Biomedical Engineering education in Ghana has been strengthened over the past 10 years, and is widely acknowledged to have been initiated by the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ghana. It is exciting to know that graduates of the programme are keeping with the department’s objectives and doing so well globally.
Gifty Tetteh at the University of Sheffield.
Before pursuing her PhD, Gifty worked as a Teaching Assistant at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana. This was where she obtained her undergraduate degree. She was the first female to graduate top of her Biomedical Engineering class as well as the entire School of Engineering, with an exceptional GPA. She later gained admission to the University of Sheffield to pursue her research. Her research is focused on how tissue-engineered bones grow around orthopaedic implants. Specifically, she is involved in designing a biomimetic test system that can be used to test these implants. When asked what she treasures most, Gifty had this to say:
“Being a member of a research team in a world-class research institution is what I treasure most. I have learnt new research techniques, attended many training and developmental sessions, and have had the opportunity of meeting and working with high-profile researchers.”
Awards and Achievements
Gifty Tetteh has achieved so much in such a short period of time. Among the many awards she has won during her career, are ”Best Student Oral Presentation” in 2011 at the 4th Ghana Biomedical Convention, held at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, where she presented her final year undergraduate project work in Biomedical Engineering on a low-cost sterilization system.
Two years later, Gifty received the International Biomechanics Prize for the Best Biomechanics paper at the Medical Engineering Centre annual meeting 2014 held at the Imperial College of London.
Gifty receiving the award from the UK Minister for Life Sciences Rt Hon George Freeman MP.
It does not end here! Ms. Tetteh was announced a joint winner of the 2014 Kroto Family Science Award for an outreach program she created. The award which was presented by Sir Harry Kroto, is given to 'The researcher who has made the most worthwhile contribution, in any particular year, to science education of young people locally, nationally or globally'.
Outreach
Gifty has a passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) outreach activities which was heightened after volunteering at a Bucky ball workshop led by Sir Harry Kroto, a University of Sheffield Alumni and Nobel Laureate. In 2014, she created an intensive 3-week ‘Labs to Africa’ outreach programme, to promote teaching and learning of Science in Ghana. The Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Ghana was a beneficiary of this outreach programme. Through this, 3rd and 4th year students were able to engage themselves in hands-on tissue engineering workshops and research seminars.
Gifty with 3rd & 4th year students of the Department of Biomedical Engineering
as part of the Labs2Africa Outreach Programme
Labs2Africa Outreach Programe with pupils from the
Nungua Methodist Primary School
Gifty is actively involved in other outreach activities. She is a role model for pupils in the basic and secondary schools, providing support and sensitizing them on her discipline, Biomedical Engineering. She has not lost touch with the Department of Biomedical Engineering even after completing her undergraduate studies. She regularly sends updates of her activities to encourage and inspire both faculty members and students.
Gifty Tetteh teamed up with Tech Needs Girls Ghana to reach out to the Achievers Book Club (ABC), an independent Ghanaian non-profit organization with a simple mission: “Education for all girls in slums in Ghana”.
We applaud your efforts, Gifty!
(Culled from an article by Larisa Bowen-Dodoo (Teaching Assistant), Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana, [Edited by Public Affairs] )
