Beatrice Odongkara is a remarkable and determined woman who hails from northern Uganda, a region plagued by conflicts during her upbringing. Despite facing adversity, she displayed resilience and a strong work ethic. Due to the insecurity prevailing at the time, Beatrice initially had to abandon her education. However, she was granted a second chance when her father ensured their safety in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. Beatrice’s academic journey led her to earn a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB-2003) as well as a Masters of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health (MMed. Paed – 2009) of Makerere University. Building upon her qualifications, she pursued further specialization in Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, earning her credentials in 2012 through a scholarship provided by the European Society for Paediatrics Endocrinology (ESPE) at the Paediatric Endocrinology Training Centre for Africa (PETCA) in Nairobi.
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Since 2004, Beatrice has been a valued member of the staff at Gulu University’s Faculty of Medicine, where she has steadily risen through the ranks to the position of Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. Additionally, she was fortunate to receive funding from the Norwegian Higher Education (NORHED) funds. This support enabled her successful defense of a joint PhD program between the University of Bergen and Makerere University. The title of her doctoral thesis, “Small Newborns in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda: Burden and Intervention for Improved Outcomes,” was defended on 21st March 2023. Within her PhD research, Beatrice designed and implemented a groundbreaking cluster randomized trial that evaluated the impact of the American Association of Pediatrics (AAP)’s helping babies breathe (HBB) training with video-debriefing. The trial focused on enhancing healthcare workers’ competency in caring for newborns during the critical early stages of life. Over the years, Beatrice has acquired valuable expertise through training programs, including the IMAI/IMCI course conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2008. She utilized this competence to train and expand Paediatric HIV care and support across the greater Northern Districts of Acholi from 2008 onwards. Furthermore, Beatrice established the Paediatric Diabetes clinic at Gulu University and currently acts as a mentor for the first diabetes nurse educator in Uganda trained by ISPAD and the University of Birmingham at the African Diabetes Educators Training Center for Africa (ADECA) in Arusha. Beyond her local contributions, Beatrice serves as a mentor for two significant Type 1
Diabetes Clinics at Arua and Lira Regional Referral Hospitals in Northern Uganda. Additionally, she is involved in a Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) program in the West Nile Region under AVSI – Uganda. Her passion for her field extends to her involvement as the immediate past Vice President of the African Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE)
and her participation in the working group responsible for developing the first African diabetes ketoacidosis guidelines. In recognition of her expertise, Beatrice authored a book chapter on emergency procedures in resource-limited settings. The chapter was part of a publication edited by her colleagues, Professors Tina Slusher, Asley Bjorklund, and Emily Danich from the University of Minnesota (UoM). Furthermore, she had the privilege of undertaking a three- month observership at the University of Minnesota’s Center of Excellence for Paediatric
Diabetes Care in 2014, under the guidance of Prof Toni Moran. Beatrice’s contributions extend beyond her immediate surroundings. She has collaborated with esteemed researchers such as Prof Tina Slusher, Prof Steve Schiff, and other global health.
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