UGMC Director of Pharmaceutical Services

Dr. Josephine Mensah stands as a prominent figure known for her exceptional contributions to healthcare, with an impressive career spanning over sixteen (16) years in the field of Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy administration, Pharmacy education, and Research. Her educational journey, professional affiliations, research endeavours, and commitment to patient care and training of Pharmacists make her a valuable asset to the medical community. 

She currently serves as the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, UGMC, where she leads the directorate to provide quality and optimized Pharmaceutical Care and products to cherished clients. 

 

Education
Dr. Mensah’s academic foundation is robust, boasting credentials that include a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy, a Doctor of Pharmacy, an MSc in Clinical Pharmacy, and a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Additionally, she holds the title of Senior Specialist Clinical Pharmacist (Infectious Diseases) from the Ghana College of Pharmacists. Her pursuit of knowledge extends beyond pharmacy, with diplomas in Marketing Management, Human Resources Management, and Financial Management from the Institute of Commercial Management, UK. Dr Mensah has also earned certificates in Project Management in Global Health, Leadership and Management in Health, and Introduction to Epidemiology for Global Health from the University of Washington, USA. She has fortified her expertise with specialized training, holding a Certificate in Data Management and Analysis from the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research, University of Ghana, Legon. 

Dr Mensah has worked at the University of Ghana Medical Centre since December 2019, in various capacities including Head of Education and Training, Pharmacy Directorate, and the foundational head, Clinical/Inpatient Pharmacy Department. She has extensive experience in Hospital and Community Pharmacy practice, as well as Pharmacy education. She worked at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for almost a decade, and had her housemanship training at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. 

 

As a dedicated professional, Dr Mensah is an active member of key organizations and committees shaping the pharmaceutical landscape. She holds memberships in the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Lady Pharmacists Association of Ghana, and the Government and Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ghana. She is also a Fellow of the Ghana College of Pharmacists. 

 

She is a member of the Committee for Medication Use Review Implementation in Ghana (Trainer of Trainees Stakeholders) and the team lead for the Module 1 facilitators group. She is also a member of the Infection Prevention and Control Committee and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, UGMC, for which she also serves as the Vice Chair. In addition, Dr Mensah is a member of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Team, UGMC. 

 

She is a member of the International Federation of Pharmacists, Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and Society of Infectious Disease Pharmacists’ International Task Force. 

 

Dr. Mensah serves on the Patient and Family Centered Care Committee, transplant and Pharmacovigilance teams at UGMC. She also serves as the Executive Secretary of the Medicines and Therapeutics Committee, UGMC. 

 

She has made significant contributions to the body of knowledge through her research, focusing on Clinical and Social Pharmacy, Antimicrobial Utilization/Stewardship, Rational Medicines Use, Pharmacotherapy, Sickle Cell Disease, and Psychiatry. She is also involved in Clinical Trial Research, serving as Study Pharmacist during the trials. Her commitment to advancing pharmaceutical knowledge is evident in her numerous publications. 

 

Her expertise extends specifically to Infectious Diseases, and having served as a visiting researcher in Infectious Diseases and antimicrobial stewardship at the Washington University/Barnes-Jewish Hospital, USA, she showcases a nuanced understanding of critical healthcare challenges in this domain. Her passion for her work is evident in her preference for working with medical and critically ill patients, particularly those grappling with infectious diseases. 

 

Dr Mensah is a Medication Therapy Management expert, and serves as the UGMC Institutional Contact Person for FDA Ghana in Pharmacovigilance. She is passionate about Pharmacy Education and grooming of next generation Pharmacists, and has been the facilitator for several Continuous Professional Development programmes. She serves as a part-time/ adjunct lecturer for training Pharmacy students/interns from several institutions, and plays a pivotal role as the Lead Preceptor for Pharmacy education at UGMC. 

 

Beyond her professional commitments, Dr Mensah finds joy in mentoring young pharmacists, organizing philanthropic events, attending and participating in Church activities, spending time with family and unwinding with a good movie.