in 🇪🇹🇮🇩🇰🇪🇲🇼 reveal key limits in measuring vax hesitancy. 🧑🏽‍🤝‍🧑🏻 Oversampled men/older adults 📈 Self-reports > official rates ⚠️ Social desirability & access biases matter. 📰 Read: jogh.org/2025/jogh-15-0…

Congratulations @UMich class of 2025! 💯🎉〽️ cc: @SantaJOno #MGoGrad

As we mark 60 years of Kenya Red Cross this year, we shine a spotlight on Mrs. Dolat Premji (Karim) — our longest-serving volunteer alive today, with an incredible 52 years of dedicated service. Now 83 years old, Dolat has been at the heart of KRCS responses to major crises — from the 1998 Bomb Blast and 2007 post-election violence to the 1994 Rwanda refugee crisis. Beyond emergency response, she has championed prison reform and supported vulnerable groups including inmates, orphans, and children with cancer — a true unsung hero. “KRCS had a humble start. Today, it’s a leading humanitarian force with 301,400+ volunteers.” #RedCrossat60

📑 Machine-learning methodologies to predict disease progression in chronic hepatitis B in Africa❕🌍 journals.lww.com/hepcomm/fullte… @AkbarWaljee

#UZIMA_DS hub & the research we are undertaking, has been made possible through the partnership between @AKUglobal & @UMich. “We went into this partnership because of a common purpose and a common good,” Joe Kolars, Director of the Centre for Global Health Equity. #UZIMA_DS2025

The #UZIMA_DS Hub aims to leverage advancements in artificial intelligence, machine Learning, & mobile innovations to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes, as well as #mentalhealth outcomes of adolescents and young adults in Africa.

Delhi-Nairobi-Naivasha for the #UZIMA_DS Annual Meeting. Led by @AminaAbubak @AKUGlobal & @AkbarWaljee @umichigan. This afternoon session starts with application of digital interventions for mental health and associated LTCs. uzimadatascience.org

The #UZIMA_DS Hub annual meeting commenced yesterday in Naivasha, Kenya, with opening remarks from our lead researchers Prof Amina Abubakar & Prof @AkbarWaljee. They emphasised the need for a collaborative platform & the communication of our research to the communities we serve.

In the midst of the exciting new/novel tx for UC, Appreciate #MilesParkes sharing still potential role of thiopurines for UC maintenance at #ECCO2025. Not everyone can afford biologics/advanced therapy. @AkbarWaljee

How is @umich using AI? Hear how U-M students, faculty, and staff are utilizing AI in creative ways every day. I am grateful to be working with @umichtech, @UMichPrezOno, and our entire community on building the future of AI. youtube.com/watch?v=S7U2MQ… #ai #genai

New in BMJ: We found that early-onset (<45 yrs) esophageal squamous cell carcinoma makes up 12.3 % of cases in east Africa but just 2.2% of lifetime incidence. Cases may rise with longer life expectancy. gut.bmj.com/content/73/12/… @AkbarWaljee