Our Team

Milena coordinates the facilitation of finance and administration for projects being implemented in Ethiopia. Milena also manages the implementation of Lifebox’s  Nursing Leadership for Surgical Excellence Program in Ethiopia. With a background in events and project management. Milena has a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and Environmental Studies from Addis Ababa University.

Dr. Reshma Ambulkar is Professor and Head of Anesthesia and Critical Care and Pain at The Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Centre, in Mumbai. Reshma is part of Lifebox faculty for Southeast Asia, leading Safe OR courses throughout the region and led the implementation Lifebox’s surgical infection reduction program -Clean Cut – at Tata.

As Oximetry Clinical Lead, Reshma is responsible for the clinical content and quality of Lifebox’s oximetry related research and implementation work globally to ensure the program’s impact in low-resource settings.

Dr. Sedera Arimino is a general surgeon in Madagascar. As Lifebox’s Clean Cut Clinical Lead, Sedera is responsible for the clinical content and quality of the Lifebox Clean Cut program globally. Sedera works directly with Lifebox Fellows and other team members to implement Clean Cut to ensure that the program is implemented to the highest standards and with maximum impact.

Sedera studied medicine at the Faculty of Medicine of Antananarivo, Madagascar with a surgery internship at the University Hospital Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona (CHU-JRA), the University Hospital Analankinina Toamasinan and the Hospital Center of Gonesse in Frace. Currently Dr. Arimino works as a general surgeon at the Regional Hospital of Reference of Vakinankaratra Antsirabe. Sedera is part of Lifebox’s Clinical team.

Andressa is a part qualified accountant with over five years’ experience working in the non-profit sector. Andressa holds a first-class honors degree in Business Administration from Pitagoras University, Brazil and is currently working towards ACCA accreditation. Andressa is responsible for the preparation of financial reports and supports the Finance team.

As the Center for Health Equity in Surgery & Anesthesia (CHESA) Lifebox Anesthesia Safety Fellow, Ronald leads the collaborative work on pulse oximetry testing and research between Lifebox and the University of California San Francisco’s Hypoxia Lab,

Ronald is an anesthesiologist and holds a medical degree from Mbarara University of Science and Technology and completed his anesthesia and critical care training at Makerere University. Most recently, Ronald earned a World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists Paediatric Anaesthesia Fellowship.

Senait Bitew has over 15 years of experience in global health, with expertise in program development, strategic planning, and team leadership. Her career includes significant work as a public health consultant for UN agencies, NGOs, and government bodies, focusing on healthcare system strengthening and program evaluation. As PMTCT National Advisor at Jhpiego, she provided technical guidance for maternal and child health programs. Since joining Lifebox in 2018, she has progressively taken on increasing responsibility, starting as Ethiopia Country Programs Manager and advancing to Head of Programs for East and Southern Africa, before assuming her current role as Chief Program Officer. Under her leadership, Lifebox has expanded its programs across multiple countries, implementing the Clean Cut surgical safety program and developing the Nursing Leadership for Surgical Excellence (NLSE) initiative. She has built strong partnerships with Ministries of Health, academic institutions and key funding partners. Senait holds a Master’s in Public Health, a Degree in Nursing, and is a certified Project Management Professional. She has co-authored several publications on surgical safety and infection prevention in low-resource settings.

As Lifebox’s Individual Giving Manager, Alissa maintains relationships with Lifebox’s individual donors and raises funds through online campaigns and peer to peer fundraisers, including the ASA-Lifebox Resident Challenge.

Prior to joining Lifebox, Alissa served as Patron Services Coordinator at the American Shakespeare Center. She holds a Master of Science in Performing Arts Leadership and Management and Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Shenandoah University. 

Dr. Damiano Chaula supports the implementation of the Clean Cut for Long Bone Fracture program at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and Kamuzu Central Hospital in Malawi and is part of the Lifebox Clinical team. Damiano previously worked as a Research assistant at Partners in Health, Malawi where he supported the adaptation and validation of the South African Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) to the Malawian health system. Damiano completed his Bachelor’s of Medicine and of Surgery at The University of Malawi College of Medicine.

Dr. Jared Forrester is a hepatobiliary & pancreas surgeon at Hoag Family Cancer Institute in Newport Beach, California. As Surgical Advisor, Jared is part of the Lifebox Clinical team and provides clinical oversight, advice, and quality assurance to Lifebox safe surgery programs and projects. 

Jared was previously a Surgical Fellow for Lifebox and helped develop the Lifebox surgical infection reduction program – Clean Cut – and led the development and testing of the Lifebox surgical headlight work. 

