Claire Karekezi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Claire Karekezi
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Karekezi in 2022
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| Born | 4 July 1982 Butare, Rwanda
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| Education | University of Rwanda (MD), Université Mohammed V (Neurosurgery), University of Toronto (Neuro-oncology and Skull-Base Surgery) |
| Occupation | Neurosurgeon |
Claire Karekezi (born 4 July 1982) is a highly respected brain surgeon from Rwanda. She works at the Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital in Kigali, Rwanda. Dr. Karekezi is famous for being the first female brain surgeon in Rwanda.
She is one of only eight brain surgeons serving Rwanda's 14 million people. Dr. Karekezi is a strong supporter for women in neurosurgery. She inspires many young people, especially girls, to follow their dreams in this field. She specializes in treating brain tumors and performing complex skull surgeries.
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Early Life and First Steps
Claire Karekezi was born in Butare, Rwanda. She grew up in Kigali, the capital city, with her two older siblings. Her father was a telecommunication engineer, and her mother was a high school teacher.
From a young age, Claire loved science. After elementary school, she focused on math and physics in high school. She then went to medical school at the University of Rwanda. She graduated as a medical doctor in March 2009. During her studies, she first learned about neurosurgery, which is surgery on the brain and nervous system. This experience changed her life's direction.
Becoming a Brain Surgeon
Dr. Karekezi studied General Medicine at the University of Rwanda. She graduated with high honors in 2009. In 2007, she took part in a student exchange program in Sweden. There, she met Professor Jan Hillman, who greatly influenced her decision to become a brain surgeon.
In 2009, she also completed a special program at the Department of Neurosurgery at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, UK. In 2011, she was accepted into a special training center in Morocco. This center was set up to train African brain surgeons. She finished her advanced training in neurosurgery there in May 2016.
After her training in Morocco, Dr. Karekezi wanted to learn even more. She focused on treating brain tumors. In 2016, she spent three months in Boston, USA, for more specialized training. From 2017 to 2018, she completed a one-year fellowship in brain tumor and skull-base surgery. This was at the Toronto Western Hospital in Canada.
In August 2018, Dr. Karekezi returned to Rwanda. She became the country's first female neurosurgeon. In a talk she gave in December 2018, she spoke about the lack of access to surgery in Africa. She also talked about her role in training more future brain surgeons. She famously said, "I refuse to allow being African and a woman to be a limitation for me." She has helped people understand the importance of neurosurgical education in Africa. She also highlights the need for more female brain surgeons to break old ideas.
Professional Work and Goals
In January 2019, Dr. Karekezi joined the Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital. She was the first top brain surgeon there. She also performed the first brain surgeries at the hospital. When she started, she spent months setting up a proper neurosurgical unit. This involved getting the right equipment and staff.
Neurosurgery has traditionally had more men, especially in Africa. Less than 12% of all brain surgeons in Africa are women. Dr. Karekezi is dedicated to helping and guiding her female colleagues. She also supports future generations of women in this field. In 2019, she became the head of the African Women in Neurosurgery (AWIN) section. This is part of a larger group of African neurosurgical societies.
Dr. Karekezi has led many projects. These projects look at the history of women in neurosurgery in Africa. They also highlight how few women are in leadership roles. She works to improve neurosurgery education and brain tumor treatment in Sub-Saharan Africa. She continues to raise awareness about the need for more experienced female brain surgeons. This helps other young women overcome challenges in the field. She is also a role model for young women who want to work in STEM fields.
Awards and Recognitions
Dr. Claire Karekezi has received many awards for her excellent work:
- Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)/Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) Women In Neurosurgery (WINS) Greg Wilkins-Barrick Chair Visiting International Surgeon Award (2013).
- American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) International Visiting Surgeon Fellowship Award in Neurosurgery/neuro oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, USA (2016).
- Shield Maiden Women in Surgery Africa (WISA) Award for achieving career excellence in surgery (2018).
- AIMS-Next Einstein Initiative TTP Women in science ‘First Award 2019’ for being Rwanda’s First Female Neurosurgeon (2019).
- Forbes Woman Africa Academic Excellence Award (2022).
- Chung International Lectureship in Neurosurgery, Northwestern Medicine, USA (2023).
- Leadership Award, Northwestern Medicine, USA (2023).
- NeuroOncology Lectureship, Mayo Clinic Florida, USA (2024).
- Trailblazer in her Surgical Specialty (Neurosurgery), Women In Surgery Rwanda (WiSR), Rwanda (2024).
- Mission:BRAIN Uihlein Visiting Scholar Award, Women in Global Neuroscience (WINGS) Symposium, USA (2024).
- Visiting Professorship, University of South Florida, USA (2024).
Memberships in Medical Groups
Dr. Karekezi is an active member of many medical groups. These include local and international neurosurgical societies. She does this to raise awareness about the need for brain surgery in countries with fewer resources. She also aims to inspire young women and help bring about change. Some of these groups are:
- The American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS)
- World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies-Women In Neurosurgery (WFNS-WIN) Committee
- African Women in Neurosurgery (AWIN)
- The College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA)
- The Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO)
- Women in Surgery AFRICA (WiSA)
- Rwanda Surgical Society (RSS)
- Rwanda Association of Neurological Surgeons (RANS)
Images for kids
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Karekezi in 2022
