Dr. Girma Tefera is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and a board-certified general and vascular surgeon. He earned his M.D. from the University of Pisa (Italy) and completed postgraduate surgical training in Germany, followed by internship and residency in general surgery in Washington, D.C., and a vascular surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin. Over more than two decades on faculty at UW, he has served in progressive leadership roles including Vice Chair for Global Surgery, Vice Chairman in the Division of Vascular Surgery, and Chief of Vascular Surgery (including division and VA leadership appointments).

A recognized leader in global surgery and humanitarianism, Dr. Tefera is the Medical Director of the ACS Health Outreach Program for Equity in Global Surgery (ACS-H.O.P.E.) and has directed major educational and capacity-building initiatives in Ethiopia and other settings. He has led and participated in numerous multicenter clinical trials and NIH-funded research, serves as a peer reviewer for leading surgical journals, and has received multiple honors for service and impact—including the American College of Surgeons Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Award and recent international honorary fellowships.

Dr. Miliard Derbew, MD, FRCS, FACS, FCS-ECSA, is an Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Surgery at the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopia, where he has held faculty and leadership roles for many years. He served as Dean of the School of Medicine at Addis Ababa University from 2007 to 2010. He was Chief Executive Director of the College of Health Sciences at Addis Ababa University (with the rank of AAU Vice President). He also served as President of the Surgical Society of Ethiopia from 2011–2015 and as Vice President of the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA). He was elected President of the College of Surgeons of East Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) from 2015 to 2017.

As a leading figure in medical education and global surgery in Ethiopia and the region, he served as Principal Investigator for the Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Junior Faculty project for Ethiopia and the Health Professionals Education Partnership Initiative (HEPI).

He is an Honorary Faculty member in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto and in the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins University. He has published over 90 scientific articles on a reputable journals.

Dr. John B. Sampson is a critical care anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins University and founding Director of their Global Alliance of Perioperative Professionals (JHU-GAPP). Current board member of the G4 Alliance for Global Surgery, Obstetrics, Trauma and Anesthesiology, founder and board chairman of the Institute of Global Perioperative Care (IGPC) and board member of the Korle bu Neuroscience Foundation.

From California, he graduated from Jackson State University, University of California San Francisco, Howard University and The Mayo Clinic.

Interests include bridging medical and cultural divides between America and Africa through education, training, technology, and historical forums. This is accomplished through global health and through the Ghana based Diaspora African Forum.

Sampson works with institutions throughout Africa to improve healthcare strengthening and introduce others to Africa to alter perceptions, careers, and interests. Active global health activity in Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Mozambique.

Focusing on improving access to healthcare training, access to sustainable oxygen and renewable energy Sampson works with the Society of Critical Care Medicine to designer and lead their African Infrastructure Relief & Support (AIRS) project.