Dr Fridah Kiptui has won the 2026 Dr Donald Li YDM Scholarship, recognising her impact in primary healthcare, clinical leadership, and community medicine.
The Donald Li YDM Scholarship aims to enhance access to the World Organisation of Family Doctors (WONCA) Conferences for young doctors from low- and middle-income countries. This scholarship empowers emerging healthcare professionals to engage in vital discussions, share knowledge, and expand their networks.
Inspired by the recognition of past scholars at the 2025 WONCA World Conference in Lisbon, Dr Kiptui applied for the opportunity. “It means a great deal to me and to my early career. I hope it will benefit not just me, but also my institution,” she said.
Clinical Leadership and Healthcare Impact
Dr. Kiptui serves at AGC Tenwek Hospital in Bomet County, where she has worked for over 7 years, including during her medical training. She also serves as Deputy Program Coordinator for Family Medicine at Tenwek and as junior faculty at Kabarak University, where she mentors family medicine residents.
Her clinical leadership extends across several service areas. She heads both the Advanced HIV Services and Diabetes Services at Tenwek Hospital, coordinating care teams, organising treatment support for patients who cannot afford medication, and overseeing quality improvement work. She is also a trained POCUS instructor, using point-of-care ultrasound skills in community rheumatic heart disease screening campaigns, reflecting the particular disease burden of her region.
Community Health and Research Contributions
Beyond hospital-based care, Dr. Kiptui is a member of the Nitibu Network, a grassroots initiative delivering medical camps directly to communities. The program integrates: Preventive care and early diagnosis, chronic disease management referral systems and community advocacy.
Her academic contributions include published research on caregivers’ beliefs regarding herbal medicine use in children under five, reflecting her commitment to culturally informed healthcare solutions.
As part of the program, each recipient receives a USD $2,500 bursary to attend a regional or rural WONCA conference, which aims to reduce financial barriers to international conference participation, support the development of the next generation of primary care leaders, and promote knowledge exchange in family medicine.
Dr. Kiptui’s achievement reflects a broader shift in global health, where African healthcare professionals are gaining international recognition for frontline innovation and leadership.
Her work demonstrates a strong commitment to strengthening rural healthcare, connecting clinical services with community outreach, and advancing family medicine in resource-limited settings.
Dr. Fridah Kiptui represents a new generation of African medical leaders who are skilled, community-driven, and globally connected. Her recognition by WONCA underscores the critical role of family physicians in shaping resilient healthcare systems.
As she continues her journey, her work stands as a powerful example of how local impact can drive global recognition in healthcare leadership.
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