Nicholas Torres (M.Ed.) is the President of The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) and works at the cross section between the private sector, government, and non governmental institutions and aligns them toward collective social impact goals and public policy. Nicholas has over 25 years of experience in executive management and specializes in the Education and Healthcare Industries. Nicholas founded and leads a social sector “think-tank” organization and teaches at the University of Pennsylvania.

Aricia De Kempeneer, M. Sc. is the Vice President at The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH), where she oversees all organizational activities and initiatives. This includes managing the TUFH annual conferences, fellowships, TUFH academies, and Centers of Excellence, as well as overseeing communications, membership, and partnerships. She also serves as the liaison to the Student Network Organization, ensuring alignment between students and TUFH’s broader goals.

Aricia holds a Master’s in Health Education and Promotion from Ghent University and a Bachelor’s in Midwifery from Erasmus Hogeschool. In addition to her role at TUFH, she works as an independent midwife in Belgium, providing prenatal education, care, and postnatal support.

With extensive experience as a midwife in low-risk birthing units across Gambia, Finland, the United Kingdom, and Belgium, Aricia co-founded the Student Network Organization in 2015 and was its first president. She has attended TUFH annual conferences since 2012, reflecting her deep commitment to advancing global health education and collaboration.

William Burdick, MD, MSEd, is Secretary General of The Network: Towards Unity for Health, an organization of community oriented health professions schools and Professor of Emergency Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. As the former Vice President for Education at FAIMER, he was responsible for creation of global faculty development programs for health professions educators. He has received awards for excellence in teaching, including the Lindbach Award and the Trustees Award in his capacity as Professor of Emergency Medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine. A graduate of Oberlin College, Weill Cornell University College of Medicine, and University of Pennsylvania, he completed residency training in Internal Medicine and is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and American Board of Internal Medicine.

Rabia Khan is the Western Pacific Representative on the The Network: Towards Unity For Health Board of Directors

Fernando Antônio Menezes da Silva is a Professor of Surgery at the Federal University of Pernambuco, where he also coordinates graduate studies and research. He holds a PhD in Surgery from the University of Dundee and completed postdoctoral training at Maastricht University. He has held senior academic and public health leadership positions in Brazil and served as Head of Human Resources for Health at PAHO/WHO in Washington, D.C. His main areas of expertise are medical education, curriculum innovation, program evaluation, health workforce planning, and public policy.

European Regional Board Member, The Network: TUFH Professor in Nursing, VIVES University of Applied Science, Belgium Coordinator VIVES LiveLab: Interprofessional Education Researcher Centre of Expertise for Care Innovation, VIVES.

Dr. Mohammad H. Taha is a distinguished figure in the field of Medical/Health Professions Education with over 15 years of expertise in educational research and practice. Holding a background as a physician and a certified medical educator, he has earned prestigious fellowships from institutions like the Academy of Medical Educators (UK) and the International Association for Medical Education (AMEE). Dr. Taha has obtained his doctoral and master’s degrees in Health Professions Education from the University of Gezira, Sudan, and has contributed significantly to the development of medical education in various capacities. Currently serving as an Assistant Professor of Medical Education at the University of Sharjah, Dr. Taha holds multiple leadership roles including Director of the Medical Education Center and Coordinator of the Master of Leadership in Health Professions Education program. He has played pivotal roles in curriculum development, faculty development, and accreditation processes in institutions across Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Notably, he led the comprehensive curriculum reform at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, and facilitated the transition to online learning during the COVID19 pandemic. Dr. Taha’s contributions extend beyond academia, as he actively engages in international organizations such as AMEE and WHO, serving as a consultant and expert in curriculum development and competency framework design. He has authored numerous research articles, book chapters, and led various workshops and courses in medical education. Dr. Taha’s dedication to advancing medical education and his extensive experience make him a respected figure both regionally and internationally in the field of Health Professions Education.