Jared holds a medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin, completed a general surgery residency at Stanford University, and a HPB Fellowship at the Providence Portland Cancer Institute. 

Dr. Natnael Gebeyehu is a surgical resident at Addis Ababa University, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia. He graduated as a Medical Doctor from St. Paul Millennium Medical College, Ethiopia. Natnael has extensive experience as an Operational Theatre Manager and Surgical Ward Manager at St. Peter’s Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa. Natnael currently serves as the Lifebox Surgical Safety Innovation Fellow – overseeing the development of a surgical headlight, leading headlight research, and supporting other Lifebox innovation work. Natnael was an instrumental member of the team that piloted Clean Cut in Ethiopia and was part of the McCaskey Fellowship Program.

Eugenie works with Lifebox suppliers and partners to distribute Lifebox’s medical devices worldwide and supports the development of Lifebox’s  MedTech projects. Eugenie has a background in international medical procurement with past roles including the IRC and Save the Children. Eugenie earned her Bachelors degree in Human Resource Management from Notre Dame University, Perth, Australia.

Dr. Kebede is an experienced public health professional, including working for the Federal Ministry of Health of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Public Health Institute. Hillena earned her medical degree from Jimma University and her Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) from Gondar University, Ethiopia and has also worked as a freelance medical interpreter. Hillena is responsible for managing the Clean Cut for Cleft research project and the implementation of Clean-Cut in Quality hub hospitals in Ethiopia.

As Lifebox Training Coordinator, Nabeelah supports the implementation of the Lifebox training
strategy and delivery of high quality training programs to support Lifebox’s safe surgery and anesthesia work.

Nabeelah has more than five years of experience in the Public Health, Pharmaceutical,
and FMCG industries. She has worked across the different businesses within the Johnson &
Johnson Family of Companies, working with cross-functional teams in emerging markets in
various marketing, education and project management roles.

Nabeelah holds a BA Honours in Industrial Psychology, Cum Laude and BA, Summa Cum Laude
from the University of Western Cape.

Lilian Omondi is a trained, registered, and licensed nurse and holds a Bachelor of Science, Masters of Science and Doctor of philosophy degrees in nursing. She is currently a senior lecturer at University of Nairobi in the Department of Nursing Sciences.

Lilian comes with more than 20 years of clinical experience and more than 10 years of teaching experience both locally and internationally developing and reviewing nursing training materials and curricula, with a particular focus on perioperative nursing programs.

As Clinical Lead  for the Lifebox Nursing Leadership for Surgical Excellence (NLSE) program, Lilian is responsible for the clinical content and quality of Lifebox’s work globally on perioperative nursing care, including the development and piloting of trainings to support perioperative nurses.

Lilian is researcher and has authored and published several research articles in preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative aspects of health care research to improve the quality of life for patients with medical surgical conditions.

Bella oversees the delivery of Lifebox’s work in South Asia and Latin America. Bella previously worked at First Aid Africa and holds an MSc in Africa and International Development from the University of Edinburgh, and an MA in Translating and Interpreting from Heriot-Watt University.

Dr. Rodrigo López is a cardiac anaesthesiologist from Santiago de Chile. Rodrigo has worked extensively in Africa and now works for the International Committee of the Red Cross based in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rodrigo has also completed a PhD in biomedical ethics at the University of Zurich, focusing on health inequalities, and a Master in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Rodrigo is part of the Lifebox Clinical team.

Cleopatra is an HR strategist with over 10 years’ experience across various industries.  She joined Lifebox to lead its HR function from Bushveld Minerals – an LSE listed vanadium producer. Prior to this, she worked as a consultant and has provided services to companies such as CRRC E-Loco, Multichoice, National Empowerment Fund and SA Mint. Cleopatra holds an MCom in Industrial and Organisational Psychology from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. She is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, South African Board of People Practices and South African rewards Association.

Dr. Mvukiyehe works as a consultant anesthesiologist at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare (CHUB) and is a joint fellow in Global Surgery at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) and Lifebox. He is also a Lecturer of Anesthesiology in the department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda. Dr. Mvukiyehe is part of the Lifebox clinical team. 

Dr. Negussie is responsible for the clinical content, relevance, and quality of all Lifebox programs delivered globally and oversees a diverse team of perioperative clinicians and fellows working in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Tihitena is a consultant general and pediatric surgeon and worked at the Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for more than 14 years. She has served in different leadership positions including as Chair of the National Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Ethiopia, Coordinator of the CPD centers at Addis Ababa University’s College of Health Sciences, and the Ethiopian Medical Association (EMA). Tihitena is part of the clinical team that developed Lifebox’s Clean Cut Program in Ethiopia and sits on the Lifebox leadership team.

