Young Physician Leaders Contribute to Urban Health at IUHS 2025

From 9-11 April 2025, over 200 global experts gathered at Herrenhausen Palace in Hannover, Germany, for the International Urban Health Summit (IUHS). Co-organised by IAP alongside the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, the Volkswagen Foundation and the International Society for Urban Health (ISUH), the Summit offered a dynamic platform to explore innovative solutions to urban health challenges.

Among the attendees were several IAP Young Physician Leaders (YPL) alumni, who made significant contributions to the event, reflecting the growing influence of early-career health professionals in global policy dialogue.

Notably, Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah (Ghana) and Camille Berjauline Mba Maadjhou (Cameroon), both members of the newly established IAP Urban Health Working Group, played key roles in shaping the Summit’s conversations. Their expertise, ranging from public health leadership in peri-urban contexts to non-communicable disease prevention, enriched the interdisciplinary focus of the Summit and underscored the importance of regional perspectives from Africa in urban health policy. Dr Danquah, an award-winning Municipal Director of Health Services in Ghana, brought to the fore her practical experience in health system strengthening, community engagement and gender equity. Dr Mba Maadihou, a clinical and academic expert in diabetology and epidemiology, emphasised the role of behavioural change and preventive care in transforming urban health outcomes.

Also serving on the IAP Urban Health Working Group and participating actively in the Summit were Suraj Bhattarai (Nepal), Ahmed Hassoon (Iraq/USA) and Atiya Mosam (South Africa).

Dr Bhattarai, IAP-YPL alumnus 2016, a global health researcher and director of the Global Health Programme at The Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (Nepal), brought deep insights into infectious diseases, health systems research and cross-sectoral collaboration. A long-time advocate for health policy and systems research (HPSR), his contribution helped frame discussions on translating evidence into policy at national and international levels.

Dr Hassoon, IAP-YPL alumnus 2017, a faculty member at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine, offered valuable perspectives on digital innovation and AI-driven solutions for early diagnosis and equitable health access. His work on clinical diagnostic errors and intelligent prediction tools strongly resonated with sessions on AI for urban health.

Dr Mosam, IAP-YPL 2019, a public health specialist from South Africa and chair of the YPL Alumni Committee, is deeply engaged in primary care reform and workforce development. Her presence at the Summit reinforced the value of practitioner-led systems change, especially in low-resource and transitioning urban health systems.

Danquah, Mba Maadjhou and Mosam presented in Plenary Session 6 on 'Education and Urban Health', while Hassoon spoke in the Plenary Session 5 on 'AI and Urban Health', and Bhattarai spoke during the Breakout Session C 'Including Vulnerable Populations in Decision Making'.

Read and download the full IUHS programme here.

Another YPL alumna, Thao Nguyen Thi Phuong (Vietnam), attended the Summit as a distinguished early-career researcher. As President of the Academy of Medical Sciences in Vietnam and a prominent figure in AI-driven medical research, she contributed to discussions on the integration of technology in public health systems and the future of mental health services in urban settings.

A highlight of YPL participation was the active involvement of Aleksandar Stevanović (Serbia), who co-presented an innovative session on community engagement and Arts. His project, Public Health Cinema, was well received for its creative approach to health promotion and trust-building in diverse urban communities. Dr Stevanović’s reflections on cross-continental learning and the value of ‘city twinning’ for public health cooperation resonated with the Summit’s global ethos.

Thao Nguyen Thi Phuong and Aleksandar Stevanović were both selected and supported by travel grants from the Volkswagen Foundation through a call to Early-Career Researchers.

The IUHS 2025 programme featured six plenary sessions addressing pressing topics such as climate change, artificial intelligence and inclusive urban governance. With its emphasis on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Summit underscored the role of academies and young professionals in advancing evidence-based, health-centred urban policy. As cities face escalating challenges, the voices of early-career leaders like the YPL alumni are essential. Their presence and contributions at IUHS 2025 demonstrate IAP’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of global health leaders.

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