Amy Clithero is a faculty member in the Department of Family & Community Medicine (FCM) at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Dr. Clithero has a PhD in Family Medicine from the University of Kwazulu-Natal in Durban, South Africa as well as a Masters of Business Administration with a health systems concentration and a Masters level certification in Medical Education from the University of New Mexico. In addition to teaching medical students about social determinants of health, health policy, and health services research, Dr. Clithero participates in numerous educational research initiatives focusing on educational best practices, health services research, and social accountability within medical education. As of December 2022, Dr. Clithero has written two book chapters, has over two dozen peer reviewed papers and has presented at almost 60 conferences worldwide.

Associate Professor Lionel Green-Thompson was appointed dean and took up the role from 15 March 2020.

He has held multiple roles at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), including being the assistant dean for Teaching, Learning and Undergraduate Affairs in the Faculty of Health Sciences. He was also the clinical coordinator for the MBBCh degree in the Centre for Health Science Education from 2004, during which time he engaged in numerous student development initiatives, including the supervision of MMed (Anaesthesia) students.
He graduated from Wits with an MBBCh in 1988. He is a Fellow of the College of Anaesthetists of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. He obtained his MMed (Anaesthesia) at Wits in 2011 and completed a two-year Wits Carnegie Clinical PhD Fellowship.

He was national chairperson for the South African Association of Health Educationalists for the 2010 to 2013 triennium and chaired the national conference held at Wits in 2010 titled “Making Education Matter”.

Associate Professor Green-Thompson is an occasional reviewer for academic journals such as the South African Journal of Surgery, South African Journal of Psychiatry, South African Journal of Anaesthesia and Analgesia, African Journal of Health Professions Education and, internationally, Medical Teacher and BMC Medical Education. He is a member of the Research Committee of the Association for Medical Education in Europe for the term 2018 to 2022.

He is currently the chair of the network for Medical Education in Resource Constrained Situations.

She holds a medical degree from the National University of Rosario, a Master’s degree in University Education from the same institution, and a PhD in Medicine from the University of Buenos Aires. She currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the National University of the Littoral (UNL). She is also Director of the Center for Studies, Training, and Innovation in Health Sciences Education at FCM-UNL. In addition, she is a member of the Executive Committee of UNIRED EIP and a founding member of the Interprofessional Education Network of the Americas. She leads research projects in the field of Human Resources for Health and serves as Co-Director of the Doctoral Program in Medical Sciences at UNL-UNER and the Master’s Program in Virtual Education in Health Sciences at UNNE. She also previously served as President of the Argentine Forum of Public Medical Schools and Faculties.

Melissa is a medical doctor with a Master in Medical Education and is currently the Head of the International Relations Office of the Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). She has participated in clinical practice and medical research projects (focusing on diabetes and immunology) in Mexico and the USA in various institutions including the Instituto de Oftalmología Conde de Valenciana, Mexico City, Mexico and Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore USA where she has also started her Masters in Public Health. She has been a medical manager of Schering-Plough Mexico in charge of the high specialty lines, launching Spriafil on the Mexican market. She has been a professor since medical school and her aim is to aid in the internationalization of medical education.

He holds a medical degree from the University of Pernambuco, completed a residency in Surgery at the Federal University of Pernambuco, and earned a PhD in Maternal and Child Medicine from the University of Trieste, Italy. He currently serves as Academic Coordinator at the Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde. He has held leadership positions at IMIP and FPS and has extensive experience in pediatric surgery, medical education, healthcare management, epidemiology, and violence prevention.

She holds a Ph.D. in Science Education from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), a Master’s degree in Mathematics and Technology Education from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), and a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences (Teacher Education). She serves as Coordinator of Extension and Social Accountability at Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS), where she works to strengthen the integration of education, healthcare services, and communities. Her research focuses on teacher education, educational curation, and educational innovation, grounded in Freirean perspectives. She is also a member of the international Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) network  since 2024 and actively contributes to initiatives and events related to education, university extension, and social accountability.

