UGMC Doctor

Profile 
 
Dr. Ama Kyerewaa Edwin is a dedicated Physician Clinical Psychologist and Bioethicist with experience in emergency preparedness and response to emerging diseases, (in particular, COVID-19 and Ebola Virus Disease), stakeholder engagement, situation analysis, risk communication, community engagement, policy formulation and guideline development, technical support and coordination, and capacity building of health workers. 
 
In her current role as a Physician Clinical Psychologist and Bioethicist, and the Head of the Department of Bioethics and Palliative Care at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, she leads efforts in addressing ethical issues in healthcare, end-of-life issues, crisis intervention, stress management, and Critical Incident Stress Management Her expertise extends to various professional memberships and committees, where she actively contributes to shaping ethical standards and policies. In the area of Bioethics, Dr. Edwin’s focus spans clinical ethics, research ethics, public health ethics, global health ethics, humanitarian ethics, pandemic ethics, and global mental health ethics. She is a bioethicist who is heavily invested in human rights and ethical issues in healthcare and mental health and a strong advocate for effective and ethical mental health practice. 
 
Her extensive involvement in various positions reflects her dedication to leadership and service. From heading departments to chairing ethics committees and serving on international boards, she has consistently demonstrated a commitment to advancing ethical standards and healthcare practices. This continuous pursuit of knowledge aligns with her commitment to staying at the forefront of healthcare advancements. Beyond academia and healthcare, she actively engages in civic and public affairs. As a member of various committees and boards, she contributes to legislative initiatives addressing violence against women, children and other vulnerable groups. Her passion for mentoring and coaching young individuals underscores her commitment to holistic personal development. Whether serving on academic committees or mentoring young people, she seeks to empower others to discover their purpose and navigate life's challenges. 
 
Dr. Ama Edwin’s diverse professional journey, coupled with a relentless commitment to ethical healthcare practices and holistic well-being, positions her as a dedicated and impactful healthcare leader. She is poised to contribute significantly to advancing healthcare ethics, improving mental health practices, and addressing broader societal issues. 
 
Education
 
Doctor of Bioethics (D.Bioethics) 
Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, USA; May 2015 
 
MA in Bioethics and Health Policy 
Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Chicago, USA; December 2010 
 
MPhil in Clinical Psychology 
Department of Psychology, University of Ghana; December 2001 
 
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MB ChB) 
University of Ghana Medical School; December 1994 
 
 Professional Experience

Before joining UGMC, Dr. Ama Edwin was a Senior Lecturer, (November 2017 – February 2020) and Head, the Department of Psychological Medicine and Mental Health, School of Medicine (November 2017 - July 2019) University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ho. At UHAS, she taught Health law and medical ethics to medical students and physician assistants. She chaired and set up the counseling team and led the development of the TORs for UHAS Counseling Services and chaired the Disciplinary Committee for Junior Members. She also started a clinical ethics consultation service at the Ho Teaching Hospital. 
 
Before this, she had spent over two decades working at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, Ghana from February 1995 to October 2017. She did her horsemanship from February 1995 to January 1996. She was a medical officer with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Ghana Medical School, at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital from February 1996- April 2001. She was the Head of the Addictive Diseases Unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital from November 1997 – August 1998. In May 2001, she started the first clinical psychology service in KBTH and was a specialist clinical psychologist from May 2001 to October 2017. She was a foundation member of the first interdisciplinary Palliative Care Team in Ghana at the KBTH from September 2012 to October 2017 and a bioethicist at the Medical Directorate of KBTH from January 2011 to October 2017. 
 
