MNEMOS: Med School and Beyond

In this episode of the MNEMOS: Med School & Beyond Podcast, Dr. Richeal Makinde sits down with Gloria Apegwine Ayugane, a fifth-year medical student at the University of Ghana Medical School, aspiring dermatologist, and researcher working at the intersection of dermatology, artificial intelligence (AI), and global health.

Gloria is the project lead of Traction Score AI, a machine learning-based tool designed to help African women assess their risk of traction alopecia, a form of hair loss associated with repeated tension from hairstyling practices.

Having experienced hairstyle-induced hair loss herself, Gloria recognised a problem affecting many women that often goes unnoticed until permanent damage has occurred. What began as a personal experience evolved into a research and innovation project aimed at promoting awareness, early risk identification, and preventive hair care.

Her work has since gained international attention, including a research poster presentation at the American Academy of Dermatology Innovation Academy 2026 in New York. She also served as an ambassador for the Pan-African AI and Innovation Summit 2026.

In this conversation, Gloria shares her journey from discovering her passion for dermatology to leading an AI research project while navigating the demanding schedule of medical school.

We also explore the opportunities and challenges of developing AI solutions for African healthcare problems, the importance of mentorship and collaboration, and why medical students should not wait until graduation to pursue meaningful ideas.

Gloria's journey into medicine, dermatology, and healthcare innovation.

The inspiration behind Traction Score AI and how it aims to prevent hairstyle-induced hair loss.

How artificial intelligence can help address healthcare challenges specific to African populations.

The importance of research, data collection, and external validation in developing responsible AI tools.

Balancing medical school, research, leadership, and extracurricular activities.

Her experience presenting research internationally and the opportunities that followed.

The role of mentorship, networking, and perseverance in pursuing ambitious projects.

Why African healthcare professionals should take the lead in developing solutions for challenges within their communities.

One message stands out throughout this conversation: You don't have to wait until you finish medical school to start making an impact.

Gloria's journey is a reminder that meaningful innovation often begins with recognising a problem, asking the right questions, and having the courage to pursue a solution, even when the path is uncertain.

Whether you're a medical student, early-career healthcare professional, researcher, or someone interested in AI and healthcare innovation, this episode offers valuable insights into what it takes to turn an idea into meaningful work.

Listen to the full conversation and discover why the future of healthcare innovation needs more young people willing to think beyond the classroom.

Explore Traction Score AI

Gloria and her collaborators are continuing to develop and validate Traction Score AI. You can learn more about the project and contribute to their ongoing research.

Traction Score AI: click to explore

Research participation form: click to start

In this episode of the MNEMOS: Med School & Beyond Podcast, Dr. Richeal Makinde sits down with Mrs. Akua Sarpong, Co-founder and Executive Director of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana (LCCG), for a deeply personal conversation about childhood cancer, advocacy, and building systems of support for children and their families.

Mrs. Sarpong’s journey into childhood cancer advocacy began with the diagnosis of her young daughter with rhabdomyosarcoma and her eventual passing in 2018. Having experienced the realities of childhood cancer firsthand—and witnessed families abandon treatment because they could no longer afford it—she chose to turn her loss into a mission to help other families navigate the journey.

The conversation explores why childhood cancer remains poorly understood, the importance of recognising persistent symptoms and seeking care early, and the financial, psychological and social challenges that can make completing treatment incredibly difficult for families. 

We also explore LCCG’s holistic approach to care—from supporting diagnostics and treatment to accommodation, psychosocial care, education and livelihood training for caregivers. Mrs. Sarpong shares how initiatives such as the Home Away from Home, caregiver skills programmes and the new children’s learning hub are helping families experience support beyond the clinical treatment of cancer. 

We also discuss an ambitious next step: the development of a 40-bed paediatric oncology treatment centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, designed to expand capacity and create a more comprehensive environment for children receiving cancer care. 

In this episode, we discuss:

This is a conversation about loss, purpose, advocacy and the collective responsibility to give every child with cancer a better chance at survival—and every family the support they need along the way.

Medicine does not have to begin and end in the consulting room.

In this episode of the MNEMOS: Med School & Beyond Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Richard Ato Edzie, medical doctor and Medical Coordinator and Global Student Affairs Coordinator at Doctors in Business (DIB), to explore what it means to build a career in medicine beyond traditional clinical practice.

Dr. Edzie shares his journey from Medical Laboratory Science to medicine and his decision to pursue radiology, while reflecting on his desire to build a career that gives him room to make an impact beyond direct patient care.

At the heart of the conversation is Doctors in Business, a growing movement bringing healthcare professionals together around entrepreneurship, innovation, leadership, investment, networking and professional development.

We also explore the importance of social capital. Dr. Edzie describes himself as being "rich in network" and shares how intentionally showing up, volunteering, attending events and building professional relationships has opened doors that clinical work alone may never have created.

In this episode, we discuss:

For medical students and early-career healthcare professionals wondering what else is possible with their training, this conversation is a reminder that your medical degree can be the foundation for much more than clinical practice.

Medicine can take you far beyond the walls of a hospital—but only if you're willing to explore the possibilities.

In this episode of the MNEMOS Podcast, Dr. Dan Vincent Armooh shares his remarkable journey from clinical practice to becoming one of Ghana's leading healthcare business executives. From transforming Acacia Health Insurance into an award-winning industry leader to launching OctaPlus Health, an AI-powered private health insurance company, he offers invaluable lessons on leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship, and the future of healthcare financing in Africa.

