Honouring Dr Anne Deborah Atai Omoruto

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Help continue the legacy of Dr Anne Deborah Atai Omoruto by supporting the Atai Omoruto Scholarship Award. Your donation will fund African women family physicians and family medicine residents to attend the WONCA biennial conference, fostering professional development and strengthening healthcare in their communities.

Click here to donate and make a lasting impact.

Dr Anne Deborah Atai Omoruto—known to many simply as "Atai"—was a physician of remarkable courage and dedication. She championed women’s rights in medicine and provided care for underserved communities, founding the Association of Family Physicians of Uganda and serving as its first President. As head of the Family Medicine Department at Makerere University from 2004 to 2011, she shaped future generations of African doctors.

Atai’s leadership extended internationally through her work with the WONCA Working Party on Women and Family Medicine (WWPWFM). She advocated to break down barriers for women physicians, mentoring colleagues with passion and dedication.

Her courage shone during the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014, when she led a Ugandan medical team in Liberia, spending six months stabilising care and training local staff. This fearless commitment earned her the 2016 Global Five Star Doctor Award from WONCA. She passed away in May 2016, leaving a legacy of leadership, compassion, and advocacy.

The Dr Atai Anne Deborah Omoruto Scholarship Award

In tribute to Atai’s remarkable contributions, the Atai Omoruto Scholarship Award was established. This bursary honours her memory by supporting African women family physicians and family medicine residents who face economic barriers to attending the WONCA biennial conference. The scholarship enables recipients to gain professional development, share best practices, and bring newly acquired knowledge back to their communities.

The fund will cover expenses related to participation in the WONCA World Conference, which will take place in Lisbon, Portugal from 17-21 September 2025.

Eligibility Criteria

• African woman family physician or family medicine resident in Africa
• Demonstrated leadership in family medicine at institutional, local, or national levels
• Commitment to the advancement of women in family medicine
• Clinical courage and selflessness in treating vulnerable populations

Recipients embody Atai’s spirit of fearless advocacy, intellectual rigour, and compassion, ensuring her mission endures.

How to Apply

Applications are open until 31 March 2025. Click here to apply.

Support the Scholarship

Donations are essential for sustaining this scholarship. Contributions help more African women doctors attend WONCA conferences, share knowledge, and foster improved care in their home communities.

Click here to donate.

By supporting this scholarship, you honour Atai’s legacy and help build a future where more African women doctors lead in family medicine.