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. Alamnie is a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Yekatit 12 and Tikur Anbessa Hospitals, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Dr. Alamnie is a fellow of the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa. As a Lifebox fellow, Dr. Getaw is working on the Clean Cut for Cleft program as part of the Smile Train-Lifebox Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Initiative which is piloting Clean Cut for Cleft at Yekatit 12 Hospital and Alert Hospital.

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 is a passionate public health professional and oversees the design and delivery of programs and strategic plans for Lifebox in East and Southern Africa. Senait also manages key partnerships across the region and leads Lifebox staff in Ethiopia. A nurse by training, Senait has extensive experience working in the hospital and healthcare sectors. Prior to joining Lifebox, Senait worked as a Public Health Consultant, and has previously worked at Jhpiego as a Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) Advisor as well holding various roles with organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières, AIDS Resource Center, and Intrahealth International.

Senait earned her nursing degree from Gondar University, and her MPh from Addis Continental Institute of Public Health (ACIPH). Senait is part of the Lifebox leadership team.

Alissa previously 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. At Lifebox she supports all fundraising and development operations including our events and campaigns.

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.

As Chief Programs Officer Katie oversees the development and implementation of Lifebox’s safer surgery and anesthesia work globally – providing overall strategic and operational leadership for program and partnership design and implementation. Katie has worked in the development and humanitarian sectors for over 15 years. She has coordinated and supported the management and implementation of programs covering a broad range of themes, including health, livelihoods, gender, HIV and AIDS, governance and humanitarian response.

Katie holds a B.A. with Honors in Law from the University of Cambridge and an MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental & African Studies at the University of London. She is also a PRINCE2 accredited Project Manager. Katie is part of the Lifebox leadership team.

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.

Kitty leads the development and implementation of all aspects of Lifebox’s global communications and marketing strategy. Kitty is responsible for setting the vision of Lifebox’s communications and marketing, developing and managing the global communications team and implementing strategies to build awareness of Lifebox and partner activities worldwide. Kitty previously managed Lifebox’s programs in Latin America and oversaw the development of Lifebox’s programs in India.

She joined Lifebox from an award-winning environmental charity where she led the charity’s programs and communications. She is a prolific writer and has had pieces published in numerous publications. Kitty holds a First-Class Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from the University of Exeter. She is part of the Lifebox leadership team.

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.

Jill Lithgow is an experienced critical care professional and expert trainer with over two decades of public and private sector experience gained in South Africa and other countries in the healthcare industry, education, and more recently public health. As Training Manager, Jill is responsible for Lifebox’s training strategy development and implementation in the space of anesthesia safety, surgical teamwork, and reducing surgical infection and is part of Lifebox’s Training, Technology, and Innovation team.

Prior to joining Lifebox, Jill held various roles at Johnson & Johnson, most recently as the Implementation Lead for the Johnson & Johnson Global Surgery Initiative on Obstetric Fistula and Long Bone Fracture in Kenya and Malawi.

Jill holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Applied Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Health Science and Social Services and a Critical Care Attendant from Lebone School of Emergency Care.

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 10 years’ experience in the private sector 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.

Gauri heads Technology, Training and Innovation at Lifebox. Before joining Lifebox, she worked as a Commercial Manager at Equalize Health (formerly D-Rev) and Manager of Strategy & Market Development at Johnson & Johnson Medical. At Lifebox, she leads the development and dissemination of low-cost, accessible tools, technology and training for safer surgery and anesthesia; including the development of new innovations and devices.

She completed a Postgraduate Program in Management from Indian School of Business, Hyderabad and holds a Bachelor of Technology degree from U.P. Technical University.

Dr. Nichole is a resident in general surgery 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 Clinical Surgical Advisor, Nichole 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.

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.

With a background in logistics, Rémy joined Lifebox in 2013 to oversee the distribution of Lifebox’s medical devices worldwide and develop programs in French and Portuguese speaking countries. Rémy now manages Lifebox’s Medtech development – from project conception to distribution. This portfolio includes the Lifebox-Smile Train pulse oximeter, surgical headlight, and a capnography device as part of the Smile Train-Lifebox Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Initiative.

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.