Judy Ngugi is an operations and finance executive with more than twenty years of experience working in the development sector with roles at a variety of international non-profit organizations and foundations, including International Livestock Research Institute – Kenya, Kenya Human Rights Commission, and Helen Keller International. Judy joins Lifebox from Gatsby Africa where she was Deputy Director for Operations and Finance.

As Chief Finance and Administration Officer for Lifebox, Judy is responsible for all aspects of Lifebox’s finances, governance, and administration worldwide and works closely with the global team and trustees to put in place robust financial and administrative management systems to support Lifebox deliver on its objectives. Judy is part of the Lifebox leadership team.

Judy holds a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Strategic Management from the University of Nairobi, Kenya and a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from Kenyatta University, Kenya.

Dr. Maia Nofal is a general surgery resident at Boston Medical Center, United States with a MPH from Boston University School of Public Health. Maia primarily works on the evaluation of Lifebox’s safer cesarean-section research trial (CLEAN-CS) and in identifying future areas of investigation for implementation and expansion of the Lifebox surgical infection reduction program – Clean Cut.

Dr. Polain is a consultant emeritus in anesthesiology with a wealth of experience as a general practitioner, a curriculum developer, and a trainer. He is presently a CD3S coordinator at Clinique Universitaires Saint-Luc in Belgium. Bernard has co-developed and helped train more than 250 anesthesiologists in West Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Djibouti, and Madagascar. 

Bernard is on the Board of Entraide Médicale Internationale, a Belgian NGO that finances medical training and medical equipment in the DRC as well as an NGO that finances young medical specialists in South Kivu.

Paschal manages the implementation of the Clean Cut for Long Bone Fracture program at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe and Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi to reduce surgical infection through the adaptation of the Lifebox Clean Cut program.

Paschal has a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Systems Management from Exploits University, Lilongwe, and a Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery from Mulanje Mission College of Nursing. Previous work includes project management and coordination roles at Americares Foundation, Save the Children International, and Marie Stopes International.

Dr. Starr is a Trauma & Acute Care Surgery Fellow at the University of California, San Francisco. Nichole was instrumental in the development of the Clean Cut Program and previously held roles as a Lifebox Safe Surgery Fellow and Senior Lifebox Fellow.

As a Clinical Surgical Advisor, Dr. Starr provides oversight, advice, and quality assurance of programs or projects on safe surgery from a clinical perspective.

Nichole completed an MPH with emphasis in International Studies from Boston University and served in the Peace Corps/Ethiopia from 2007-2008 where her work focused on HIV/AIDS services; economic empowerment of women, and community home-based palliative care for patients with HIV/AIDS. She currently works with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health on trauma quality improvement activities in addition to her advisory role with Lifebox.

Sara trained as a physiotherapist at Gondar University, Ethiopia where she also completed her MSc in Public Health. Sara has worked for various international humanitarian organizations in both technical and managerial roles, including for the International Committee of the Red Cross. Sara is overseeing the global implementation of Lifebox’s surgical site infection program, Clean Cut, as well as managing the CLEAN-CS trial which is working to improve the safety of C-sections by through the reduction of surgical infection rates.

Kris has worked in the global health and humanitarian sector for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Lifebox, Kris worked with Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) for over 14 years, including serving as the organization’s Secretary General from 2008 to 2012 and as part of MSF’s Ebola response team in Liberia in 2014. Kris sits on the board of the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) North America, and is a former board member of All Out and The Alliance for International Medical Action (ALIMA) USA where she was also Founding Executive Director.

Kris holds a B.A. with honors in East Asian Studies from Wesleyan University, an M.Phil in Chinese language and literature from Columbia University, and an MSc in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Kris is part of the Lifebox leadership team.

Zainab is a qualified accountant with over a decade of finance experience, most recently as Finance Manager with Heifer International South Africa, where she also oversaw IT and operations. Zainab provides robust financial and management accounting, financial consolidation, and ensuring compliance with local financial regulations worldwide. Zainab also plays a critical role in supporting the coordination of all aspects of Lifebox operations and administration worldwide.

Lourdes is an award-winning multimedia journalist with over a decade of experience in media and communication. Prior to joining Lifebox, she was a Senior Radio Producer at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation where she conceptualized and produced content for over 10 radio stations. As the Press Officer, Lourdes is responsible for developing, refining and executing Lifebox’s global media strategy and related public communications and outreach initiatives.

Lourdes holds a Master of Art in Media Practice for Development and Social Change from the University of Sussex in the UK and Bachelor of Science in Communication and Public Relations from Moi University in Kenya.

