ABOUT
Building a Healthier Future Together
The South-South Medical Alliance establishes itself as a forum for health care providers in the Global South- as an engine to drive conversations and change across the developing world’s healthcare systems.
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We are not an aid organization; we are mutual aid facilitators.
We aim to connect regions with similar resource constraints but novel ways of organizing their practice of medicine.
A platform for exchanging medical expertise, fostering innovation and organizational strengthening.
South-South Medical Alliance
Our Story
Children of the Global South, our team is made up of Zero/1st generation physicians who appreciate the inherent strengths from which we originate. Each of our founding members have intimate connections to and extensive work in the developing world. During our respective careers, we found that developing regions tend to face similar challenges while inventing novel ways of tackling them each time. Often, we see silos of excellence throughout the developing world; the common motif we found was communicating with Western based aid organizations without engaging neighbors doing the same work. We see a glaring gap: the Global South does not engage with its members in a way that fosters mutual growth and collaboration. This alliance is a comprehensive endeavor to engage across borders, build collective human capital, and lead the Global South into a sustainable, healthier future
Sovereignty via Solidarity
We firmly believe robust healthcare systems should be readily accessible for everyone around the world, no matter where you reside
We recognize the inherent strengths and richness of our respective members
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Our vision is bridging the challenges we face with one another's expertise
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We are not an aid organization; we are mutual aid facilitators
Mission Statement
Strengthening and development of healthcare systems across the Global South via exchange of human capital.
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We focus on collaboration between nations facing similar challenges and inspire solutions driven by medical professionals in the Global South
Our Goals
Foster a collective consciousness among our members; one that advocates for system level changes in each of our country of origin and alters the healthcare scape for the better.
Build a network of excellence linking members to exemplary medical institutions in their regions with the goal of tangible, measurable gains in systems efficacy.
Establish a repository of structural and human resources from members, providing a bank for developing healthcare systems to draw consultation and expertise from
Meet The Team
Core Board
Tasked with organization maintenance, direction, facilitating collaborations and connections
Dr. Betel (Betty)
Dr. Betel (Betty) Yibrehu is a General Surgery resident at the University of Toronto. She obtained her M.D. in the Community and Urban Health Track from The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.. Prior to that she studied Global Health at the University of Toronto. She recently completed a year away from clinical residency to work in Nigeria as the global oncology research fellow with Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the African Research Group for Oncology. She is applying for fellowship in surgical oncology with a special interest in colorectal surgery. In addition to her interest in global surgery, since starting residency she has co-founded UpSurge, a diversity in surgery initiative within the University of Toronto’s Department of Surgery.
Dr. Mallika Manyapu
Dr. Mallika Manyapu is an emergency medicine physician and currently a Global Health fellow at George Washington University in Washington DC. She has specific experience in workforce training, systems strengthening, and capacity building in low-resource and humanitarian settings.
Dr. Amir Lotfy Rashed
Dr. Amir Lotfy Rashed is currently a Fellow of Disaster Medicine and Global Health at the University of Texas, Southwestern where he is engaged in Disaster Resiliency and mentoring research initiatives in India. Graduating with his medical doctorate from the George Washington University, he went on to complete residency at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine Montefiore/Jacobi in the Bronx, New York City. He has published works in the Journal of Global Health and presented his research at avenues such as the World Health Organization's Emergency Medical Teams scientific congress. His focus is on capacity building and institutional development in the Middle East and Africa.
Advisory Board
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Dr. Fadi Salah Issa
Dr. Fadi Salah Issa is an educator and expert in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, committed to advancing medical training and capacity-building in crisis response. He serves as a Director of Education for the Disaster Medicine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, faculty member at Harvard Medical School, and a member of the Board of directors At WADEM ( World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine). "Dr. Issa specializes in designing and delivering comprehensive education programs focused on Disaster Medicine, emergency preparedness, and crisis response. His training initiatives encompass CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) preparedness, decontamination protocols, and the effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Through interactive courses, hands-on simulations, and online learning modules, he equips medical students, emergency responders, and healthcare professionals with critical skills for disaster scenarios. With a strong commitment to global medical education, Dr. Issa has played a key role in mentoring fellows, supporting Emergency Medicine programs globally, and integrating disaster response training into healthcare curricula. Dr. Issa has authored numerous publications and contributed to the textbook Ciottone’s Disaster Medicine. His work continues to shape the education and training of future leaders in Emergency and Disaster Medicine, ensuring they are well-prepared to manage complex emergencies and improve healthcare resilience globally."