Registration / License 
 
1.     Medical and Dental Council Ghana 
2.     Ghana Psychological Council 

  

International Boards/ Committees/ Working Groups 
 
  • Research for Ethical Data Science in sub-Saharan Africa (REDSSA) African Consortium of Bioethicists (December 2022) 
  • Stakeholder Validation on Conflict of Interest in Health Research on: Building Skills in Research Ethics Committees and Science Councils in Sub-Saharan Africa (November 2022) 
  • Risk Communication and Case Management Technical Working Groups of the Africa Task Force for Coronavirus (AFTCOR) hosted by the Africa CDC (June 2020 to June 2021). 
  • Médecins Sans Frontière Data Protection Policy Working Group (December 2016) 
  • Médecins Sans Frontière Ethics Review Board (MSF ERB) (August 2016) 
  • WHO Guideline Development Group (GDG); Guidelines on the Supportive Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Diseas (August 2016) 
  • Working Group of The Specialised Technical Committee on Health, Population and Drug Control (STC-HPDC-1) on The Establishment of the Africa CDC (July 2015)
  • H3A Community Engagement Working Group, (July 2015) 
 
 
Professional Societies/ Boards/ Committees 
 
  • Member, Ethics Committee of The Ghana Psychology Council (March 2023) 
  • Chairperson, Independent Assessment Committee, The Bank Hospital, Accra, (September 2022) 
  • Medical Board, Bank of Ghana 
  • Chairperson, UGMC Clinical Ethics Committee (March 2022) 
  • Member, Ghana Medical Association (GMA) Ethics and Disciplinary Committee (Feb 2022 – Dec 2023) 
  • Member, Domestic Violence Management Board (November 2021). 
  • UGMC Quality Management Committee (August 2021) 
  • Psychosocial Expert Group – National Coordinator of Ghana’s Coronavirus Response Programme (April 2020 to December 2020) 
  • Chair, Interim Counseling Team for Students, UHAS (February 2018 – February 2020) 
  • UHAS School of Medicine Scientific and Ethical Review Committee (Feb 2018 – Feb 2020) 
  • UHAS Search Committee for Appointment of Deans and Director, (October 2018; June 2019) 
  • Chair, Disciplinary Committee for Junior Members, UHAS, Ho, Ghana. (Nov 217 – Feb 2020) 
  • Business and Executive Committee (BEC) of Academic Board, UHAS (Dec 2017 to July 2019) 
  • UHAS Academic Board (November 2017 to July 2019) 
  • Ghana Health Service Ethics Review Committee (GHS-ERC) (January 2009 to December 2017) 
  • Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Institutional Review Board, (September 2015 – December 2017) 
  • Practice Committee of Medical and Dental Council, Ghana. (2015 - 2017) 
  • Board Member, The Ark Foundation, Ghana (2010 - 2017) 
  • CPD Committee, GMA Greater-Accra Division, Member, (2011 - 2017) 
  • African Palliative Care Association (April 2016) 
  • The Global Emerging Pathogens Treatment (GET) Consortium (November 2015) 
  • Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Ethics and Professionalism Committee 2011 -2015 
  • Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Clinical Policies Development Committee 2013 -2014 
  • International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC) Member, (2014) 
  • KBTH Ethical and Counselling Committee for Renal Transplants (2008 - 2014) 
  • American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM), Member (2013) 
  • Ghana Psychological Association (2001) 
  • Society of Ghana Women Medical and Dental Practitioners (SGWMDP), now Medical Women 
  • Association of Ghana (MWAG), (1998) President (2000 – 2002) 
  • Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Member (1994) GMA Ethics and Disciplinary Committee, Member, (2006) 
 
