A group photo of students and speakers at the 16th AMSUN International, Research and Scientific Conference.
The Association of Medical Students of the University of Nairobi (AMSUN) hosted its 16th International, Research and Scientific Conference on the 28th and 29th May, 2026 at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) Lecture Theatre 3 (LT3) under the theme “Innovation and sustainability in healthcare.”
The two-day event brought together stakeholders in health convening students from within and without, prominent researchers, seasoned medical and academic powerhouses to discuss vital issues in the health care and academic sector. A delegation from Tanzania was also present marking this event as a regional event.
The event was officially opened by the newly installed University of Nairobi (UoN) Associate dean Undergraduate Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Rose Jepchumba Kosgei who urged the students to widen their academic and professional nets in the medical field and to network with the health professionals to avoid entering the profession with a tunnel vision.
“We at UoN influence systems that improve the life of millions beyond the bedside, none of the medical pathways are more important than the other they’re all necessary and important. Kenya needs excellent clinicians, innovators, clinicians, researchers, policy makers global health leaders and scientists,” Prof. Kosgei added in her address at the event.
She reiterated the university’s quest to create all rounded professional who are not only poised to face the professional world with stellar academic background but also as fully functional members of society.
“Do not limit your future, at UoN our responsibility is not to simply graduate students, our responsibility is to produce competent professionals who are ethical leaders who are thinkers who will serve Kenya, the region and the world, sometimes the idea you share as a student becomes the innovation the policy or discovery that changes the healthcare years later,” she further added.
Also speaking at the event was Dr, Elly Opot Nyaim, the Chair of the Department of Surgery, who lauded the attending and participating students and urged them to also take this opportunity to learn and network.
“I congratulate you for choosing to learn beyond the classroom,” he proudly stated in his opening address.
In line with the event’s theme, he underscored the need for students to make use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive their learning and research forward but only utilizing it ethically, responsibly and when necessary.
“Innovation is no longer an option but a must in healthcare. In its teaching and employment too. Let’s move with tech, let’s drive it and not let it drive us,” he added.
Prior to the event, FHS Dean Prof. Daniel Ojuka, invited medical students to attend the conference as it provided a valuable opportunity for students to explore emerging scientific findings, interact with researchers, and build professional network.
The keynote address was given by Ms. Evelyn Chagina in the capacity of World Health Organization (WHO) representative, who proclaimed the conference as a life changing event.
“That is why this conference matters it’s a space to connect knowledge to service knowledge, to ethics and professionalism, the theme directly links to the reality that is facing health systems today. Kenya like many countries is working to expand access to quality service while responding to challenging population health needs,” she added in her address.
The conference saw a plethora of presentations by Uon-FHS medical students and from other universities where students gave riveting and innovative presentations under oral research, oral innovation and poster presentation categories.
There were also presentations from seasoned personalities in the medical field from within and without Uon-FHS.
Panel discussions and presentations touched on trivial health issues like female health technology, geriatric medicine, accelerating health progress towards SDG 3-Good health and wellbeing of Africa, current issues in the medical sector and research and innovation the health sphere.
UoN’s own Dr Anne Kihara presented on Fem-tech where she touched on the gender disconnect in healthcare which is a sensitive barrier in health care providence and research.
She made an affirmative call to action to the medical students to agitate among themselves to stir up their technological innovations into female health care, create public awareness and to bring constructive Ai into medical school.
“Fem-tech is here to disrupt, it’s not business as usual as it will improve health care delivery, improve diagnostics and deliver culturally sensitive and proper care and interoperability in health care,” she further added.
She also urged the students to apply to be in the fem-tech class to change the trajectory of female health.
Newly elected FHS Governor Eddy Spensa urged the students to take advantage of such events to present their research so as to use it as a pathway to forge relationships in the medical field and put themselves on the map in the career so as to move ahead.
The event saw a huge turn out of students who immersed themselves fully in the program by presenting, asking informed questions, participating in the interactive sessions and volunteering.
Stellar presentations were awarded with Gloria Natalia emerging victorious in the Oral research category, Danielle Wijenje in the Oral Innovation category and Onunda Boaz winning the Poster presentation category.
The conference was a success with collaboration from partners from within UoN like the Department of Public and Global Health and outside partners.
Other partners included Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society (KOGS), Obimbo labs. KAVI Institute of Clinical Research, Suqoon, Nairobi HIFU Treatment Centre, Willow Health media, World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and Dr Kalebi labs.
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