Yap Boum

• Professor in the faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Professor Yap Boum II is a renowned public health expert, epidemiologist, and microbiologist with over 15 years of experience in health research, outbreak response, and capacity building in Africa. He is recognized for his dedication to equity in global health and his innovative approaches to addressing health challenges on the continent.

In his role as Deputy Incident Manager for the Mpox Continental IMST, co-led by Africa CDC and WHO, Professor Boum is instrumental in coordinating the continental response to the Mpox outbreak. His leadership focuses on strengthening surveillance systems, laboratory diagnostics, community engagement, and cross-sectoral collaboration to ensure rapid outbreak containment and improved public health outcomes.

Professor Boum is also an accomplished academic and educator. He serves as an Adjunct Professor of Epidemiology at Yale University, a Professor at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Uganda, and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. Through these roles, he has mentored and trained a new generation of African scientists, with many of his mentees now holding leadership positions in global health institutions.

Previously, Professor Boum served as the Executive Director of the Institut Pasteur de Bangui, where he led transformative initiatives to enhance epidemic surveillance and genomic research capabilities in Central Africa. As the Regional Representative for Africa at Epicentre, the research arm of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), he spearheaded research on infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and Ebola, directly informing public health strategies across the continent.

A passionate advocate for education and mentorship, Professor Boum co-founded The Village, a digital platform leveraging AI to connect young African scientists with global mentors, and established master's programs in Medical Microbiology and Clinical Research at MUST. These initiatives have strengthened research capacity and produced leaders in global health.

Professor Boum holds an MPH in Epidemiology from the University of Liverpool, a PhD in Microbiology from the University of Paris XI, and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Leadership from the University of Cape Town. His extensive expertise spans infectious diseases, public health systems, research capacity building, and leadership, positioning him as a key figure in Africa's health transformation.

• –present Professor in the faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology

Archbishop Tutu Fellow 2017, Top 100 Most Reputable African 2024

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