Prof Robert Opoka has been actively involved in medical education training for the last 10 years. Before joining AKU, he was Associate Professor and Consultant Paediatrician at Makerere University, Uganda. Some of his key achievements include, introducing a new curriculum and postgraduate medical education training at the University. He also introduced Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCE) at Makerere University which is being implemented by all universities in Uganda.
Prof Opoka has published 130 peer-reviewed publications which have helped improve patient care across the sub-Saharan region. He holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree from Makerere University and a Master of Medicine in Paediatrics & Child Health from Guangxi University, China. He completed his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at University of California Berkeley, USA in 2007; MHPE in Medical Education in 2013 from Maastricht University, Netherlands and most recently received his PhD in Health Sciences from Makerere University.
Prof Opoka joins AKU at a historic time. He will lead the implementation of the new undergraduate programme in medicine: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB).
What motivated you to take up the role of Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education at AKU?
When the opportunity came knocking, I grabbed it with both hands because I wanted to bring the wealth of experience I had gained at Makerere University for over 20 years, especially through the implementation of the OCSE programme in Uganda. I wanted to implement evidence-based teaching and learning in medical schools and to provide high-quality medical education to our young generation so that they can benefit from all the available technology and expertise that is currently available. Medical training and clinical care have changed drastically and we must adopt new technologies to mould the next generation of medical doctors.
In addition, I was motivated by AKU’s vision to provide cutting-edge quality care using evidence-based learning. This is something I have been trying to implement at Makerere University and when the opportunity came to implement this at AKU, I was excited and couldn’t turn it down. The vision and the aspiration that AKU has towards implementing the MBChB programme in the region aligns with my own vision and goals, and I wanted to be part of this journey.
How does the MBChB programme at AKU compare to others?
The main difference is that we will deliver a world-class undergraduate programme in the region that incorporates the best medical education practices. We have high-quality faculty who are motivated to deliver the programme. The use of evidence-based learning and technology that will be incorporated into the programme will be very key. In addition, we also have the best facilities and the best clinical environment, which is the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUHN).
What value will the MBChB programme add to the health landscape in Kenya and the region?
The key determinant of delivering quality healthcare is the doctor. You can’t improve patient care without improving the doctor. A bad doctor cannot give you high-quality care whether you have the best facilities or not. The MBChB programme will produce the best human resource in the region, and this will translate into producing the best doctors who are well-rounded, have a variety of skills applicable in the modern era which will translate to providing the best quality care.
What do you foresee as the impact of the undergraduate programme?
We envisage that in the future our doctors will be able to influence policy and the quality of patient care in Kenya and the entire region. In addition, our doctors will influence other medical institutions in the region which will see other institutions turn their attention to AKU and our model of training and learning in medical education.
What are some of the challenges you’ve experienced in your career?
One of them is managing change and bringing new ideas, especially in the medical world where there is a lot of hierarchy. As a young man, trying to convince your seniors and professors to adopt a new way of doing things can be quite challenging in a learning institution.
Another challenge is the availability of resources to implement new ideas. You have new ideas but basic resources such as lab tests, diagnostic equipment, staff and bed count are not always available to enable you to implement your novel ideas.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love football. I played football in Uganda up to the junior level, the Under-17 national team. I also played for Spear Motors and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) FC in the Super Division in the Ugandan Premier Division League for three seasons, but I couldn’t sustain it because I had to focus on my medical studies. At the international level, I love Manchester United and the three players I love most at the club are David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.
What is one thing people do not know about you?
When I was young, my ambition was to become a priest and a preacher. At one point, I was an altar boy. I can recite the Catholic mass with my eyes closed!
