About GCSEI
Where you live in the world should not dictate your chances of survival.
Through education, innovation, and compassionate care, we aim to transform lives and communities affected by colorectal ailments, striving for a healthier and brighter future for all.
Post-Surgery Group Photo
Image depicting the surgical staff post-operation.
Organizing Medical Equipment and Donations
Dr. Kwakye and her family sorting donations for their trip to Ghana in April 2024. All donations pictured consist of unusued materials from operating rooms within the University of Michigan Hospital that were en route to be thrashed or recycled.
Televised Colorectal Cancer Screening Awareness Campaign
The initiative’s first fellow, Dr. Kwabena Agbedinu (to the far right) is illustrated while performing a CRC screening awareness campaign on national television.
Photos from the OR
An image from within the operating room.
Staff Dinner
Depicted are Dr. Huang and Dr. Lowry at a dinner break!
CRC Conference
Photo depicting the leadership team at a meeting with medical staff from one of the organization’s global partnerships.
Academic Paper Writing Workshop
Erin Kim (University of Michigan M3 student) giving a lecture to surgery and medical residents in Ghanian teaching hospitals on how to create an academic paper.
CRC Skills Lecture
Dr. Kwakye hosting a lecture on CRC-related medical skills.
Surgery Leadership and Staff Farewell Dinner
Farewell dinner with the medical director of KATH, surgical faculty and the OR nursing team.
Group Image of Surgical Leadership and Staff
A photo taken of the surgical leadership team along with UM’s Dr. Kwakye.
Images from the Operating Room
Dr. Huang operating with the Head of Surgery Department, Dr. Dally, and Dr. Agbedinu.
Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Trip, April 2024
An image of the April 2024 trip to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Ghana, illustrating a portion of donated supplies being delivered to the CEO of KATH and the hospital’s surgery leadership.
Photos from the OR
Photo depicting the University of Utah’s Dr. Huang after an operation in the teaching hospital.
Photos from the OR
This photo depicts the active observation of a surgical procedure performed by the leadership team in one of the teaching hospitals in Ghana.
Photos from the OR
Another image showcasing the aftermath of a teaching session within the operating room.
Lectureship in Honor of Dr. Lowry
Image of the 2024 Masters in Colorectal Surgery Lectureship honoring one of the initative’s board members, University of Minnesota’s Dr. Ann C. Lowry.
Why Colorectal Surgery?
Colorectal surgery is a field of medicine dealing with disorders of the rectum, anus, and colon. Unknown to many, this type of cancer is a leading cause of cancer death not only within the United States, but around the world as well (Cancer Research UK, 2023). Individuals affected by colorectal cancer (CRC) may experience long-lasting trouble with chronic diarrhea, changes to their bowel habits, or pain in their abdominal and stomach area, allowing this to become a serious disease that could easily spread to other areas of the body if left undetected or untreated (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Like other low- and middle-income countries across the world, Ghana has borne witness to an increase in benign and malignant colorectal disorders, and CRC prevalence is projected to increase with the adoption of Western lifestyle habits, particularly among the youth. Despite these trends, research has shown that a gap exists when it comes to providers specialized in treating such disorders – an issue that this curriculum aims to address through minimum case requirements, education and training programs. At its core, our initiative aims to elevate colon and rectal surgery specialists to the highest standards, equipping them to deliver safe and top-tier care independently. The program’s carefully crafted structure ensures that an ample number of colorectal surgeons are trained, addressing the national healthcare needs across all levels. Ultimately, it is important to remember that colorectal surgery persists as a serious problem in today’s world, and taking action now can help future generations live brighter, cancer-free lives.