Suelén Alves is the Assistant Coordinator of Extension and Social Accountability at Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS), where she works in community engagement, social responsibility initiatives, and the management of extension projects developed in partnership with surrounding communities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Education for Health Professions at Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS), and is also an undergraduate student in Information Management at UFPE. She also completed a Technical Diploma in Hospitality. During her academic trajectory, she was a scholarship recipient in the Institutional Teaching Initiation Scholarship Program (PIBID), gaining experience in Sociology teaching and educational practices. Her academic and professional interests include education, social accountability, information sources, social representations, and sociability./p>

Jairo Fernandes, M.Sc., is the Assistant Coordinator of Extension and Social Accountability at Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS), where he works in community engagement, project management, and initiatives developed with surrounding communities. He is an educator with experience in both basic and higher education. He also served as a volunteer Impact Projects Leader as a member of Global Shapers, an initiative of the World Economic Forum. Jairo is a Historian, holding a joint undergraduate degree from Universidade de Pernambuco (UPE) and Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE), Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). He holds a Master’s from Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco (UFRPE). He has been an institutional member of TUFH since 2026 and has contributed to an institutional partnership project connected to the network since 2024.

Maria Wanderleya de Lavor Coriolano-Marinus, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and a faculty member in the Graduate Programs in Nursing and Child and Adolescent Health. Her work focuses on early childhood development, child health, parental education, and health literacy.
She leads the CNPq-certified research group Assistir/Cuidar em Enfermagem and coordinates nationally and internationally funded projects aimed at improving child and family health. Maria is also actively involved in international initiatives on interculturality in the education of health professionals and healthcare for immigrants and refugees, fostering culturally responsive and socially accountable health systems.
In addition, she is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator, contributes to health innovation through digital technologies, and is a member of the UFPE Center of Excellence in Social Accountability, linked to The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH).

Renato Athias, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), where he coordinates the Center for Ethnicity Studies and Research (NEPE) and is a faculty member of the Graduate Program in Anthropology. He holds degrees in Philosophy and Ethnology and has dedicated his academic career to the study of Indigenous peoples, interculturality, and cultural diversity.
Renato is a member of UFPE’s Visual Anthropology Laboratory and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the State of Pernambuco. He is also a professor in the Interuniversity Master’s Program in Ibero-American Anthropology at the University of Salamanca, Spain.
His research focuses on Indigenous ethnology, shamanism, visual anthropology, and ethnomuseology, leading projects with Indigenous communities in Pernambuco and the Brazilian Amazon. Through his work, he contributes to advancing intercultural dialogue, social inclusion, and culturally responsive education and research.

Cristiane Salomé Ribeiro Costa, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), based at the Academic Center of Agreste (CAA), where she contributes to teaching, research, and community engagement activities in undergraduate and graduate education.
She holds a Ph.D. and a Master’s degree in Administration from UFPE and completed doctoral training at Breda University of Applied Sciences (Netherlands) through the Executive Master in Imagineering program. Throughout her academic career, she has led research and scientific initiation projects and has published extensively in national and international journals.
Cristiane coordinates the research group Marketing and Consumer Culture and is a researcher with the Consumer Behavior Research Group (GPCC). Her work focuses on consumer behavior, sustainable marketing, socio-environmental sustainability, destination image, and creative tourism, contributing to the development of innovative and socially responsible approaches in management and education.

Rute Regis Costa de Sousa, M.Sc. is a Ph.D. candidate in Nursing at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and a researcher dedicated to health education, child development, and evidence-based healthcare. She holds a Master’s degree in Nursing from UFPE and specialist qualifications in Public Health and Pediatric Nursing.
Rute has experience in both healthcare practice and nursing education, having worked as a nursing lecturer and as a nurse in maternal and child health services in Recife. Her research interests include systematic reviews, quantitative methods, health education, child development, and healthy aging.
Through her academic and professional activities, she contributes to the training of health professionals and the production of scientific evidence to support improvements in healthcare and population health outcomes.

Cássio Silva is a Psychology undergraduate student at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and serves as President of the Student Network Organization – Brazil (SNO-Brazil), where he promotes student leadership, interculturality, and collaboration in health professions education.
He is a member of the project Assessment and Development of Intercultural Competencies in the Education of Health Professionals for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and has presented research at the international Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) Conference. His experience includes inclusive education through work in Specialized Educational Support (AEE) and academic mentoring in research methodology and scientific writing.
Cássio has also completed training in community-based mental health care through an internship at a Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAPS AD). His academic interests include mental health, inclusive education, interculturality, health professions education, and student engagement.

