Atai Omorutu Scholarship Award

This award is in the spirit of Atai’s leadership in family medicine in Africa, inspired by her dedication to the advancement of women physicians and women’s health in family medicine, and in tribute to Atai’s exceptional courage, selflessness, and commitment to her patients with Ebola both in Uganda and Liberia. She pioneered establishing a family medicine program at Makerere University, Uganda, and was head of the family medicine department at Makerere University from 2004 to 2011. Atai was an executive member of the WONCA Working Party on Women and Family Medicine and was the recipient of the WONCA 2016 Global Five Star Doctor Award in recognition of her extraordinary service as a family medicine leader over many years, her service to the people of Uganda, and her recent extraordinary leadership tackling the Ebola crisis in West Africa. Atai passed away in May 2016.

Focus of the Award

The award aims to support opportunities for African women doctors, whose economic circumstances limit their ability to attend WONCA biennial conferences, particularly those in the early stages of their careers.

The candidate for the Atai Omoruto Award should be an African woman family physician or family medicine resident in Africa, who demonstrates significant contributions in Africa in any of the following areas:

• Leadership in Family Medicine at the institutional, local, or national level
• Commitment to the advancement of women in family medicine
• Clinical courage and selflessness in providing care to the most vulnerable populations

The fund will cover expenses related to participation in the WONCA World Conference in Lisbon 2025. 

Output: The recipient must attend the pre-conference and conference and make a full report, which will be shared with Atai’s family and relevant WONCA networks. The recipient must submit receipts for her expenses and is expected to remain active within WONCA, the Working Party on Women and Family Medicine, and the WONCA African region after the conference.

How to Apply

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

Donations

Donations are essential for sustaining this scholarship. You can donate here. All donations directly support African women family physicians and family medicine residents to attend WONCA conferences, share knowledge, and foster improved care in their home communities.

Honouring Dr Anne Deborah Atai Omoruto

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 scholarship in Dr Omoruto’s name ensures that African women doctors who face economic barriers can attend WONCA conferences. By fostering professional development and international collaboration, recipients are better equipped to champion equitable and high-quality healthcare in their home regions.