Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH

 Gifty Kwakye, MD
Arthur W Fleming M.D. Research Professor
Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery
Assistant Dean for Clinical Medical Education
Medical School
Available to mentor
Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH
 Gifty Kwakye, MD
Assistant Dean
  • About
  • Qualifications
  • Center Memberships
  • Research Overview
  • Recent Publications
  • Manage Your Profile

  • About

    Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH, MEHP, FACS, FASCRS is the Arthur W. Fleming, M.D. Research Professor, Clinical Professor of Surgery in the Division of Colorectal Surgery, and Assistant Dean for Clinical Medical Education at the University of Michigan Medical School. She earned her bachelor's degrees in Biology and Psychology and her medical degree from Yale University, a Master of Public Health and Master of Education in the Health Professions (MEHP) from Johns Hopkins University, completed her general surgery residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and a fellowship in Colon and Rectal Surgery at the University of Minnesota. Since joining the University of Michigan faculty in 2018, Dr. Kwakye has established a national reputation as a colorectal surgeon, medical educator, and academic leader, with expertise spanning both undergraduate and graduate medical education, global surgery, implementation science, and surgical education.

    Qualifications

    • MEHP
      Johns Hopkins School of Education, Baltimore, MD, United States
      2024 - 2026
    • MD
      Yale University Medical School, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, United States
      2005 - 2010
    • MPH
      Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St, Baltimore, MD, 21205, United States
      2008 - 2009
    • BS
      Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
      2001 - 2005

    Center Memberships

    • Center Member
      Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
    • Center Member
      Center for Global Health Equity
    • Center Member
      Global REACH

    Research Overview

    Dr. Kwakye's research focuses on improving equitable access to high-quality surgical care through implementation science, global surgery, and medical education. Her work spans colorectal cancer prevention and treatment, surgical systems strengthening, competency-based surgical education, and implementation strategies to improve the delivery of evidence-based care in resource-limited settings. She leads collaborative educational and research partnerships in Ghana and Rwanda aimed at building sustainable colorectal surgery training programs, strengthening local surgical capacity, and advancing equitable global partnerships. Her current work also includes implementation of colorectal cancer screening programs in Ghana and scholarship in medical education, including assessment, competency-based education, and faculty development.

    Recent Publications

    See All Publications
    • Journal Article
      Compliance with the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons Preoperative Checklist in Rectal Cancer Care in Ghana: Gaps and Opportunities for Improvement – A Cross-Sectional Study
      Agbedinu K, Bediako-Bowan A, Brenu SG, Akli-Nartey C, Yorke J, Huang LC, Lowry AC, Kwakye G. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum, 2026 Jun 5; Publish Ahead of Print: DOI:10.1097/DCR.0000000000004261
    • Presentation
      Building Surgical Capacity Through Partnership: How the Center for Global Surgery Helped Catalyze Colorectal Surgery Training in Ghana and Rwanda
      Kwakye G. 2026 Jul 3;
    • Journal Article
      Myopic medical harm: a man receives free colon cancer screening in Ghana
      Obayemi JE, Agbedinu K, Kwakye G. Lancet, 2026 May 2; 407 (10540): 1676 - 1677. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00812-3
    • Additional Scholarship
      American Physician Institute (API) Surgery Board Review Program (Selected faculty member responsible for developing and recording seven enduring educational modules for the API General Surgery board review curriculum)
      Kwakye G. 2026 Jul 3;
    • Additional Scholarship
      American Physician Institute (API) Surgery Board Review Program (Selected faculty member responsible for developing and recording seven enduring educational modules for the API General Surgery board review curriculum)
      Kwakye G. 2026 Jul 3;
    • Presentation
      Finding Your Surgical Phenotype: Education
      Kwakye G. 2026 Jul 3;
    • Presentation
      Ghana: Regional Inter-departmental Workshop Invited Speaker (1) Introduction to Non-Technical Skills in Surgery (NOTSS) for Low Resource Settings, (2) Decision-Making & Planning, (3) Resident Teaching -Mentorship & Mentee Malpractice
      Kwakye G. 2026 Jul 3;
    • Journal Article
      Colorectal cancer quality improvement in a statewide surgical collaborative.
      Harbaugh C, Rosamond B, Rocker C, Bradley S, Kwakye G, Englesbe M, Hendren S. Surgery, 2026 Mar 9; 193: 110117 DOI:10.1016/j.surg.2026.110117
      PMID: 41806793

    Featured News & Stories

    Alt text: **Three people pose in front of a maize-and-blue balloon wall; the person on the left holds a bouquet, and they hold a sign reading “MATCHED! into General Surgery at HARVARD / BWH” with University of Michigan Medical School branding.
    Dose of Reality

    Pursuing Purpose: A Long, Strange, Joyful Journey to Discovering My Calling

    University of Michigan medical student Jessie Dalman shares her path to medicine, what she discovered at UMMS and what lies ahead after graduation
    Two people smiling posing for the camera
    Points of Blue

    Kate Panzer: Advancing global health efforts

    Kate Panzer started her journey on a service learning course for pediatric tuberculosis in Ghana, where she also conducted rural health research with a nonprofit organization, making lifelong connections that continue to motivate her engagement in global health efforts.
    Gifty Kwakye profile photo
    Points of Blue

    Gifty Kwakye, MD, MPH: Personifying hope

    Gifty Kwakye is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery and has been involved with medical education in many ways since coming to Michigan Medicine.
    An illustrated graphic about success
    Department News

    When COVID dealt struggling medical students another blow, the Shield Fund provided a lifeline

    A student who’d been helped stepped up along with faculty members to pay it forward.