It is with profound sadness that I learned that Professor Phyllis Dako-Gyeke, a distinguished scholar, devoted public health advocate, and a cherished colleague, had passed away on 11 June 2024. She would have been 51 years old on 1 July 2024.
Professor Dako-Gyeke’s illustrious career was marked by her unwavering dedication to improving public health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. As an Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Ghana School of Public Health, she taught and conducted social science research on gender, sex, maternal health, and HIV and AIDS in low- and middle-income country settings.
Through her research, she emphasized the importance of community engagement and culturally sensitive interventions. She brought this expertise to her role as the lead of the Ghana hub of TDR’s Social Innovation in Health Initiative, which identified and championed a number of community-based social innovations that improved the lives of people in vulnerable communities.
As the lead of the TDR-supported regional training centre at the University of Ghana and of TDR’s postgraduate training programme at the university, she was also a passionate advocate for building research capacity, supervising and mentoring countless young researchers and health professionals in implementation research, and fostering a new generation of public health leaders.
Her legacy extends beyond her professional achievements. Professor Dako-Gyeke was a supportive colleague and a source of inspiration to many TDR staff through years of close collaboration and will be deeply missed.
Our deepest sympathies and condolences are with Professor Dako-Gyeke’s family, friends and past colleagues.
Sincerely,
John Reeder