Johan Fagan (Prof)

Sub-Saharan Africa presents great challenges relating to access to healthcare. Due to insufficient training opportunities there is a shortage of ENT surgeons, audiologists and speech therapists in the region. Therefore there are tremendous opportunities to improve access to ENT and hearing care by focusing on education and training. I am currently developing the AfHNS Clinical Practice Guidelines for Head & Neck Cancers in Developing Countries and Limited Resource Settings (https://developingworldheadandneckcancerguidelines.com).

Our ENT department in Cape Town trains ENT specialists from all over Africa, and runs the only fellowships in head and neck, rhinology and paediatric otolaryngology in Sub-Saharan Africa. Through these trainees, both past and present, we have a wonderful network of colleagues and friends all over Africa, and through them have learned about the opportunities to address challenges in Africa. I therefore look forward to serving as a Global Ambassador for the Southern African region, and to sharing the challenges, opportunities and successes relating to training and education in Africa with the international readership.