 
Scientific Publications 
 
 
  1. Fiagbe D, Edwin AK, Dordoye EK, Dellor D, Gyamera A, Dziwornu E. The Ethical Dilemma of Balancing Confidentiality and Duty to Protect: A Case Report of Comorbid Schizophrenia and Cannabis Use Disorder with Homicidal Thoughts. Niger Med J 2023;64(3):424-426. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/371912973_The_ethical_dilemma_of_Balancing_Confidentiality_and_Duty_to_Protec_A_Case_Report_of_Schizophrenia_and_Comorbid_Cannabis_Use_Disorder_with_Homicidal_Thoughts 
  2. Edwin F, Edwin AK, Palacios-Macedo A, Mamorare H, Yao NA. Management of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome in Low-Resource Settings and the Ethics of Decision-Making. World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg. 2022 Sep;13(5):609-614. doi: 10.1177/21501351221103511. PMID: 36053092. 
  3. Ngoy N, Conteh IN, Oyugi B, Abok P, Kobie A, Phori P, Hamba C, Ejiofor NE, Fitzwanga K, Appiah J, Edwin A, Fawole T, Kamara R, Cihambanya LK, Mzozo T, Ryan C, Braka F, Yoti Z, Kasolo F, Okeibunor JC, Gueye AS. Coordination and Management of COVID-19 in Africa through Health Operations and Technical Expertise Pillar: A Case Study from WHO AFRO One Year into Response. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2022; 7(8):183. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed7080183 https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/7/8/183#cite 
  4. Browne JL, Rees CO, van Delden JJM, Agyepong I, Grobbee DE, Edwin A, Klipstein-Grobusch K, van der Graaf R. The willingness to participate in biomedical research involving human beings in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review. Trop Med Int Health. 2019 Mar; 24(3):264-279. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/tmi.13195 
  5. Emmanuel Edmond Yambasu, Anthony Reid, Philip Owiti, Marcel Manzi, Mariama Jeanne Sia Murray, Ama Kyerewaa Edwin. Hidden dangers - prevalence of blood borne pathogens, hepatitis B, C, HIV and syphilis, among blood donors in Sierra Leone in 2016: opportunities for improvement? A retrospective, cross-sectional study. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2018;30:44. doi:10.11604/pamj.2018.30.44.14663   http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/30/44/pdf/44.pdf 
  6. F Lamontagne MD, Prof RA Fowler MD, NK Adhikari MD, S Murthy MD, DM Brett-Major MD, Prof M Jacobs FRCP, TM Uyeki MD, C Vallenas MD, SL Norris MD, WA 2nd Fischer MD, TE Fletcher MD, AC Levine MD, P Reed MD, DG Bausch MD, S Gove MD, A Hall, S Shepherd MD, R Siemieniuk MD, MC Lamah MD, R Kamara MD, P Nakyeyune MBChB, MJ Soka MD, A Edwin MD, AA Hazzan PhD, ST Jacob MD, MM Elkarsany MD, T Adachi MD, L Benhadj MSc, C Clément MD, I Crozier MD, A Garcia, SJ Hoffman PhD, Prof GH Guyatt MD. Evidence-based guidelines for supportive care of patients with Ebola virus disease. Lancet 2018; 391: 700–08 https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(17)31795-6.pdf 
  7. Ama Kyerewaa Edwin, Summer Johnson McGee, Edwina Addo Opare-Lokko and Mawuli Kotope Gyakobo. A Structured Approach to End-of-Life Decision Making Improves Quality of Care for Patients With Terminal Illness in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana.  Am J Hosp Palliat Care. March 2016; 33: 144-149. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267814449_A_Structured_Approach_to_End-of-Life_Decision_Making_Improves_Quality_of_Care_for_Patients_With_Terminal_Illness_in_a_Teaching_Hospital_in_Ghana 
  8. Ama K. Edwin.  To Quarantine or Not to Quarantine: An Ethical Perspective – commentary J. Heal Ethics Admin Volume 1 | Number 2 (Fall/Winter 2015) https://jheaonline.org/pdf/7_Edwin_jhea.4.7166.pdf 
  9. Ama Kyerewaa Edwin, Summer McGee, Frank Edwin. Ethical dilemmas relating to the management of a newborn with Down syndrome and severe congenital heart disease in a resource-poor setting. Narrat Inq Bioeth. 2015; 5(3):277-86.  doi: 10.1353/nib.2015.0060. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289991798_Ethical_Dilemmas_Relating_to_the_Management_of_a_Newborn_with_Down_Syndrome_and_Severe_Congenital_Heart_Disease_in_a_Resource-Poor_Setting  
  10. Ishmael D. Norman, Moses S. K. Aikins, Fred N. Binka, Divine Ndonbi Banyubala and Ama K. Edwin. The Constitutional Mandate for Judge-Made-Law and Judicial Activism: A case study of the matter of Elizabeth Vaah v. Lister Hospital and Fertility Centre. The Open Ethics Journal, 2012, 6, 1 – 7. http://benthamopen.com/contents/pdf/TOJ/TOJ-6-1.pdf 
  11. Edwin AK. Editorial Commentary – Ethics and Electronic Health Information Technology. Ghana Med J 2011; 45 (3): 87-88. www.ghanamedj.org/articles/September2011/Final%20Editorial%20Commentary.pdf 
  12. Ama Kyerewaa Edwin, Frank Edwin, Victor Etwire. Controlling sickle cell disease in Ghana – ethics and options. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2011; 10:14. http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/10/14/full/ 
  13. Edwin A K. Is Routine HPV Vaccination An Option For Ghana? Ghana Med J. 2010 June; 44(2): 70-75 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994148/#:~:text=Although%20Ghana%20has%20a%20strong,vaccination%20with%20its%20current%20funding
  14. Clegg-Lamptey JN, Aduful HK, Yarney J, Adu-Aryee NA, Vanderpuye V, Kyereh M, Nkansah A, Edwin A. Profile of breast diseases at a self-referral clinic in Ghana. West Afr J Med. 2009 Mar; 28(2):114-117. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19761175?itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum&ordinalpos=1 
  15. Edwin A K. Non-disclosure of medical errors, an egregious violation of ethical principles. Ghana Med J. 2009 March; 43(1): 34–39. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2709172/ 
  16. Edwin AK. Don't Lie but Don't Tell the Whole Truth: The Therapeutic Privilege - Is it Ever Justified? Ghana Med J. 2008 December; 42(4): 156–161. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2673833/ 

