Professor Presta Marco from the Department of General Pathology, School of Medicine, and Ms. Catarina Franco, a PhD student of Medicine both from the University of Brescia, Italy have called on the Dean of the International Programmes Office, Professor Daniel Y. A. Duah on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
Professor Marco is in KNUST for a 5-day teaching mobility at the College of Health Sciences. He will be offering a six (6) seminar series to PhD and Masters students in biomedical sciences and biotechnology which focuses on the molecular aspects of the biology of malignant tumor cells. These series include the following: Oncogenes and alterations of the signaling of tyrosine kinase receptors; Alterations of the G1/S cell cycle check point in tumor cells; DNA damage and DNA repair in cancer; Tumor cell invasiveness: the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMT); Tumor/stroma interaction: new vessel formation; and the metabolism of cancer cell: epigenetic and genetic alterations.
Professor Marco expressed his delight at the Teaching Mobility opportunity which also presents Collaboration avenues and learning different ways of approaching issues in his domain.
On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Management of the University, Prof. Duah welcomed him to KNUST. He expressed his excitement about the visit, and the importance of the collaboration between the two institutions. He mentioned that KNUST has a student population of 86,459 and a very beautiful and vibrant campus. Prof Duah noted that the three (3) key areas of collaboration for KNUST are student exchange, staff mobility and joint research and that the university is happy to receive him and looked forward to reciprocal visits by faculty in his college in Brescia.
Later, Professor Marco was introduced to the School of Medicine and Dentistry where he was welcomed by the School’s Secretary, Mr. Harley Anane on behalf of the Management of the School.
On the other hand, Ms. Franco, who has been on a three (3) month exchange programme at the Tuberculosis Unit at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), visit was ahead of her departure on July 26, 2023.
Ms. Franco arrived at KNUST on May 2, 2023 where she was initially welcomed at the International Programmes Office. The office facilitated her introduction to Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, the Chief Executive Officer and Dr. Kwadwo Sarbeng, Medical Director, both of KATH.
In the exit meeting with Prof. Duah, Ms. Franco stated that she enjoyed every facet of her time at KATH and KNUST, especially the interaction with health professionals and her exposure to amazing sites around Kumasi.
She highlighted her daily routine as follows: collection of demographic and population data on tuberculosis infection; collection of clinical history from tubercular patients; processing of data; acquisition of new skills in chest X-ray and CT interpretation; interaction with both in- patients and out- patients; consultations with specialists, residents and house officers; attendance at weekly clinical meeting; and practical experience with patient and ward management.
Ms. Franco added that she was most grateful for the warm welcome she received from staff of the International Programmes Office and was excited about the opportunity to meet new friends and other exchange students at KATH as well faculty members who were on staff mobility from University of Brescia.
She acknowledged the role the following health professionals played in her research experience: Dr. Betty Norman, Specialist Physician with expertise in HIV Medicine; Dr. Divine Amenuke, Respiratory Physician; Dr. Anthony Kwame Enimil, Paediatric HIV/TB Specialist; other members of the Respiratory Team; Nurses of Chest Clinic; Residents and House officers of the Tuberculosis Unit, KATH.
Prof. Duah was delighted at the satisfaction of Ms. Franco at KNUST. He prompted Ms. Franco that she was now an ambassador of KNUST and that the university would always be glad to welcome her back. On behalf of the Vice Chancellor and Management, Prof. Duah congratulated her on achieving such a milestone and wished her the very best in her study.
At the meeting Mrs. Yvonne Baiden, an Assistant Registrar of the International Programmes Office.
