In a significant academic development, Prof. Akwasi Antwi-Kusi has been appointed as the new dean of the prestigious School of Medicine and Dentistry of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KSMD). The announcement made during a formal ceremony on the 31st of October 2023, marks a momentous occasion for both the esteemed professor and the institution.
Prof. Akwasi Antwi-Kusi is an Associate Professor in the department of anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He is also a clinically active Anesthesiologist, Intensivist, and Pain Management Specialist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, providing perioperative care with a particular focus on improving patient outcomes after surgery and critical illness. His clinical and research area of interest is in perioperative care and pain management with an emphasis on interventional nerve blocks. He is passionate about obstetric anesthesia and labour pain management. Through his interest and research in pain management, he has been able to change completely the practice of post-operative pain management in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and other district and regional hospitals across Ghana.
Prof Akwasi Antwi-Kusi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. His dedication to medical education, research, and community health has made him a respected figure in the field. He has played important roles in the academic and administrative fields within the College of Health Sciences. He is the immediate past vice dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Addressing the gathering, the newly appointed dean emphasized the pivotal role of educators in shaping the future of medical professionals. He urged lecturers to lead by example. He also stressed the importance of creating an environment where students not only excel academically but also embrace a sense of responsibility and compassion.
Prof Akwasi Antwi-Kusi is been assisted by Prof. Fred Stephen Sarfo. He was unveiled as the new vice dean. Prof. Fred Stephen Sarfo is a researcher, a clinician, and an educator. He practiced as a Neurologist from 2010 to date and holds 2 doctoral degrees in Epidemiology and Molecular Medicine from Durham University, UK, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology respectively. In 2010, he started a Neurology clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi where he led in providing services for a population of 12 million Ghanaians in the middle and northern sectors of the country as the only practicing neurologist for this sector of Ghana. He is passionate about context-specific research as a way of fashioning out locally relevant solutions to the health challenges of society. Findings from the research enterprise are used to inform the teaching of medical students and residents. To date, he has 193 peer-reviewed publications in Medical journals.
In the course of the ceremony, new heads of department were also unveiled. The heads of department each contribute a unique set of skills and expertise to their respective departments.
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology community eagerly anticipates the positive changes under Prof. Akwasi Antwi-Kusi’s leadership, The College of Health Sciences congratulates all appointees on their achievements.
