Departmental Affiliations
James Kumwenda, MD, MSPH ’20, studies health leadership, health systems strengthening, and capacity strengthening in primary health care.
Research Interests
Community health; Health Systems; Global health education; Global health; Leadership development; mHealth; Primary health care
Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
MSPH
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2020
MBBS
University of Malawi
2013
Overview
Dr Kumwenda is a primary care physician with broad experience in health systems research, health management, and capacity strengthening across low-and middle-income countries. His research interests include leadership development, implementation science, and health systems capacity strengthening. Previously, as the head of the clinical department for a district with over 1 million people, Dr Kumwenda was responsible for an annual drug budget of $700,000, coordinating multiple health programs, health development partners, and clinical training across the district. As an educator, Dr Kumwenda lectures on topics including management of severe malnutrition, health systems, ethics in leadership, HIV/AIDS, and leadership development. He continues to support technical assistance projects and teaching activities in the Department of International Health.
Honors & Awards
2019 John Snow Inc. Award in International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2019 Global Health Established Field Placement Award, Johns Hopkins Centre for Global Health
2018 Gillings Merit Award (Public Health Leadership Program), University of North Carolina
2018 75% Master’s Tuition Scholarship, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2017 USAID/YALI Professional Development Grant, USAID
2016 Best performing health facility, Malawi Ministry of Health
2016 Social Impact Grant, United States Embassy in Malawi
2016 Congressional Recognition, United States House of Representatives
2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
2016 Young African Leadership Initiative
2012 Warwick Medical School Medical Elective (fully sponsored), Nuffield Trust
2011 Best student in Obstetrics/Gynecology senior clerkship, University of Malawi
2010 Best student in Obstetrics/Gynecology junior clerkship, University of Malawi
2009 Academic Scholarship, Government of Malawi
2007 Duke of Edinburgh International Award
2019 Global Health Established Field Placement Award, Johns Hopkins Centre for Global Health
2018 Gillings Merit Award (Public Health Leadership Program), University of North Carolina
2018 75% Master’s Tuition Scholarship, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2017 USAID/YALI Professional Development Grant, USAID
2016 Best performing health facility, Malawi Ministry of Health
2016 Social Impact Grant, United States Embassy in Malawi
2016 Congressional Recognition, United States House of Representatives
2016 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders
2016 Young African Leadership Initiative
2012 Warwick Medical School Medical Elective (fully sponsored), Nuffield Trust
2011 Best student in Obstetrics/Gynecology senior clerkship, University of Malawi
2010 Best student in Obstetrics/Gynecology junior clerkship, University of Malawi
2009 Academic Scholarship, Government of Malawi
2007 Duke of Edinburgh International Award
Select Publications
Select publications
- Odland, M. L., Membe-Gadama, G., Kafulafula, U., Jacobsen, G. W., Kumwenda, J., & Darj, E. (2018). The Use of Manual Vacuum Aspiration in the Treatment of Incomplete Abortions: A Descriptive Study from Three Public Hospitals in Malawi. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(2).
Projects
Technical Assistance for the Strengthening of the Community-based Primary Health Care System through Studies and Operational Research in Madagascar