Prof. Champion N. Nyoni

Categories: Opening Ceremony

Champion is an Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at the School of Nursing of the University of the Free State, in South Africa. He is a professional nurse who holds registration as a nurse in three countries within sub-Saharan Africa. Champion obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Science from the University of Zimbabwe, a Master of Social Science in Nursing from the University of the Free State, a Master of Health Professions Education with a specialisation in Assessment and Accreditation (with distinction) from Keele University in the United Kingdom and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of the Free State. He also holds a Fellowship with the sub-Saharan FAIMER regional institute (SAFRI) and an International Fellowship in Medical Education.

He has more than 10 years’ experience in primary healthcare and nursing education. Champion was instrumental in developing competency-based programmes for undergraduate nursing education in various contexts within the African region. His research, which has been published in various platforms focuses on the development of a competent workforce that can influence the health parameters of the contexts they serve. He supervises Master and PhD students in nursing and in health professions education.

He serves in various boards and organisations with an influence in health professions education namely,

    • Co-Facilitator of the Interprofessional.Global
    • AMEE academic board
    • The WHO Academy as an advisor
    • Past Chair of the Africa Interprofessional Education Network (AfrIPEN)
    • Chair of the Association for Health Professions Education and Leadership

Biography:

Professor Asmaa Al-Thani is the Vice President of Medical and Health Sciences, the Director of the Biomedical Research Center (BRC) and a Professor of Virology at the Biomedical Sciences Department, Qatar University.  Professor Althani is also an Adjunct Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.

Professor Al-Thani’s portfolio articulates a record of accomplishments in establishing the academic and research infrastructure for health and medical sciences at Qatar University, pertaining her roles as the Founding Dean of the College of Health Sciences (2016) and the Founding Director of BRC (2014).  Professor Al-Thani has an active role in national landscape of medical research through serving as the Vice Chairperson of the Qatar Biobank Board, Chairperson of the National Qatar Genome Committee and establishing National Reference laboratory-COVID19 Unit.  In addition, she is the founding chair for the Empower Generation Consortium (EGC), which comprises several projects that enhance the national capacities in health and medical sciences.

Professor Al-Thani has a leading research portfolio, with over than 120 published papers in peer-reviewed international journals and around 34 internal and external research grants and 2 patents.  She is a reviewer for several scientific journals and conferences, and currently a member of the American society for Microbiology.

Her accomplishments have been recognized through several awards, including the Astrolabi Award from WCMC-Q (2020), QS- Reimagine Oscar in Education, gold in Life Sciences and the silver in best university-employer relationship for the years 2018-2020.   She also received the State Encouraging Award in the Medical Sciences and Nursing (2017), Sheikh Hummaid Bin Rashid Award for Culture and Sciences (2006), Al-Jasra Cultural Club –Qatar (2008), Qatar University Outstanding Faculty Service Award (2012), the College of Arts and Sciences Research Award (2012) and the Arab Paediatric Medical Research Award (2015).