According to ghana news agency: A Clinician-Scholar's Role in Advancing Medical Education and Gastroenterology Practice,' emphasized the connection between clinical practice, academic scholarship, and the training of future physicians. The event attracted current and former Vice Chancellors, heads of institutions, deans, faculty members, students, and family and friends.
Prof Awuku advocated for the creation of a 'Ghana Health Sustainability Index' to replace the 'Africa Health Sustainability Index.' He believes this framework would help future-proof healthcare systems by ensuring regional health monitoring and policy guidance that is tailored to local needs and cultural nuances.
Highlighting the importance of training physicians as innovators and educators, Prof Awuku addressed the rising burden of gastrointestinal and liver diseases such as viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma in Ghana and Africa. He called for improved diagnostic infrastructure, endoscopy services, and public awareness to tackle these issues.
He proposed a shift in medical education from rote memorization to competency-based, patient-centered training. He stressed the need for bedside teaching, simulation-based learning, and methods that assess both knowledge application and professionalism.
Prof Awuku shared his research experiences, demonstrating how clinical questions can guide impactful research and policy. His areas of focus include hepatitis B elimination, hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiology, and healthcare sustainability in Ghana.
He urged policymakers to ground decisions in frontline realities and called for universities to support clinician-scholars through clinical professorship pathways. He also encouraged public demand for healthcare systems that value competence and compassion.
Prof Awuku proposed establishing Centres of Excellence to boost medical tourism and transform the health ecosystem. His contributions extend internationally, with involvement in the African Network for Gastroenterology and Heptology and advisory roles with global organizations.
Prof Awuku, a royal from Akropong-Akuapem, is married to Dr. Nana Agyeiwah Awuku, a consultant haematologist. They have three children: Maame Akosua, Nana Yaw, and Papa Kwasi.