Teshager Worku is Program Manager for Lifebox’s Nursing Leadership for Surgical Excellence (NLSE) program. Teshager comes with more than 10 years of relevant work experience working with diverse local and international non-governmental organizations and academia in Ethiopia developing and implementing innovative nursing programs with different international organizations. Prior to joining Lifebox, Teshager was CEO of the Ethiopia Nurses Association.

As Program Manager for the NLSE program, Teshager works across closely with the program and clinical team and manages all aspects of the program’s design and delivery.

Teshager holds Bachelor of Science in Nursing, MSc in Adult Health Nursing.

Dr. Alype Rwamatwara serves as a Fellow for the Antibiotic Timeout program within the Rwanda Clean-Cut project. He is also a practicing General Practitioner at Nyarurenzi Medicalized Health Center in Kigali, Rwanda, and is deeply involved in community-based health promotion initiatives focused on cervical cancer eradication across the country. Dr. Alype holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Dr. Richard Kajubi is a seasoned clinical researcher and medical professional with over 12 years of experience advancing global health through innovative research, capacity building, and public health interventions. As the Research Program Manager at with Lifebox, he oversees multicounty research projects aimed at improving surgical safety and health outcomes. His tenure includes similar positions with other research organizations such as the Malaria Consortium and the Infectious diseases Research Collaboration where he managed several clinical trials and other complex studies, ensuring scientific rigor. Internationally, Richard completed a Clinical Research and Development Fellowship with WHO/TDR, where he worked as a Safety Physician at GSK Biologicals in Belgium. With an extensive portfolio of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, Richard is recognized as a thought leader in clinical research. His expertise in regulatory compliance, stakeholder engagement, and data-driven decision-making has been instrumental in addressing healthcare challenges and driving impactful interventions.

Richard’s academic credentials include a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, a Master of Public Health, and postgraduate diplomas in Project Planning and Management from Uganda Management Institute and Clinical Research and Regulatory Affairs (CRP3.0). He has also pursued advanced training in research methods, biostatistics, implementation science, and clinical trials operations from leading global institutions.

Rahel Assefa is the NLSE Implementation Coordinator at Lifebox, where she plays a crucial role in supporting the quality improvement (QI) research activities of the Nurse Leadership for Surgical Excellence (NLSE) program. In this capacity, Rahel coordinates and assists with the implementation of research projects, facilitates quality improvement initiatives, and provides comprehensive support for the NLSE program. She collaborates closely with the Program team, clinical team, fellows, and mentors.
Before joining Lifebox, Rahel gained valuable experience with both international and local NGOs. Notably, she contributed to the Kefeta project at Amref Health Africa, overseeing the delivery of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) services within industrial park settings.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Rahel is actively involved in volunteer work, currently serving as a Project Graduate Associate at Yetena Weg, where she coordinates  their SRHR program. She possesses strong data collection and analytical skills, having previously worked as a data collector for the European Union Film Festival at Vamdas Entertainment.

Rahel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.

Dr. Roberto Zamorano is a Lifebox Clinical Advisor, and an anesthesiologist, graduated from the University of Chile who also trained at the hospital Pitié Salpetriere of Paris and Saint-Luc of Brussels. During his career, he has divided his time between management tasks, obtaining an MBA in 1999, and clinical responsibilities. Eventually, he became hospital director of the San Jose Hospital in Osorno and the Clínica Alemana in Osorno, Chile. Since 2017, he has been involved in anesthesia study expeditions to Chad and he has been advising at Lifebox since 2020 on Francophone Africa and Latin America. He is fluent in French, Spanish and English and brings expertise both on anesthesia and the Clean Cut program.

Dr. Mahlet Addisu is the Dr. Mahlet Addisu is the Clinical Team Coordinator at Lifebox, where she is responsible for the organization and management of the global Clinical Team. She oversees the coordination and facilitation of meetings, tracks progress against key deliverables, and ensures seamless communication and follow-up across teams. Dr. Mahlet also plays a vital role in supporting the management of Lifebox Fellows, ensuring timely mentorship and accurate reporting, while overseeing the organization of project documentation. Additionally, she prepares in-depth reports, presentations, and action items to drive the successful execution of projects.

Prior to joining Lifebox, Dr. Mahlet served as a Program Manager at a non-profit organization, where she was a key member of the senior management team. In this capacity, she contributed to strategic decision-making, led key initiatives, and ensured the successful delivery of projects focused on strengthening healthcare systems and community development. This experience has strengthened her skills in team coordination, project management, and operational efficiency.

Dr. Mahlet holds a medical degree from Sante Medical College.