We explore what it takes to build and lead high-performing organizations, how AI is reshaping health insurance, the opportunities and challenges within Ghana's healthcare system, the future of the National Health Insurance Scheme, and why doctors should not feel confined to traditional clinical careers.

Whether you're a healthcare student, doctor, entrepreneur, or simply interested in the future of healthcare, this conversation will challenge you to think bigger about the impact you can make beyond the consulting room.

In this episode, we discuss:

If you've ever wondered what lies beyond the traditional medical career path, this episode is one you won't want to miss

What does it take to shape healthcare beyond the consulting room?

In this episode of the MNEMOS Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Frank Osei Frimpong, psychiatry resident, mental health advocate, and the youngest Board Member in the history of Ghana's Medical and Dental Council (MDC).

Dr. Frimpong shares his inspiring journey from medical school leadership to national healthcare regulation, offering valuable insights into the role of the Medical and Dental Council, the future of mental health in Ghana, continuous professional development, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

The conversation also explores the importance of ethical leadership, accountability, patient safety, and why healthcare professionals should look beyond clinical practice to influence policy, governance, and the future of medicine.

Whether you're a medical student, junior doctor, or healthcare professional, this episode will challenge you to think bigger about your career and the impact you can make beyond the hospital walls.

In this episode, you'll learn:

What the Medical and Dental Council really does and why it shouldn't be feared.

Dr. Frimpong's journey to becoming the youngest MDC Board Member.

The current state of mental healthcare and psychiatry in Ghana.

Lessons on professionalism, documentation, and patient safety.

How AI is shaping healthcare and what clinicians need to know.

Why healthcare professionals should embrace leadership, policy, and lifelong learning.

Tune in for an insightful conversation on leadership, regulation, innovation, and the future of healthcare in Ghana and across Africa.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare, education, and the future of work. But what does this mean for medical students, doctors, and healthcare systems in Africa?

In this episode of MNEMOS: Med School & Beyond, we sit down with Dr. Mohammed Abu Sulemana; medical doctor, President of the Junior Doctors Association of Ghana, mental health advocate, and law student to explore what it truly means to be a doctor beyond the wards.

From his journey into medicine shaped by expectations, to his persistence in leadership despite multiple setbacks, Dr. Mohamed shares powerful insights on service, resilience, and growth. We dive into the real challenges junior doctors face today, from workplace bullying and burnout to systemic inefficiencies in Ghana’s healthcare system and the ongoing efforts to address them.

This conversation also unpacks the growing intersection between medicine and law, highlighting why documentation, ethics, and advocacy are becoming essential skills for every modern doctor.

If you’re a medical student or early-career doctor trying to navigate your path, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership, purpose, and your role in shaping the future of healthcare.

🎧 Listen, reflect, and rethink what it means to practice medicine today.

In this episode of MNEMOS: Med School & Beyond, we sit down with Princess Yaa Benson, medical student, social entrepreneur, and founder who is redefining what it means to be a healthcare professional in training.

From transitioning out of respiratory therapy to pursuing medicine, to building a CPR training movement across Ghana, Princess shares how clinical excellence alone isn’t enough to solve systemic healthcare challenges. She dives into leadership, entrepreneurship, research, and the importance of starting early despite doubt, burnout, and limited support.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that medicine goes beyond the bedside and that your impact can start now.

🎧 If you're a healthcare student or early-career professional, this episode will challenge you to think bigger, act earlier, and do more.

In this February 2026 episode of MNEMOS: Med School & Beyond, Dr. Richeal Shola Makinde sits down with Dr. Tetteh Odjidja, an Occupational and Public Health Physician based in Tarkwa, Ghana, to unpack a specialty many medical students rarely hear about but one that quietly protects lives, livelihoods, and entire workplaces.

From heartbreaking workplace injury stories to real-world cases where a single clinical decision prevents death or disaster, Dr. Odjidja explains what occupational medicine truly involves: risk assessment, ergonomics, safety-critical fitness decisions, rehabilitation, workman’s compensation, and the legal/ethical responsibilities behind every “fit” or “unfit” signature.

This conversation also highlights why occupational health in Ghana still has major gaps especially the absence of a national Occupational Health & Safety Bill and what advocacy, policy, and systems change could look like in the next decade.

We’re kicking off 2026 with a powerful conversation on health equity, rural healthcare access, and what it truly takes to bring care to the doorstep of underserved communities.

In this episode, we sit with Osei Kwadwo Boateng, Founder and Executive Director of the OKB Hope Foundation, a Ghanaian changemaker whose work is transforming preventive healthcare delivery through the Hope Health Van, a fully equipped mobile medical clinic that provides screening, diagnostics, consultations, medication, and health education in remote parts of Ghana.

Osei shares the deeply personal story that shaped his mission, the sacrifices behind building a mission-driven organization from the ground up, and the moment during an early outreach that confirmed this work was urgent—when a community member’s blood pressure was found to be dangerously high, and immediate intervention saved her life.

We also explore:

Why “access” isn’t enough without reliable access to quality healthcare

The realities of staffing and resourcing rural health facilities in Ghana

How OKB supports follow-up care for chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes

The role of trust, community leadership, and local collaboration in effective community health

Osei’s vision to reach 1 million people in the next 3–5 years, and build a scalable model across Africa

His newer initiative, One Health, designed to help diaspora families and organizations secure dependable care for loved ones and employees in Ghana

A timely episode for anyone passionate about public health, primary care, prevention, community medicine, and systems-level impact.

🎧 Listen, share, and let’s keep the conversation going—because healthcare is a basic right, not a privilege.