Joseph Mwenya Kasonde

Dr. Joseph Mwenya Kasonde graduated MB, ChB at Aberdeen University, Scotland, in 1966. He served as Medical Officer in the Ministry of Health of Zambia from 1966 to 1970, including personal attendance on the then president during travels. He went to Oxford from 1970 to 1975 during which period he specialized in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, becoming MRCOG (Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists). He was appointed Research Fellow in 1984 by the Oxford University. He carried out original research on Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis in relation to contraceptive technology use, and was awarded the higher degree of Doctor of Medicine with Commendation by Almer Mater Aberdeen University. He returned to Zambia and served as Senior Lecturer and Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UNZA, from 1976 to 1977. He was invited to be Director of Medical Services in 1977, subsequently combining this with the position of Permanent Secretary from 1979. During this time, he also served as personal physician to President Kaunda, and was a Board Member of the Executive Board of the World Health Organization. He proceeded to Geneva in 1985 to work as a scientist in charge of capacity building for research in reproductive health in developing countries. He retired at the end of 1998 to return to Zambia. He co-founded the Zambia Forum for Health Research in 2005 (Executive Director to date) and the Lusaka Apex Medical University in 2008 (Chairman and CEO to date). He also co-founded the African Network for Research and Training in Reproductive Health (REPRONET-Africa) in 2005, and remains chairman to date.