1. Cancer Research UK. (2023, June 9). Worldwide cancer statistics. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/worldwide-cancer#:~:text=Mortality%20worldwide&text=Lung%2C%20bowel%2C%20liver%20and%20stomach,of%20cancer%20death%20since%201975
2. Professional, C. C. M. (n.d.). Colorectal (Colon) cancer. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14501-colorectal-colon-cancer
3. Global Colorectal Surgery Education Initiative. (n.d.). Michigan Medicine | Department of Surgery Research. Retrieved July 29, 2024, from https://medicine.umich.edu/dept/surgery-research/centers-initiatives/center-global-surgery/global-colorectal-surgery-education-initiative
The GCSEI Board of Directors
Gifty Kwakye MD, MPH
Chair, University of Michigan
Dr. Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH, is the Arthur W. Fleming, M.D. Research Professor and a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery in the Division of Colorectal Surgery at the University of Michigan. She received her medical degree from Yale University in 2010 and holds a Master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins. Dr. Kwakye’s research interests include understanding the local factors that contribute to pelvic floor disorders and recto-vaginal fistulas in developing countries and improving access to surgical care. Dr. Kwakye helped to establish the program to support the development and advancement of colorectal surgery training in Ghana and other regions in need.
Ann C. Lowry, MD
Board Member, University of Minnesota
Dr. Lowry, a colorectal surgeon, is Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the University of
Minnesota. In 2005, Dr. Lowry was the President of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Clinically she cared for patients with a full spectrum of colorectal
conditions with a particular interest in pelvic floor disorders. Active in surgical education
for her entire career, she is also passionate about mentorship and serves as a mentor
to practicing surgeons, trainees, and students through various organizations. Her
efforts now focus on using her clinical, educational, and leadership experience to build capacity in low- and middle-income countries.
Lyen Huang, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCRS
Board Member, University of Utah
Lyen C. Huang, MD, MPH, FACS, FASCRS, is an Assistant Professor of Surgery with adjunct appointments in Family & Preventative Medicine and Population Health Sciences at the University of Utah. Dr. Huang received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Stanford University and his Master of Public Health degree from the University of Cape Town. He completed General Surgery Residency at Stanford and a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the Mayo Clinic. He has received funding from NCATS and the NIH HEAL Initiative. His research uses behavior change and implementation science to improve peri-operative opioid stewardship and community health.
Jonathan Laryea, MD
Board Member, University of Arkansas
Dr. Jonathan A. Laryea, Professor of Surgery at UAMS, holds the Nolie Norma Mumey Endowed Chair in surgery. He serves as Division Chief of Colorectal Surgery and Medical Director of the Cancer Service Line at the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. He is board certified in general surgery, colorectal surgery, and clinical informatics. He also holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics. Dr. Laryea is a member of various surgical associations, and has clinical interests in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. His research focuses on racial disparities, biomedical informatics,
and machine learning/artificial intelligence. He actively participates in global surgery initiatives across Africa.
GCSEI Staff
Ashley Duby, MS
Secretary, Midwest Premier Business Solutions, LLC
Ashley Duby, MS is an experienced project manager with over 17 years of experience. She has a Master’s degree in organizational leadership for business administrators and has a proven track record of successfully managing diverse research portfolios within large academic institutions, non-profit organizations, educational workshops, and other large events.
Charles K. Darkoh, FSA, MBA
Treasurer
Charles K. Darkoh, FSA, MBA, serves as the Treasurer for the Global Colorectal Surgery Education Initiative (GCSEI), where he oversees financial stewardship and governance to ensure sustainable program growth.
He brings over two decades of experience in strategic finance and healthcare transformation, including leading major financial-reporting and analytics initiatives at Ernst & Young and helping guide enterprise strategy at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Rooted in his commitment to global health equity, Mr. Darkoh ensures that every resource managed by GCSEI directly advances safe, sustainable surgical education in low-resource settings.
Anastasia Minkova
Marketing Intern
A second-year undergraduate Neuroscience student at the University of Michigan, Anastasia serves as the Director of Marketing for the UM Global Surgery Student Alliance chapter, and has since worked with her committee on maintaining the website of the Global Colorectal Surgery Education initiative. In the past, she has worked on logo and flyer design for a current project in Rwanda, and is involved in a handful of global-work oriented student organizations on campus, such as M-HEAL!