Peer Review Journal Panels 
 
1.     Ghana Medical Journal (GMJ) 
2.     Journal of The West African College of Surgeons (JWACS) 
 
Training and Consultancy Experience 
 
  • Case Management, consultant to support remotely COVID-19 activities of EMR/EPR Program of WHO/AFRO 
  • Independent Contractor with Initiatives Conseil International – Santé 
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) 
  • Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) 
  • Training doctors and nurses on effective communication and end-of-life communication 
  • Facilitator, Crisis Intervention and Conflict Resolution Workshops 
  • Facilitator, Burnout workshops 
  • Facilitator, Domestic Violence, Gender and Sexual Violence workshops 
  • Facilitator, Child Abuse workshops 
  • Facilitator, Marriage/Relationship Seminars 
  • Part of UNICEF-sponsored multidisciplinary team training doctors and nurses nationwide in Domestic violence leading to the development of a Manual on Domestic Violence for Health Workers in Ghana 
  • Worked with Liberian and Rwandan refugees being resettled by UNHCR to help them process and deal with their traumatic pasts so they can move on with their lives in their new environments. 

Teaching Experience
 
  • Residents – Scientific Integrity and Research Ethics 
  • Medical Students – Health Law and Medical Ethics, Medical Ethics 
  • Physician Assistant Students – Health Law and Medical Ethics 
  • Nurse Residents – Ethical Issues in Palliative Care; Ethical Issues in Paediatrics; Ethical Issues in Reproductive Health 
 
Research Interest 
 
Research interests cut across a wide variety of topics including the following: 
·      Medico-Legal Issues in Mental Health 
·      Clinical Ethics 
·      Research Ethics 
·      Law & Ethics 
·      Humanitarian Ethics 
·      Public Health Ethics 
 
Language Skills 
 
She is highly proficient in English and Akan Languages and has basic proficiency in French.