Introducing Effaced’s Newest Board Member: Dr. Otto Chabikuli
We are honored to welcome Professor Otto Nzapfurundi Chabikuli as the newest member of Effaced’s Board of Advisors.
Dr. Chabikuli brings three decades of leadership in global health. His career spans clinical practice, health systems strengthening, infectious disease control, and policy engagement across Africa. A physician, strategist, and educator, Dr. Chabikuli has contributed to national and regional approaches in primary health care, maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, and operations research. His work sits at the intersection of health security, migration, digital transformation, and equity. He is deeply committed to evidence-driven, community-centered systems. Dr. Chabikuli is currently exploring two urgent global challenges: how population displacement affects health outcomes and system resilience, and how rapid, AI-driven technological change may widen global inequalities.
Most recently, Dr. Chabikuli served as the Track Lead for Digital Innovation and Artificial Intelligence at the 2025 International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA). In that role, he helped guide discussions on adapting digital and AI tools to African and country-specific contexts, strengthening the digital literacy of health workers, and building flexible governance models for the continent’s diverse digital landscapes. Throughout the Track, he emphasized a core principle: trust must remain the true currency of digital health.
Dr. Chabikuli also spent 15 years in senior leadership roles at FHI 360, including serving as Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa and Director of Global Health, Population, and Nutrition. He brings deep strategic and operational experience in managing multi-country portfolios and driving large-scale health system improvements. His commitment to locally led development and his understanding of African health ecosystems squarely align with Effaced’s mission and values.
We are grateful to have his wisdom, vision, and global perspective to usher Effaced into a new year.