The Department of Community Health at the School of Medical Sciences has admitted seven new residents into the Community Health residency programme of the West African College of Physicians, continuing efforts to strengthen specialist training in public health and preventive medicine across the region.

The residents will undergo advanced, practice-oriented training in disease prevention, health promotion, health systems strengthening and community-based research, preparing them to address evolving public health challenges in Ghana and across Anglophone West Africa.

“Training skilled community health physicians is essential to improving population health outcomes,” said Prof. Arti Singh, Head of the Department of Community Health and Training Coordinator. “These residents will become leaders in prevention, policy, and service delivery, helping communities live healthier lives.”

The Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, Prof. Akwasi Antwi-Kusi, said the partnership with the college underscores a commitment to rigorous, practice-focused training. “Our goal is to prepare residents to respond effectively to real-world public health needs, while also strengthening the department by developing many of them into future faculty members,” he said.

Vice-Dean Prof. Stephen Sarfo said the programme also supports long-term academic capacity building. “Beyond specialist training, this residency serves as a pipeline for the next generation of educators and researchers,” he said. “Many of these residents will go on to become future faculty members within the department, strengthening our teaching, research, and mentorship capacity.”

The West African College of Physicians oversees postgraduate specialist training for doctors across five Anglophone West African countries, with programmes spanning six medical specialties, including community health.