Teachers

Amyloidosis Africa is a Pan-African public health and research initiative dedicated to advancing the awareness, early diagnosis, and clinical management of cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR and ATTR-CM) across the continent. We work to close critical gaps in recognition, screening, research participation, and specialist referral within African healthcare systems. Our initiative supports and accelerates clinical research, observational studies, registry development, and future clinical trials related to transthyretin amyloidosis. By collaborating with cardiology societies, hospitals, universities, NGOs, and rare-disease networks, we help generate high-quality data to guide evidence-based care, diagnostic pathways, and policy decisions across Africa. Through capacity-building programs, CPD-accredited courses, digital toolkits, and clinician surveys, we equip healthcare providers with practical skills to identify red-flag symptoms, understand differential diagnoses, and apply standardized screening algorithms for ATTR. Amyloidosis Africa is committed to strengthening regional expertise, improving diagnostic readiness, and creating opportunities for Africa to participate actively in multi-country research collaborations and future therapeutic studies. Our goal is to reduce diagnostic delays, improve outcomes, and build a sustainable ecosystem for amyloidosis research and clinical trials across the continent.

Dr. Anders Barasa, MD, PhD is a consultant cardiologist and Head of the Heart Failure Section at Amager & Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He earned his PhD in Medical Science from the University of Gothenburg and holds advanced certifications in heart failure from the University of Zurich and the European Society of Cardiology.

With over a decade of clinical and academic experience spanning Europe and Africa, Dr. Barasa has held leadership roles in heart failure programs in Denmark and previously served as Research Lead and Consultant Cardiologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi. His research focuses on heart failure, cardiac imaging, and global cardiology practices, with numerous publications in top-tier journals. He remains deeply engaged in international collaborations to improve cardiovascular care in low- and middle-income countries.

John Heshmat is a pharmacist and public health professional with over a decade of diverse experience in clinical research, health education, and humanitarian service across Africa. He holds a Master’s in International Public Health from Liverpool John Moores University and a Bachelor of Pharmacy from October 6 University.

As the Clinical Operations Manager at CRK Clinical Research Key (CRO), John leads high-impact clinical research and capacity-building programs targeting underserved populations in Kenya. He also serves as the Country Coordinator for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque, a global organization that sponsors life-saving heart surgeries for children with congenital heart defects.

At CRKCourses.com, John combines scientific rigor with practical field insight to deliver CME/CPD-accredited e-learning programs for healthcare professionals. His teaching emphasizes evidence-based practice, health equity, and the real-world application of research in resource-limited settings.

With a passion for public service and training the next generation of African health leaders, John is committed to improving patient outcomes through education, innovation, and collaborative learning.