Mirella Vila Nova is a psychologist graduated from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), currently pursuing a Mental Health Residency and a Master’s degree in Palliative Care at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP). She serves as Vice-President of SNO Brazil (Student Network Organization – Brazil), where she contributes to initiatives focused on health professions education, research, and student leadership.
Her academic and professional interests include mental health, palliative care, interdisciplinary healthcare education, and student engagement. Through her work with SNO Brazil, she promotes collaboration, innovation, and leadership development among students and young health professionals.

Julia Maria Lima dos Santos is a Psychology undergraduate student at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) and a member of the Student Network Organization – Brazil (SNO-Brazil), where she serves on the Scientific Committee, supporting initiatives that promote student engagement, research, and innovation in health professions education.
Her academic activities focus on equity, gender, public health, and psychological assessment. Julia has participated in research projects on adolescent cognition and social media use at UFPE’s Neuroscience and Behavior Laboratory and in initiatives promoting the inclusion of girls and women in science, technology, and engineering.
She has also contributed to the PET-Saúde Equidade program, supporting the education of health professionals committed to anti-racist, feminist, and intersectional approaches within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS). In addition, she is an extension student at UFPE’s Psychological and Neuropsychological Assessment Laboratory (LAPN), working on projects that expand access to psychological assessment, parent guidance, and socio-emotional development programs for neurodivergent children.

Paulo Sávio Angeiras de Góes, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), where he teaches in the School of Dentistry and the Graduate Program in Child and Adolescent Health. He holds a Doctorate in Epidemiology and Public Health from the University of London and has extensive experience in teaching, research, academic leadership, and health system management.
Paulo leads the research group Planning, Management, and Evaluation of Health Services (GESTBUCAL), focusing on oral health policies, health services evaluation, and healthcare management. He supervises undergraduate and graduate research and contributes to the development of evidence-based strategies to strengthen health systems and improve population health outcomes.
In addition to his academic career, he has held major leadership positions both within higher education and Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS), including Municipal Health Secretary, Dean of Academic Affairs at UFPE, and Academic Director at the Olinda Medical School. His work bridges healthcare education, public policy, and service delivery, promoting socially accountable and community-oriented health professions education.

Nadirlene Pereira Gomes, Ph.D. is a Professor at the School of Nursing of the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) and a permanent faculty member of the Graduate Program in Nursing and Health. She holds a Ph.D. in Nursing from UFBA, including doctoral studies at the University of Aveiro, Portugal, and completed postdoctoral training at the Federal University of Santa Catarina.
A CNPq Research Productivity Fellow, Nadirlene previously coordinated UFBA’s Graduate Program in Nursing and Health and currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Revista Baiana de Enfermagem. She has also held visiting professor positions in Portugal, strengthening international collaboration in health and nursing research.
As leader of the Laboratory of Studies on Violence, Health and Quality of Life (LabVid@), her research, teaching, and outreach activities focus on domestic and intimate partner violence, family relationships, gender studies, health promotion, and social inequalities. Through her work, she contributes to the education of health professionals and the development of strategies to prevent violence and promote health and social justice.

BIO

He holds a medical degree, a Master’s degree, and a PhD in Epidemiology from the Federal University of Pelotas. He is an Associate Professor of Public Health at the Federal University of Rio Grande and the Catholic University of Pelotas, and currently serves as President of the Brazilian Association of Medical Education. His expertise includes Public Health, health and education policy, and medical education, with research interests in health service evaluation, family health, epidemiology, healthcare costs, and older adult health.

He is a faculty member at the Federal University of Bahia and holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of São Paulo. He is a specialist in Family and Community Medicine and Homeopathy and currently serves as Vice-President of the Brazilian Association of Medical Education. His main areas of expertise include public health, primary health care, medical education, health education, and family medicine.